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

[Mindtravellee]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

Overall, denouncing or booing Johnny Gaudreau is such a baby play.

Yes, when you boo; it's because you are hurt deep down, so that is okay, but it's such a poor expression in a grown up world.

Johnny gave his all while he was in Calgary. More importantly he was such a great player to watch during these times, which were the prime of his career. He did things on ice; that you could barely understand if you watched him in real life let alone the flat screen.

It's these swinging polarizations that forget and burn everything to the ground. Could he have had a nicer exit, absolutely. Did Darryl forge him into a 2 way player and make his game even better, absolutely.

But here's the thing. If you are in the camp of not saluting a great player who really did compete for the crest on his Jersey, what signal are you sending to future players? As a fanbase do you want to be toxic? Is that the signal. Or can we all just stand down, and say no matter how the team has performed Johnny was a night in, night out draw and crowd pleaser based on his special gift, and he never took it for granted.

Then we slide into the coulda, shoulda woulda arguments. The idea he was given everything. The fact is we were given everything from a fanbase and management point of view as to what Treliving was able to pull off.

What's been kicking around my mind, the last couple weeks is how baseball teams are able to handle these high profile players, contracts and the fit is more rubicon then loyalty or sticking with the "man". The Jay's are a prime example of high level movement to get a combo that fires.

As a team, when Gaudreau had a terrible season, we stuck with him instead of trade-blocking him and he performed. Flip a coin....

After the loss of Gaudreau and Tcachuk, I think our organization became stronger and grittier, in that loyalty is not a trait to build a winning hockey team. It's a trait of good people in general. Now that management is able to see the expediency of making hard moves; sacrifice and going against better virtues in the sake of the right choice of strengthening the team in it's deficiencies.

Finally, you have a squad in general that did play like a team. They didn't succeed but they certainly held us captivated. When I think of a humble Monahan... I ask, if you think you are a fan, and you have respect, do you think Monahan would want you to boo Gaudreau?

When you are in that tunnel as a fan, and you can accept your players the way that Gaudreau and Monahan hugged, then you get it. There is a human factor to the game.

I get your points. Gaudreau was a much celebrated player in his time here, however if the booing puts him off his game we should 100% do it.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

The concept that he conspired to screw us over is juvenile. I understand the hurt. Here's the thing, the CBA and player rights kick in and these guys get to go to free agency. You could say Brad could have traded him earlier, but the rebound year put us in major contention.

Then, as my post says, we certainly had a nine lives cat landing.

We'll put you in the toxic fanbase category. Lol. Simply no enjoyment from the Gaudreau years is your vote.

Come on now...its pretty far fetched he just decided "anywhere but Calgary" at the 11th hour after getting them to commit to the max possible term and dollar he could have possibly expected.

He knew he was leaving long before.

He didn't conspire to screw the Flames he used the Flames as leverage and that is why a lot of fans aren't happy with him. His interviews since leaving haven't helped his case either.


People can boo him if they want, who are you to call people toxic fans?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dino7c

there will be a bit of both...as you can clearly see in this thread

and for the 10000th time its the way he left not that he left...negotiated until the very last minute then

"doesn't matter where just best not Calgary" his words...makes sense for a guy who negotiated in good faith and said he wanted to come back

you may have noticed that guys get booed in pro sports...I'm not suggesting slurs or attacking his family ect. I'm suggesting anyone who buys a ticket has the right to boo him and would be justified IMO.

Well you're saying a lot more than that. Comparing the situation to a jilted ex-lover, suggesting someone who applauds a video tribute for Gaudreau thinks of him as a "hero". You're suddenly finding these flaws in his game whereas it someone had said such things a year ago, you would be jumping down their throat.

I don't like how it went down at the 11th hour either, but the Flames are complicit in finding themselves in that situation. I'm not taking his decision and behavior personally. But then again, I don't hate every ex Flame either, which does not stop me from cheering for my team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I got a lot of enjoyment from watching Johnny, but at the end of the day, I am a FLAMES fan first, rather than just a JG fan, and he could have handled this differently. Eric Francis and Ryan Leslie told us years ago that we wasn't going to sign another contract with the Flames, and people should have listened- true, Francis pushes the downside all the time, but he wouldn't state it the way he did without knowing something. Less so for Leslie. That's just my opinion. For the record, I will still cheer Tkachuk- until he screws with my team on the ice.

Oh, come on. Eric Francis was just guessing about Gaudreau's future like everyone else, and he would be the first to admit that. I expect almost all of us are Flames fans first, but some of us are not so bitter as to hold a grudge against a perfect stranger whose actions had no perceptible affect on any of our daily lives. Yeah, it can be fun to boo a player, but doing it in the middle of a video tribute is just petty.

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

[Paulie Walnuts]

Gaudreau knew he was leaving from the get go, take a look at the letter Lewis Gross wrote to Flames fans. He started plotting his departure after his dads health scare. He earned the right to be a free agent and go to any team he desires but don't lie to us that's my issue. If he was upfront and said he was leaving I think people would view him in a different light. You don't suddenly decide at the last minute that being close to family is what matters.

I think he had his heart set on Philly, but Fletcher either is incompetent or just didn't want to do the work go clear space to sign him. Lebrun said the offer from the Devils was around 9 million the market probably wasn't what he expected and ended up in Columbus after doing his research.

He should be booed or cheered doesn't matter. I am going to cheer him loudly and say thank you Johnny, thank you for leaving and allowing the franchise retool with much better players.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Come on now...its pretty far fetched he just decided "anywhere but Calgary" at the 11th hour after getting them to commit to the max possible term and dollar he could have possibly expected.

He knew he was leaving long before.

He didn't conspire to screw the Flames he used the Flames as leverage and that is why a lot of fans aren't happy with him. His interviews since leaving haven't helped his case either.


People can boo him if they want, who are you to call people toxic fans?

Where did the "anywhere but Calgary" quote come from? sorry been away

edit: nevermind, saw your post on the previous page and Paulie answered below. He never actually said anywhere but Calgary. Carry on.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Where did the "anywhere but Calgary" quote come from? sorry been away

His press conference the day after he signed.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I got a lot of enjoyment from watching Johnny, but at the end of the day, I am a FLAMES fan first, rather than just a JG fan, and he could have handled this differently. Eric Francis and Ryan Leslie told us years ago that we wasn't going to sign another contract with the Flames, and people should have listened- true, Francis pushes the downside all the time, but he wouldn't state it the way he did without knowing something. Less so for Leslie. That's just my opinion. For the record, I will still cheer Tkachuk- until he screws with my team on the ice.

Didn't Francis say that he thought JG was going to Free Agency after college. Then once he signed his ELC, it was he would not re-sign with the Flames after his ELC?

I think saying he "pushes the downside" is an understatement.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Where did the "anywhere but Calgary" quote come from? sorry been away

edit: nevermind, saw your post on the previous page and Paulie answered below. He never actually said anywhere but Calgary. Carry on.

"It didn't matter where, our decision was it was better not to return to Calgary"

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Its been widely reported that the Flames met Gaudreau's counter to the T and thought they had the deal done

Shouldn't be hard to source one of those reports then, no? It took you no time at all to find a quote from Gaudreau, so I know you have the ability. I'll be patiently waiting...this one is gonna take you a while.

Originally Posted by dino7c

I posted his exact quote...he had to know that question was coming

And then you repeatedly paraphrased the quote to fit your narrative.

“Our decision was it was best for us not to go back to Calgary and then we decided to figure out what was the best option for us."
=
"Anywhere but Calgary"

in the same way that:

"There was a time that the Flames thought they had a deal done"
=
'The Flames met his every demand to a T and then he reneged!'

[TheIronMaiden]

#### Gaudreau and #### Tkachuk.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Shouldn't be hard to source one of those reports then, no? It took you no time at all to find a quote from Gaudreau, so I know you have the ability. I'll be patiently waiting...this one is gonna take you a while.




And then you repeatedly paraphrased the quote to fit your narrative.

“Our decision was it was best for us not to go back to Calgary and then we decided to figure out what was the best option for us."
=
"Anywhere but Calgary"

in the same way that:

"There was a time that the Flames thought they had a deal done"
=
'The Flames met his every demand to a T and then he reneged!'

Steinberg reported it a few times. LeBrun did as well from what I remember.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Shouldn't be hard to source one of those reports then, no? It took you no time at all to find a quote from Gaudreau, so I know you have the ability. I'll be patiently waiting...this one is gonna take you a while.




And then you repeatedly paraphrased the quote to fit your narrative.

“Our decision was it was best for us not to go back to Calgary and then we decided to figure out what was the best option for us."
=
"Anywhere but Calgary"

in the same way that:

"There was a time that the Flames thought they had a deal done"
=
'The Flames met his every demand to a T and then he reneged!'

The quote is bad enough without me doing anything...I don't need to type out the whole thing everytime.

It's been widely reported that the Flames met Gaudreau's contract demands...pretty hard to deny when he signed for less

Your hockey related debates with me this summer:

Columbus is much improved, Florida made a good trade, Gaudreau did no wrong, Miller is way better than Kadri

You trash Flames constantly until they leave and then become their biggest fans.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Its been reported by Francis and others and Tree himself eluded to it...we know 10.5x8 was offered...considering what he settled for that was obviously more than met his expectations.

There is no logic here.

10.5x8 was not on the table when he 'settled'. Clearly 10.5x8 in CGY did not meet his expectations...he declined and decided to hope for the best on the open market

9.75x7 probably didn't meet his expectations, either. But, he didn't really have an alternative this time.

[Vinny01]

Steinberg has reported many times he thought a Gaudreau extension was imminent on the eve of free agency and it fell through. Backlund gave an interesting interview last week after the golf tournament where he stated a few things one of which was how he wasn’t surprised when Johnny walked and he felt like Johnny was always trying to get back to the States to play. He mentioned he was far more surprised when Chucky decided to walk.

The worse thing he admitted was the feeling of doubt that crept in during the Oilers series that they were not the better team. That personally makes me feel even better about the massive retooling of the core because we need players on the team who are confident they are the best. I feel like the way Huberdeau, Weegar and Kadri have talked these guys are extremely confident in the team we have

[Paulie Walnuts]

It was reported by Lebrun, Steinberg and Eric Francis that he pulled out of the deal. Go back and watch the press conference with Treliving he guy looks a bit shocked and pissed off. He even said during that one of another one that one side negotiated in good faith that's pretty telling.

The team operated part of the off season with a cap hold of 11 million earmarked for him because he was deciding what he wanted to do even though he knew what he wanted to do when the process started. That's the part that pisses me off, not that he left.

[TheIronMaiden]

You either play for the Flames or you are against the Flames. I don't make deals in the stands.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

It was reported by Lebrun, Steinberg and Eric Francis that he pulled out of the deal. Go back and watch the press conference with Treliving he guy looks a bit shocked and pissed off. He even said during that one of another one that one side negotiated in good faith that's pretty telling.

The team operated part of the off season with a cap hold of 11 million earmarked for him because he was deciding what he wanted to do even though he knew what he wanted to do when the process started. That's the part that pisses me off, not that he left.

The part that pisses me off, is that he and Tkahuck fold against the Flames' biggest rivals in the playoffs, then quit the team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dino7c

"It didn't matter where, our decision was it was better not to return to Calgary"

Right, but Gaudreau has never been any good in interviews or speaking in public, and it is patently obvious what he is saying in that quote: "It didn't matter where," as in, "it didn't matter which of several US teams much closer to the Jersey shore"; "it was better not to return to Calgary," as in "it was better not to continue playing across the border in Canada."

The problem here is that it is impossible to know what is left out of his statement, and we all have to fill in the blanks a bit. But I would suggest, based on what we do know for sure from Gaudreau's long time with the Flames, that my interpretation is a hell of a lot closer to the truth than yours.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

There is no logic here.

10.5x8 was not on the table when he 'settled'. Clearly 10.5x8 in CGY did not meet his expectations...he declined and decided to hope for the best on the open market

9.75x7 probably didn't meet his expectations, either. But, he didn't really have an alternative this time.

How does 10.5X8 not meet his expectation when it was HIS offer that we accepted.

He said he wants 10.5 we said yes, he said lol just kidding and landed in Columbus.