Quote:
Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL
I am also 100% of the opinion that Gaudreau would be a completely different player and still a difference maker if he remained in Calgary. Or at the very least, he'd still be a couple levels up from the level he's shown in Columbus.
I wrote this is a reddit thread a few months ago so I'll just copy and paste, but he's now in a completely different situation/environment in Columbus in which his focus has been easily shifted off hockey.
Left Calgary (he really didn't want to) because he chose the family life over the hockey life and started focusing even moreso on family this past summer (for good reasons). Was extra disappointed when the Flyers didn't even attempt to clear room so chose his wife's preferred destination (for career reasons). Plus he doesn't have a hard coach, which both him and his father have agreed in the past is the only way to get the best outta Johnny (hence why he's one of the few NHL stars to have ever played under Sutter that enjoyed it).
I think in a year or 2, if Columbus is in a better position competitive-wise, Johnny's focus will be able to re-shift towards hockey (i.e. training + better mental approach). But right now, there's too many distractions/reasons on-ice and too many important things happening off-ice that it wouldn't make sense for him to shift his attention back to hockey when he's just entered a new main focus in life (family) with his career taking a backseat.
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You're points may be valid, but it puts him in a even worse light and glad he didn't sign here.
He is getting paid a lot of money to play a game, and if his focus and attention is on something else and hockey isn't a priority he should give that lifetime retirement contract back.