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

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Bull####.

Who’s the last star level player to re-up with a year left and arguably had more potential to hit?

Darnell Nurse

[AndyM]

After a short stint in Carolina, Vincent Trocheck donated significantly to UNC Children's hospital before signing with the Rangers. I'd take that every day over a ghostwritten letter nearly a week after it all went down while going on his bro podcast circuit saying Calgary will "get over it."

[SportsJunky]

Aw damnit Johnny. We love you again!

[devo22]

meh.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Johnny Hockey

As much as we both love Calgary, I think Meredith and I just felt that it was going to be very hard to continue living as far away from our families as we’ve been living — especially as we’re starting a family of our own.

That's all you need to know. It was about the wife and the baby and direct flights to Philly and NJ without customs.

That's why it wasn't Calgary. As to why Columbus? He doesn't say, but it's because he was pretty lazy in his approach and Columbus met the objective of: highest offer among teams within short direct flights of Philly and NJ

[madmike]

His indecision really killed the Flames, but I do think he was considering staying in Calgary.

As for last summer who knows? He didn't have the best campaign, so I think he would have accepted something like 8x8 or 8x9 from the Flames. I can also see why Treliving might have been hesitant to do that though.

I've got no ill will for Gaudreau. It just sucks that his decision has a domino effect that forces the Flames into a rebuild when they had a decent core.

[ignite09]

Good enough for me. I'm over it

[Madman]

Meredith sure is a good writer.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by AndyM

After a short stint in Carolina, Vincent Trocheck donated significantly to UNC Children's hospital before signing with the Rangers. I'd take that every day over a ghostwritten letter nearly a week after it all went down while going on his bro podcast circuit saying Calgary will "get over it."

I'll be honest, that's what I was thinking would happen; this letter was more of an explanation (which is appreciated) than a thank you. But that might have been asking too much for a guy who literally didn't care what his next contract looked like and the new team he was signing with.

[iggyloob12]

This comes across as genuine and heartfelt, which I appreciate. He could have avoided at least some of the backlash by being more proactive and sharing his thanks much earlier.


So thanks for 8 great years, Johnny! It was a blast. I wish you and your family all the best. Hopefully the contentment you find in your personal life compensates for your next 7 years of failure on the ice!

[Funkhouser]

As someone who made a conscious decision to settle outside of Calgary, I can't fault him for wanting to practice his trade somewhere else. The fact he was willing to leave money on the table shows that the decision wasn't motivated by money. I am taking him at his word that his decision was based on family and that he truly loved being here.

It is unfortunate he wasn't re-signed the summer prior.
It is unfortunate he wasn't pressured to indicate his direction to the team prior to the 2022 draft.
But ultimately, both of these issues lie on Treliving as much as Gaudreau.

I am not sure he will be happy with his decision from a professional standpoint, but if he is happy away from the rink that is what truly matters.

Wishing him the best.

[SuperMatt18]

The “wanted to sign last summer” part was tough, really does feel like the pregnancy changed everything here.

IIRC I had heard rumor that he was looking for around $9M and the Flames were offering closer to $7.5M.

Which I could see from both sides. He was 2 years removed from a 99 point season, on the Flames side they just had two rough seasons and Johnny was coming off pro-rated 68 and 72 point seasons…I feel like many would have thought $9M was an overpayment of that point.

Of course Johnny bet on himself and had an amazing season, and with hindsight the Flames should have jumped on 8x$9M if that was on the table but at the time it would have likely been seen as an overpayment.

[JohnnyB]

Seems like an authentic message to me. I wish he had been more decisive at an earlier point, and I wish Treliving had forced the issue earlier, but I believe his motivations and I don't hold those against him at all. If he had just made his decision a month ago and come out with a message like this at that time, he would have left Calgary with a lot of love and support. It was just a mishandled situation.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Seems like an authentic message to me. I wish he had been more decisive at an earlier point, and I wish Treliving had forced the issue earlier, but I believe his motivations and I don't hold those against him at all. If he had just made his decision a month ago and come out with a message like this at that time, he would have left Calgary with a lot of love and support. It was just a mishandled situation.

People would still be angry if we got some 3rd round pick and had to rebuild the entire team after he left. I don't buy that people would be more reasonable if he had left in some other way.

[SutterBrother]

At this point I’m happier having the 10.5 million dollars for the next 8 years. I liked Johnny, but thats too much for too long.

Win-win.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

People would still be angry if we got some 3rd round pick and had to rebuild the entire team after he left. I don't buy that people would be more reasonable if he had left in some other way.

It's pretty unlikely that he would have only brought a 3rd round pick with a year left at at 6.75M and they wouldn't have had to rebuild the entire team, he would have (or at least should have) brought back a good return. This isn't hindsight, plenty of people were calling for him to be extended or traded prior to his NTC kicking in. Regardless, here we are with no player and not even something as crappy as a 3rd round pick to show for it. If the Tkachuk situation doesn't get solved by some miracle this team really will need a rebuild and will be in a worse position.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Jacks

It's pretty unlikely that he would have only brought a 3rd round pick with a year left at at 6.75M and they wouldn't have had to rebuild the entire team, he would have (or at least should have) brought back a good return. This isn't hindsight, plenty of people were calling for him to be extended or traded prior to his NTC kicking in. Regardless, here we are with no player and not even something as crappy as a 3rd round pick to show for it. If the Tkachuk situation doesn't get solved by some miracle this team really will need a rebuild and will be in a worse position.

They were legitimate contenders last year and if Markstrom hadn't turned into a pumpkin against the Oilers who knows what happens.

You're just going to throw away a contending season so you can not lose a guy for nothing? That's a fair call - but speaking for myself after seeing Iginla/Bouwmeester trades return essentially nothing - I'd rather go for it when you have a chance instead of hoping for magic beans to turn out for you.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

They were legitimate contenders last year and if Markstrom hadn't turned into a pumpkin against the Oilers who knows what happens.

You're just going to throw away a contending season so you can not lose a guy for nothing? That's a fair call - but speaking for myself after seeing Iginla/Bouwmeester trades return essentially nothing - I'd rather go for it when you have a chance instead of hoping for magic beans to turn out for you.

They certainly weren't expected to be a contender before the season when Gaudreau had no trade protection, that's what we were talking about.
And the Iginla/Bouw situations were miles different.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jacks

It's pretty unlikely that he would have only brought a 3rd round pick with a year left at at 6.75M and they wouldn't have had to rebuild the entire team, he would have (or at least should have) brought back a good return. This isn't hindsight, plenty of people were calling for him to be extended or traded prior to his NTC kicking in. Regardless, here we are with no player and not even something as crappy as a 3rd round pick to show for it. If the Tkachuk situation doesn't get solved by some miracle this team really will need a rebuild and will be in a worse position.

I think he was referring more to the situation where he told the team before the draft and the Flames could have moved his rights for a 3rd Round Pick or something.

If they move him last year they probably get something like a 1st and a Prospect, or a 1st and a 2nd.

The trade market is never super strong in the NHL for small scoring wingers. Debrincat is coming off a 40 goal, PPG season and he got a 1st, 2nd, 3rd this year and he still has RFA rights at the end of his deal.

So really it comes down to if you were willing to take the risk of getting a return for Gaudreau, vs. going for it for one season with Sutter at the helm with this core and then he walks for nothing or might still re-sign. And in a different universe where the Flames don't have atrocious goaltending and then forgot how to play hockey maybe it would have paid off.

[transplant99]

Here is a video of how Colombus found out Gaudreau was interested in joining them.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1552020862341103616