Quote:
Originally Posted by memphusk
So in which sense did it not pan out? He didn't want to wait and get stuck with less dough, or did Philadelphia even want him?
|
Philly specifically told the press they were out of the running because of cap issues. So I'm guessing they wanted him, but couldn't find a taker for JVR.
After that, as Abstract suggests, it was a mad scramble for the nearest exit, which turned out to be the road to Columbus.
Now, a couple of late musings:
1. I really do believe Gaudreau was on the fence until quite late, and his saying his mind was made up earlier is just PR fluff for his new organization in Ohio. If he really decided earlier, it would open him up to conversations like this:
‘Hey, Johnny. You knew you were leaving Calgary for some time, right?’
‘Yeah, that’s right.’
‘So why did you keep your agent negotiating right up until July 12 on a deal you knew you would never sign?’
‘…’
2. All the talk about the children's hospital in Columbus is a red herring. Here's a conversation I guarantee never happened:
‘Hey there, Meredith! Nationwide Children's Hospital here. We just heard that you are the absolute greatest inexperienced pediatric nurse ever, and we have
got to get you down here to work for us! But you have to accept our offer within 48 hours or it's off the table, because as much as we love you, we won't still love you on Thursday.’
‘Wow, that's great! By a totally wild coincidence, my husband is a free agent in the next 48 hours. He can move anywhere he wants, provided he can get an NHL contract.’
‘All right, just tell him he's only allowed to sign with Columbus, no matter how many millions he gives up or what it does to his career.’
‘Will do, guys! Because I'm the only important one in this family!’
I mean, really. A quick Google search reveals
twenty-seven children's hospitals in the greater NYC area, some of them world-renowned. (Some, it's true, are major pediatric facilities associated with general hospitals, but I think that still counts for the purpose.) Does anyone expect people to believe that Meredith's career
required her husband to sign with Columbus instead of accepting the offer from New Jersey?