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

[Paulie Walnuts]

If Brad signed Johnny to that contract after he looked like a shell of his former self, he would have been chased out of town.

[Burning Beard]

Everyone wanted Johnny and the rest of the core out of here that offseason but now we are supposed to be upset that they didn't offer him 10 million at the time?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

If Brad signed Johnny to that contract after he looked like a shell of his former self, he would have been chased out of town.

As opposed to now?

Treliving had a hell of an off-season but right now everyone he brought in and maintained is sucking and sucking hard.

[undercoverbrother]

Why do we still give a #### about this?

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Locke

As opposed to now?

Treliving had a hell of an off-season but right now everyone he brought in and maintained is sucking and sucking hard.

The Flames are a cursed organization. As fans we can't catch a break.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

If Brad signed Johnny to that contract after he looked like a shell of his former self, he would have been chased out of town.

I'm not sure what "that contract" is referring to. But my guess is that in 2021 Gaudreau would have signed for much less than the 8*$10.5 than what was ultimately offered.

Now it's not totally fair to play the hindsight game, but I wish I knew exactly what the Flames think about Gaudreau. Was his 2021-22 season was a total surprise? It certainly appears they thought it was repeatable, so did they see something change with him during the season? More commitment perhaps?

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

gaudreau -6 away from sutters guiding hand

even on a less structured team he isn't as productive

him and Sutter had a great thing going here .. too bad

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

gaudreau -6 away from sutters guiding hand

even on a less structured team he isn't as productive

him and Sutter had a great thing going here .. too bad

Honestly? I actually think I get it.

Largely because I am lazy.

But if the difference in my pay is $9.75 or $10.5 but in one circumstance I really dont have to do anything but be me? As opposed to hard, grinding work?

I'd take the easy way out 11 times out of 10.

But thats also why I'm not an elite athlete. I'd skip the Gym for cheeseburgers and I'd skip practice for beers.

But if I could make similar money for just showing up as opposed to being pushed and pressured and required to perform? I am taking 'thanks for attending here is your money' all day every day.

I cant blame him for that.

[Sandman]

Of course Brad didn't offer him a $10+million contract after 2020-21. Johnny wasn't worth that kind of contract. In my opinion, he STILL isn't worth it.

[dino7c]

Its impossible to say how Gaudreau would have played last season if he wasn't in a contract year.

Also, after the Canadian div season what would you offer him? remember we have post history lol

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Dion

Not surprised to hear to hear how confused and messed up Johnny was. Indicates to me how much he loved playing in Calgary.

Sounds like last-minute familial interference when his mom says things like "we had never gone more than a month without seeing Johnny", "Calgary is hard to fly to", and "his decision showed that he was thinking about more than just himself instead of doing the easy thing and re-signing in Calgary"; and tells a story about how all her kids are around and see each other often now that he's relatively close to the east coast.

I would not be surprised if his mom and sisters guilt-tripped him hard about his decision to re-sign in Calgary that day or two before free agency.

[Stanley]

Imagine him in NJ lineup right about now…

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Why do we still give a #### about this?

Because we suck

[GullFoss]

Outside of people taking shots at Johnny over drugs (which is really uncalled for), I think his decision is fascinating given that no one really understands why Johnny made a choice that left all sides seemingly worse off.

I think very highly of the player and can't imagine he's going to want to be playing for a bottom feeder the next seven years. He was an extremely competitive player imo.

[Flamesfan05]

He is worth a lot more than Huberdeau
The Flames miss him badly. Nobody can consistently carry the puck over the blue line without losing it now

[howard_the_duck]

This is consistent with what I heard as well from a former player, and if true the number was very low.

[Toonage]

He was making what, $6.75M? I wonder if it was just $7M over 8 years? We should all be so embarrassed lol.

[Ashasx]

My understanding is that Johnny was asking for 8 years, $8.5 million AAV last off-season and the Flames didn't match.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

My understanding is that Johnny was asking for 8 years, $8.5 million AAV last off-season and the Flames didn't match.

Whoops.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Its impossible to say how Gaudreau would have played last season if he wasn't in a contract year.

Also, after the Canadian div season what would you offer him? remember we have post history lol

It’s almost besides the point in the end.

Flames should have traded him if they couldn’t re-sign him in 2021. As much fun as last season was, this team has to be a bit more severe in how they manage assets. We have a history (and very recent history) of losing players for nothing. Yes, it is “nothing” as cap-space is generally spent on free agent contracts that either bomb out of the gate or will look quite bad shortly thereafter due to the age/role of the player.

As a fan, I can get excited about pretty much anything (was Dustin Boyd’s #1 fan). I’m still waiting for this team to actually make long-term plans and not just blow cap space and assets on every shiny thing that comes onto the market.