I'm sure I'll add nothing that hasn't been said. But after reading Johnny's Player Tribune article, here are my thoughts.
To start, regardless of what I say, I fully understand, Johnny never did anything that wasn't within his "rights" to do. But I will say, people tend to fall back on that argument when they do something crappy to someone they don't want to be held accountable for. Sure, you are allowed to do it, but doesn't mean it was the best thing you could have done, and doesn't mean it was necessary.
I read the article, and for the most part with out getting into details, I believe him. I don't think he's lying. I think he considered re-signing here, I think he didn't know until the last minute. And I think the positive things he had to say about the org, the team and the city, all legit.
What this means, is sure, he didn't TRY or Intentionally go out of his way to screw the Flames. I believe this. But it doesn't mean that the way he handled this didn't screw us, or shouldn't leave a bad taste in our mouths. His actions may not have been malicious, but they are not in my opinion appropriate actions you take if you truly respect the organization, and like the Flames and the city. He owed us better than that.
And I don't mean, he owed us to stay. What he owed an organization he respects, and a fan base he respects, was a more timely decision. What we have now learned in hindsight, was that there was no $$ figure (reasonable) that the Flames could have tabled that would have got him to stay. If you allow negotiations to go to the 11th hour with the Flames, it should be a reasonable expectation that there is a reasonable premium the Flames could have paid to retain his services. I never thought that Calgary was his "preferred" destination. But as these negotiations got dragged out with no announcement of either side from moving on, it should have been a reasonable expectation that there was a number that the Flames could offer that Johnny would forgo the opportunity to play in his ideal location and sign with us.
What we learned after, is that, that decision wasn't even made by Johnny (and his team / family) until the 11th hour. Not to minimise the importance of the decision, but that is simply not something you do to an organization and fan base you respect. He had months to figure that part out. To figure out, no matter how rich the offer, Calgary wasn't an option, to discuss with his family and he didn't do that. That is disrespectful, and to me is the part as a fan I don't accept.
We can critique the Flames all we want on this, but they had no reason, based on the info they were getting from the Johnny's camp, that a Calgary premium was not something that might get considered. It would never be a sure thing, but I'm sure it stings to learn at the 11th hour, that there was nothing you could have offered that would have been good enough. It's one thing to gamble on if you can hit the number, it's another to learn at the last minute that you were never in the game.
IMO given his feelings on the org and the market, Johnny owed the Flames a decision on the fact he wouldn't even consider being here far before he did. His lack of action is disrespectful, even if it wasn't intentional
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