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

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Last year Columbus finished 19 points behind the second wild card. Did they get 20 points better?

WSH lost Backstrom
CLB gained Gaudreau

The gap probably narrowed.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

WSH lost Backstrom
CLB gained Gaudreau

The gap probably narrowed.

Columbus also traded Bjorkstrand for beans to make room for Gaudreau, and of course both teams made several other changes. You're right that the gap probably narrowed, but I don't see a 20-point difference.

[TheScorpion]

That Gudbranson contract was a huge mistake by the Blue Jackets. Two years might've been palatable, but four ... it's not going to age well, especially given how much they weakened themselves by moving Bjorkstrand.

I have no ill will against Johnny, I hope he does well, but I also think CBJ is going to be real bad.

[djsFlames]

The best shot they had was when Torts was there.

That group in that low pressure market just hasn't looked consistent since, even though there are good pieces in place.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

IMO

Tier 1
TB
PIT
TOR
CAR
FLA
NYR

Tier 2
WSH
BOS

Tier 3
CLB
NJD
PHI
DET
MON
OTT
NYI
BUF


Can CLB compete with either of BOS or WSH? I don’t think it’s that far fetched. Both of the latter are old and have injury problems. CLB has a lot of fantastic young talent.

Columbus is not competing with Boston and Washington, I would put the Sens in that tier too . You also have to consider how much better some of their competitors improved. NJ, DET, and BUF are going to better and their roster looks significantly stronger on paper imo than Columbus. I think the Islanders also are stronger depth wise, especially in goal and on D. To me it's a pretty clear battle for last in the East between Columbus, Montreal, and Philly, those 3 are the bottom tier.

[FlamesAddiction]

When I look at the Blue Jackets on paper, I think they look OK. Competitive, but not a contender. Then when I look at their division, I just can't see them in the top 5, especially if the Islanders bounce back.

They should be better next season with Gaudreau on the team, so we'll see.

[dammage79]

Jackets may not be great this coming season but you throw Gaidreau with Kent Johnson and oh boy. Then maybe that other kid they got, Sillinger?

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Jackets may not be great this coming season but you throw Gaidreau with Kent Johnson and oh boy. Then maybe that other kid they got, Sillinger?

Post-long term contract Gaudreau though.

Might be that 65-70 point guy again.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Columbus is not competing with Boston and Washington, I would put the Sens in that tier too . You also have to consider how much better some of their competitors improved. NJ, DET, and BUF are going to better and their roster looks significantly stronger on paper imo than Columbus. I think the Islanders also are stronger depth wise, especially in goal and on D. To me it's a pretty clear battle for last in the East between Columbus, Montreal, and Philly, those 3 are the bottom tier.

Seems like you're looking through rose coloured glasses for every other team except those 3. MTL is a bit of a wildcard depending on their goaltending.


IN: Gaudreau+Gudbranson
OUT: Bjorkstrand+Domi.

DECLINING: Voracek, Nyquist (both 33)
PRIME: Gaudreau, Jenner, Elvis, Kuraly
ASCENDING: pretty much everyone else.

Laine/Jenner/Boqvist each played under 60 gp. Werenski 68, Bean 67. Texier/Bemstrom each about 40.

Of course most teams deal with injuries, but CBJ's circle is bigger than DET/OTT/NJD:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1521214760632598529

BUF is a hard team to judge...they finished strong, but that's often a mirage, and their goaltending is still crap. I'm also not sure I'd count on Skinner/Okposo to combine for 54 goals, or for Thompson to repeat his 38...

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Jackets may not be great this coming season but you throw Gaidreau with Kent Johnson and oh boy. Then maybe that other kid they got, Sillinger?

Oh boy what? Average at best

[CGY12]

Few things on my mind after the recent Gaudreau words and appearances;

1. It seems extremely odd to me that he would still be wearing Flames gear after leaving over a month ago and having an introduction presser in Columbus. Does he not want to break in new gear? Did he get new gear? Why wear the shell on the pants? Just bizarre.

2. His comments about thinking they had the Oil after game 1 is exactly why he needed to go. For a team that hasn't won squat and repeatedly getting embarrassed in the playoffs early, usually losing 3 or 4 consecutively, with him as a core piece, is mind boggling. Their is a difference between confidence and dumb founded arrogance.

3. As much as I wanted to keep him and bring in another star who had a similar skill set, to ease some of the puck carrying responsibilities, i'm now convinced you can't win with him eating a salary of 10+ million against the cap. He's a great 2nd or 3rd piece that can support another star, just not be the guy himself.

4. I have no ill will for the guy, I think indirectly he might have done the franchise a massive favour and made BT a better GM. I will not boo him or support him. He is whatever now in my eyes. Probably pretty unfortunate for him and his legacy in this city but he probably doesnt give a flying F about that.

[#-3]

Being out of contention and losing man games to injury can be something of a feedback loop.

Teams who are still competing will play moderately injured players, while teams that out might give their guys more opportunities to heal.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Sens improved far more...also, 9th 10th is the worst possible finish

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Last year Columbus finished 19 points behind the second wild card. Did they get 20 points better?

Sigh...


What is the definition of a bubble team? You know, teams immediately in or out of the playoff spot. Some teams improve every year, some teams go down. It isn't too hard to look at the standings and see that Columbus is essentially a bubble team once again. So if they are not what I said they are - A BUBBLE TEAM - then please explain what they are to me from these 4 options:


A) Rebuilding/Lottery team
B) Bubble Team
C) Guaranteed Playoff Team
D) Contender


I will pick B. You guys pick what you want.

[dino7c]

I disagree that missing the playoffs by 20 points is immediately out of a playoff spot.

They weren't close, east didn't have a bubble last season it was decided by January

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Seems like you're looking through rose coloured glasses for every other team except those 3. MTL is a bit of a wildcard depending on their goaltending.


IN: Gaudreau+Gudbranson
OUT: Bjorkstrand+Domi.

DECLINING: Voracek, Nyquist (both 33)
PRIME: Gaudreau, Jenner, Elvis, Kuraly
ASCENDING: pretty much everyone else.

Laine/Jenner/Boqvist each played under 60 gp. Werenski 68, Bean 67. Texier/Bemstrom each about 40.

Of course most teams deal with injuries, but CBJ's circle is bigger than DET/OTT/NJD:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1521214760632598529

BUF is a hard team to judge...they finished strong, but that's often a mirage, and their goaltending is still crap. I'm also not sure I'd count on Skinner/Okposo to combine for 54 goals, or for Thompson to repeat his 38...

Maybe Calgary can trick them and give them Monahan for Voracek.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by CGY12

Few things on my mind after the recent Gaudreau words and appearances;



1. It seems extremely odd to me that he would still be wearing Flames gear after leaving over a month ago and having an introduction presser in Columbus. Does he not want to break in new gear? Did he get new gear? Why wear the shell on the pants? Just bizarre.



2. His comments about thinking they had the Oil after game 1 is exactly why he needed to go. For a team that hasn't won squat and repeatedly getting embarrassed in the playoffs early, usually losing 3 or 4 consecutively, with him as a core piece, is mind boggling. Their is a difference between confidence and dumb founded arrogance.



3. As much as I wanted to keep him and bring in another star who had a similar skill set, to ease some of the puck carrying responsibilities, i'm now convinced you can't win with him eating a salary of 10+ million against the cap. He's a great 2nd or 3rd piece that can support another star, just not be the guy himself.



4. I have no ill will for the guy, I think indirectly he might have done the franchise a massive favour and made BT a better GM. I will not boo him or support him. He is whatever now in my eyes. Probably pretty unfortunate for him and his legacy in this city but he probably doesnt give a flying F about that.

Talking to my buddy who plays summer league w him, he said most of the pros dgaf about their gear. Johnny for ex wore BU stuff earlier this year, then flyers gear, then flames gear this tourney.

Also mentioned earlier, but his impression, was Johnny regrets not being able sign back w the flames, and his entire inner circle of hockey friends have given him shiznit about it all summer so far

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Sigh...


What is the definition of a bubble team? You know, teams immediately in or out of the playoff spot.

As dino7c points out, there was no bubble in the East last year. You were either solidly in or solidly out.

So if they are not what I said they are - A BUBBLE TEAM - then please explain what they are to me from these 4 options:


A) Rebuilding/Lottery team
B) Bubble Team
C) Guaranteed Playoff Team
D) Contender


I will pick B. You guys pick what you want.

I pick A. They were below .500 in points percentage, which, since the introduction of the loser point, is generally considered to be the mark of a genuinely bad team. There are usually between 7 and 12 teams below .500; last year, because of Covid and other factors, the number was at the high end of that range.

The bubble teams last season were all in the West: L.A., Dallas and Nashville, which made the playoffs by 5 points or less, plus Vegas and Vancouver, which missed the playoffs by 5 points or less. I chose that number because there is a fair-sized gap above L.A. and below Vancouver, so those five teams form a pretty clear grouping. (You could include Winnipeg if you chose, because there's another substantial gap below that.)

Nobody above those five teams was in danger of missing the playoffs; nobody below them had a realistic chance of making them. All five Western teams below Winnipeg were also below .500, and I don't think anyone would hesitate to label those five as lottery teams (whether they are rebuilding or not).

Some people like to go on about what a weak team the Islanders are and what a bad season they had. Well, they finished above Columbus, above .500 on points, and were still 16 points out of a playoff spot. That gap will have to shrink a whole lot before I consider anyone in the East a bubble team.

[dino7c]

yeah in the days of loser points, 81 isn't a bubble team its a BAD team

the last playoff team to qualify had 97

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by manwiches

Talking to my buddy who plays summer league w him, he said most of the pros dgaf about their gear. Johnny for ex wore BU stuff earlier this year, then flyers gear, then flames gear this tourney.

Also mentioned earlier, but his impression, was Johnny regrets not being able sign back w the flames, and his entire inner circle of hockey friends have given him shiznit about it all summer so far

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

I don't dispute your first point at all. I've known a few pros that have done the same when they skated out here. None with this kind of circumstance though, especially considering hes had a presser in columbus. New shell and a new helmet seems pretty simple to me. Gloves I can understand. Just seems odd, not going to read too much into it but do find it weird.

The 2nd point I can see but deep down I don't think he cares really. I think he's got that care free attitude where as long as hes making millions, winning comes 2nd or 3rd behind lifestyle. To each their own, i'm not going to hold it against him, some people have different priorities.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Oh boy what? Average at best

Hey man, if you're to biased to see the pile of excellent talent they're developing over in CLB, that's cool. But Kent Johnson, Marchenko, Sillinger, and a few others are all legit offensive talents.

If I were someone like Gaidreau and looking at long term upside and who could carry me as I age out, CLB has a really bright future.

But, end of the day, eff the Iackets and eff Gaudreau. May you all get gout.