With all the stuff coming out today posted in this thread, that's what makes the most sense. The offers just weren't there as his camp expected. Flyers didn't even put an offer in (which Flyers fans are extremely irate about). This was a misread by Gross (at least it seems that way based on those articles).
I think Johnny just made the best out of a bad situation. I guess he could have sheepishly circled-back to Treliving and asked what a 7 year deal would look like now. However, the biggest reason for doing this was about being closer to home, and being in the same division allows him to spend a lot more time with family.
As a Flames' fan, I am not even really that upset with him. I am upset that he is gone of course, but I don't get the hate. Johnny was a huge prospect coming out of college. Remember Conroy going there encouraging him (and Bill Arnold) to sign, taking them back on the jet? There wasn't a team in the NHL that didn't want Johnny in their organization at that point. He could have easily pulled a Fox, or an Erixon. He didn't. He signed, and he came here, and for 8 seasons, he was worth the price of admission for us Calgary fans.
He never asked for a trade, never seemed to pout really, and he was given crappy coaches and often crappy line-mates at times too. Just worked hard. He earned his right for UFA (however I may disagree with how things were handled in the previous off-season). He exercised that right, and it didn't exactly work out the way he hoped. That sucks for him, and it sucks for the Flames.
He will still be fun to watch in Columbus, and I hope his presence there helps to stabilize that team a bit more. I wish him a tonne of success there, except I wish him nothing but bad luck every time he plays the Flames (may he never score a goal, or even assist on a goal, against Calgary!). He hasn't bad-mouthed the organization, the fanbase or the city. He simply played hard for 8 seasons, exercised his right to choose where he gets to play, and he is gone now. That's life. Few players are going to stay with one organization for their entire careers now.
Now I am just more interested in what happens with Calgary - how are they going to round-out this roster to be competitive this season, or will they just rebuild? What moves will they make. What is the plan going forward. I will definitely miss Johnny as he was the most exciting player to watch on the Flames, but eventually that hole will be filled over the coming seasons with another franchise-level exciting player to watch.
That's my take with everything, especially with some of the more recent articles posted in this thread. Makes a tonne more sense.
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