Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
I think it has become obvious that Gaudreau wanted out of the spotlight that was following him around away from the game. This is the hardest thing for many athletes to handle as the opportunities for privacy are limited. I remember back in the day being at a movie theatre for the first day of a big summer blockbuster and Lanny McDonald was in line with his wife to see the movie as well. This was the summer we lost to Canadiens so the city was still drunk on the trip to the finals. People were non-stop asking for autographs and shaking his hand. Thank god this was before cellphones and selfies. Lanny was gracious and took most of it in stride until the crowd started chanting his name. This went on for about five minutes until he had had enough. He snapped and yelled for everyone to STFU and give him and his wife space, they just wanted to see the movie like regular people. It really let me know how different life is for the people. So I can understand when a shy introverted kid who wants to start a family has a desire to blend in with the wood work away from the game. I will not hold that against him.
What I will hold against him, and the management team of the Flames, is not figuring this out well ahead of the deadline. This isn't rocket science and should have been a well known for years. I get trying to work past this, but if this was something that Gaudreau was always dealing with, the club should have identified this as issue and addressed it accordingly. The appropriate was was to get him some counseling to deal with this anxiety and if they were not making headway then prepare for the probability of not having that player. The stress of the spot light is tough on some people and they deal with it the best ways they can. For some it is running away from it. This appears to be the case here. The team should have been prepared for this outcome. Both parties should have worked together to find a resolution to the problem before it came to a head and both were hurt by the outcome (Flames more than the player).
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Agree completely with all of this. Assuming he was anxious about the spotlight the blame is also on Treliving and management for not realizing this and realizing it may not go well even if he signs. I’m starting to come around to the idea there was piss poor communication and EQ from all three parties involved.