Quote:
Originally Posted by FanIn80
What I would have done, before the deadline, once it became clear he wasn't signing.
- Ask him for three teams he wants to sign with
- Call those teams
- Offer them a signed Gaudreau for 8 years instead of the 7 they would get
- Let each team know there are two other teams in the same picture
- Find out what each team would need to do to clear space
- Work out the best deal I can from amongst those teams
- Sign him for 8x11.5 and make the trade to the team with the best deal
Johnny gets to go where he wants and gets the term and $$ he would have from us.
The team gets Johnny for 8 years instead of 7 and some space for his contract.
We get something (picks, a cap dump, maybe a prospect) in return.
Do I live in a different universe than other people? Probably, but at least in my universe everyone wins.
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It sounds very much like Gaudreau himself was conflicted and couldn't say yes or no until the last minute. Again, it may be his family that tipped the scales in the final direction in the end.
At the same time, the Flames desperately wanted him back and couldn't show that they were prepared to move on.