[Signing] Gaudreau to Columbus (7 x $9.75 million)

[flamesrule_kipper34]

He said Gulutzan gave him an ultimatum when they were in NY. He took a cab to practice vs the team bus, he was supposed to go to a LeBron NBA game that night and because he didn't take the team bus said he'd scratch him if he went to the basketball game.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

That’s what you take away from that?!?!

I'm astounded it was an answer.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

That’s what you take away from that?!?!

Something Ive thought about during his last contract I remeber him comenting about. I have to be up early but try and find his comments. Johnny says he thought he was going to sign but it kept going back and forth.

[Inferno]

Gaudreau: "I did my research and it's a hidden gem"
Translation: "I checked Google Flights and it's an hour and a half flight so good enough."

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Something Ive thought about during his last contract I remeber him comenting about. I have to be up early but try and find his comments. Johnny says he thought he was going to sign but it kept going back and forth.

And that's why he signed with Columbus that quick? Tell me more.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

From listening to these interviews he has given, it does sound to me like he was surprised/confused by the general lack of interest around the league.

Still feels like he could have waited and probed the market a little longer. I’m not sure if the agent saw the landscape and suggested a rapid decision or Johnny made a hasty decision under pressure. In any case, it doesn’t sound like free agency lived up to Johnny’s expectations.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

Has any of Gaudreau's team mates came out in any of the social media to wish him luck? Or are all of his team mates still in shock.

Yeah Gaudreau was a big part and I'm sure more than a few teammates figured he would be back.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Something Ive thought about during his last contract I remeber him comenting about. I have to be up early but try and find his comments. Johnny says he thought he was going to sign but it kept going back and forth.

I took it that he kept flip flopping himself over whether he wanted to stay or go

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by memphusk

And that's why he signed with Columbus that quick? Tell me more.

He certainly didn't sign where everyone though he would. Seemed like a last minute decision over hisbother options. He does say he thought he was going to sign with Calgary but it kept going back and forth. Not out of the question that this may have factored in his decision. Anyway it just another opinion.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

From listening to these interviews he has given, it does sound to me like he was surprised/confused by the general lack of interest around the league.

Still feels like he could have waited and probed the market a little longer. I’m not sure if the agent saw the landscape and suggested a rapid decision or Johnny made a hasty decision under pressure. In any case, it doesn’t sound like free agency lived up to Johnny’s expectations.

How much longer though? 9.75 was the best offer outside of Canada in that division.

[Jiri Hrdina]

He just comes off as a very immature guy including with this stuff:

Did you let your Calgary teammates know you were going to move on?
No.

You didn't talk to one guy?
No. 2 hours before I didn't know. "Half our team is in Sweden and I didn't really have the opportunity to. I just called Brad and at that point it was already 11 at night. It was pretty hard for me, it was pretty emotional. As I said I was there for a long time and it was pretty hard so I kinda just hung out with my wife that night and just tried to figure out who we were going to play for the next day."


Yeah man this stuff is hard. But you do it the right way. You own it. Not telling your team mates is pretty surprising. Not one of them.
Because it was late and he was tired and “half of the team is in Sweden”

WDF

What a weird ending to his time here. Just strange

[JohnnyB]

Johnny sounds to me like he really just wants to chill.

[midniteowl]

He didn't even tell his best friend?



"Half our team is in Sweden and I didn't really have the opportunity to" What about the other half that's in NA?

[Inferno]

He said that half the team is in Sweden. Well what about the other half? And there's this thing called a text message. And as of right now it's 8 a.m. in Sweden. I don't think they're going to be too upset getting a call or text message at 7 in the morning if it even wakes them up.

[c.t.ner]

The thing I'm really starting to understand is that Johnny Hockey is never going to be the competitor he could be and is never going to become the NHL legend he could have been. I'm guessing he's a bit too immature and lacks the leadership to really be a defining player.

I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea and not everyone wants to be in the spotlight all the time, but I really though Johnny had more in him.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

The thing I'm really starting to understand is that Johnny Hockey is never going to be the competitor he could be and is never going to become the NHL legend he could have been. I'm guessing he's a bit too immature and lacks the leadership to really be a defining player.

I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea and not everyone wants to be in the spotlight all the time, but I really though Johnny had more in him.

Who knows? Johnny seems like he wants a place with a more chilled lifestyle he can enjoy, and maybe that will be a fit for him and he'll play years of great hockey there.

Interesting that he loved playing for Sutter and how Sutter's tough on everyone. I guess he likes to be pushed on the ice, but off the ice he doesn't want things to be tough. He wants a lifestyle he can enjoy off-ice.

[GullFoss]

The spittin' chickletts interview makes it clear that Johnny is a pretty lazy guy.

He gives up a city he's lived in for eight years + $15m + good teammates + good organization. And he does such amateur analysis on the alternatives.

He spent no time in Columbus. He knows none of the players. He knows nothing about the city. His wife has never even been there.

How lazy is that? This is the biggest decision of his life and he literally put zero effort into it.

The flames dodged a bullet. The risk of this contract aging poorly is through the roof.

We're all trying to figure out motive, when it's staring us right in the face. This guy is kind of dumb and super lazy

[PuckDemon]

I don't know about lazy...it's more like he's ultra chill and goes with the flow. He goes where he's guided. He liked being guided by Sutter into becoming a dominant 5v5 player. He did the work, but he's not like a Crosby who obsessively improved his weaknesses on his own in the off seasons, or a MacKinnon who tries to improve his team's nutrition.

For the Columbus move, Johnny was guided by family into it, and happily went along with it.

[Mass_nerder]

He just comes across as a little immature (not juvenile). Like he just hasn't really experienced 'life'.
Like I'm sure he's gone through plenty of tough times, but he just seems kind of ignorant of how the world works a little bit.

I'm bummed about how it ended, but he made his choice, and now we move on.

[combustiblefuel]

I've said it before but it really seems like he just wants to re create his college lifestyle.