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

[Classic_Sniper]

Just heard the last bit in the Podcast where Johnny would’ve re-upped for 8 years back in 2021 if it was anything close to his target number.

That’s definitely a sad revelation in that we could’ve had Johnny, Chucky and the best line in hockey back had it not been for Brad’s infamous penny pinching ways. I’ll never understand why he’s so notoriously difficult negotiating with his own guys, but is so eager to roll out the red carpet with a blank cheque for UFAs who proven nothing with his franchise, especially with his track record in July.

Ironically, he probably should’ve looked at tightening his purse strings with the Huberdeau and Weegar signings. Maybe he just didn’t want to repeat the same mistake that he made with Gaudreau back in 2021, but compounding mistakes on top of mistakes doesn’t seem like the recipe for success. You have to know what you’re signing up for long term and sadly, Treliving’s been a victim of this pretty much his whole managerial career.

[Scroopy Noopers]

It’s not even December of season #1 yet…

[Ferarri]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Just heard the last bit in the Podcast where Johnny would’ve re-upped for 8 years back in 2021 if it was anything close to his target number.

That’s definitely a sad revelation in that we could’ve had Johnny, Chucky and the best line in hockey back had it not been for Brad’s infamous penny pinching ways. I’ll never understand why he’s so notoriously difficult negotiating with his own guys, but is so eager to roll out the red carpet with a blank cheque for UFAs who proven nothing with his franchise, especially with his track record in July.

Ironically, he probably should’ve looked at tightening his purse strings with the Huberdeau and Weegar signings. Maybe he just didn’t want to repeat the same mistake that he made with Gaudreau back in 2021, but compounding mistakes on top of mistakes doesn’t seem like the recipe for success. You have to know what you’re signing up for long term and sadly, Treliving’s been a victim of this pretty much his whole managerial career.

I know it’s been stated before, but his target number was not in line with his level of play at that time. Johnny was coming off a down year and people would have blamed Tre if he dished out 10 million.

[Classic_Sniper]

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.

He didn’t look like a former shell of himself though, Gaudreau had a good season in 2021 minus that one stretch where he was playing with Monahan and Brett Ritchie. But the last 1/3 of the season is where management should’ve been paying attention, he crushed it as soon as he started to play Tkachuk and Lindholm.

That’s the thing, GM’s are paid to forecast. It’s not always going to be, see the stats and then make the decision. You have to know your player and from the sounds of it, he didn’t know Gaudreau at all until he hit 115. That’s finally when Treliving started to talk about money not being the issue, but by then, it was too late. Johnny wasn’t coming back for whatever amount of money.

Obviously in hindsight, It was critical the deal be complete in the offseason of 2021. But as I’ve said time and time again, Treliving’s biggest weakness is his talent evaluation. It usually rears its ugly head during the UFA period, but he just didn’t seem to know Gaudreau at all, because if he did, he would’ve realized he was worth the money. Offering “embarrassing” low ball offers at your franchise player is not smart. I wonder if that’s why the Gaudreau camp went from eager to sign to not even wanting to talk during the season.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Just heard the last bit in the Podcast where Johnny would’ve re-upped for 8 years back in 2021 if it was anything close to his target number.

That’s definitely a sad revelation in that we could’ve had Johnny, Chucky and the best line in hockey back had it not been for Brad’s infamous penny pinching ways. I’ll never understand why he’s so notoriously difficult negotiating with his own guys, but is so eager to roll out the red carpet with a blank cheque for UFAs who proven nothing with his franchise, especially with his track record in July.

Ironically, he probably should’ve looked at tightening his purse strings with the Huberdeau and Weegar signings. Maybe he just didn’t want to repeat the same mistake that he made with Gaudreau back in 2021, but compounding mistakes on top of mistakes doesn’t seem like the recipe for success. You have to know what you’re signing up for long term and sadly, Treliving’s been a victim of this pretty much his whole managerial career.

Wow. What an analytical masterpiece of a breakdown. I can’t decide what is more impressive the oversimplification or the laziness.

The double standard is also elite.

Tkachuk & Gaudreau should have been resigned long term after unimpressive seasons & no combined playoff success, but Weegar & Huberdeau are mistakes because of a difficult start integrating into a new team.

Brad should learn how to manage HIS money better or HE’LL have to sell his team. Of course HE must own the team, and not Murray Edwards or the other partners.

That penny pinching miser. We should be paying Hanifin, Lindholm, & Anderson more as well. Then maybe we can be like Oiler fans & disregard the salary cap entirely.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Ferarri

I know it’s been stated before, but his target number was not in line with his level of play at that time. Johnny was coming off a down year and people would have blamed Tre if he dished out 10 million.

Doesn’t matter, if anything, that could’ve driven down Gaudreau’s target offer.

Most importantly, you have to know you have and Johnny Gaudreau is one of the most naturally talented players in the game today, so you have to be willing to pay for that. That just comes down to good scouting.

Like I said, it’s not always about the numbers. So what if he had a couple down years, I didn’t even consider the 2021 season a down year, no one on this team could score and it dragged it in turn dragged his totals down.

I know for myself, I felt very strongly that Treliving needed to get a deal done in the offseason of 2021. Especially after Johnny and his agent came out and said they wanted to re-sign because if not, all bets are off when a player reaches UFA and anything can happen.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Doesn’t matter, if anything, that could’ve driven down Gaudreau’s target offer.

Most importantly, you have to know you have and Johnny Gaudreau is one of the most naturally talented players in the game today, so you have to be willing to pay for that. That just comes down to good scouting.

Like I said, it’s not always about the numbers. So what if he had a couple down years, I didn’t even consider the 2021 season a down year, no one on this team could score and it dragged it in turn dragged his totals down.

I know for myself, I felt very strongly that Treliving needed to get a deal done in the offseason of 2021. Especially after Johnny and his agent came out and said they wanted to re-sign because if not, all bets are off when a player reaches UFA and anything can happen.

Not sure why people can't get over it. It would have always taken an overpayment to keep Gaudreau on the Flames. Last season or this season and really, even if they met his demands last season, he may still have turned it down like he did at the beginning of this season.

[Kipper_3434]

After 2021 I was very vocal about going 8x9.5 for Gaudreau. The feedback from this board was beyond negative toward anyone who thought he was worth more than 6-7m aav.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Boreal

Wow. What an analytical masterpiece of a breakdown. I can’t decide what is more impressive the oversimplification or the laziness.

The double standard is also elite.

Tkachuk & Gaudreau should have been resigned long term after unimpressive seasons & no combined playoff success, but Weegar & Huberdeau are mistakes because of a difficult start integrating into a new team.

Brad should learn how to manage HIS money better or HE’LL have to sell his team. Of course HE must own the team, and not Murray Edwards or the other partners.

That penny pinching miser. We should be paying Hanifin, Lindholm, & Anderson more as well. Then maybe we can be like Oiler fans & disregard the salary cap entirely.

No, Tkachuk and Gaudreau should’ve been re-signed because they’re two of the most skilled play drivers in the league at their respective positions/style. I mean, we watch this team go up against every team in the league multiple times and there aren’t a lot of guys in the league who I’d pick ahead of those 2. The unicorn in Matthew Tkachuk and a Patrick Kane like talent in Johnny Gaudreau, you have to be willing to pay for that.

As for Weegar and especially Huberdeau, Treliving should’ve waited to see what they had in these 2 before he re-signed them. Just doing some pre-scout work, you could see that Huberdeau was not going to excel in Darryl’s system vs the rope-a-dope style he was use to.

Even just doing a player to player comparison, I’d easily have Gaudreau and Tkachuk ahead of Huberdeau any time, any where. There’s a lot warts in Jonathan’s game and I even went on record in the offseason, saying that I personally would not be comfortable signing him to a long term deal.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Not sure why people can't get over it. It would have always taken an overpayment to keep Gaudreau on the Flames. Last season or this season and really, even if they met his demands last season, he may still have turned it down like he did at the beginning of this season.

Based on what I heard in the podcast, he was very willing to sign. He even came out and said that if Treliving and the organization was happy with him, then he’d be willing to re-sign. Then his agent even re-iterated when asked, that Johnny was telling the truth.

Johnny doesn’t even strike me as the greedy type, he actually turned down millions this past offseason. I really don’t think that his ask, was all that unreasonable. I bet it was probably pretty fair.

Treliving on the other hand, is as tough of a negotiator as it gets. It’s been proven time and time again. It wouldn’t surprise me ever to hear that Treliving low balled someone.

[Sandman]

We're only a few months into the "Huberdeau Era", and a whole lot more patience is needed by some fans. Our core was ripped out, and a new one has been plugged in-those new players are learning a new, more detailed system under a new, tougher coach, in a new city with a different climate. It's gonna take 30-40 games before we see what this team is capable of. Huby is coming off one of the best seasons for a LW in the history of the game, that he put up with 2 vastly inferior linemates, and he's just starting to get going.

Gaudreau wasn't worth NEAR 10 mil/yr in the summer of 2021, and I don't think he's really worth that now. Tre would've been run out of town if he had offered him that contract at that time.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

No, Tkachuk and Gaudreau should’ve been re-signed because they’re two of the most skilled play drivers in the league at their respective positions/style. I mean, we watch this team go up against every team in the league multiple times and there aren’t a lot of guys in the league who I’d pick ahead of those 2. The unicorn in Matthew Tkachuk and a Patrick Kane like talent in Johnny Gaudreau, you have to be willing to pay for that.

As for Weegar and especially Huberdeau, Treliving should’ve waited to see what they had in these 2 before he re-signed them. Just doing some pre-scout work, you could see that Huberdeau was not going to excel in Darryl’s system vs the rope-a-dope style he was use to.

Even just doing a player to player comparison, I’d easily have Gaudreau and Tkachuk ahead of Huberdeau any time, any where. There’s a lot warts in Jonathan’s game and I even went on record in the offseason, saying that I personally would not be comfortable signing him to a long term deal.

It isn't like Weegar and Huberdeau are some unknown commodities. Just because they were new to you, doesn't mean they were new to the organization - the staff know what they got, and what they signed. Only a fan who is unfamiliar with players on other teams would suggest that they need to wait before signing them.

And you have made this silly claim about Huberdeau not fitting into Sutter's system. Of course he can - it isn't like Sutter is playing some completely different game, it's still hockey. And Huberdeau is an elite player. Yes, there is some adjustment needed. But suggesting he can't play for Sutter is ridiculous.

[MegaErtz]

Gaudreau spent eight full seasons in Calgary and Tkachuk six. Tkachuk was straight up when he left and said that if he wanted to win anything, he had to get out. Gaudreau was much more diplomatic but taking ten or fifteen million dollars less to play in Columbus says it all, really.

Tough to think of a franchise that is run worse in all of the four major North American sports leagues. We lose our two top guys and bring in older players on long term deals. It'll take a miracle for us to be competitive in the next decade.

[Sandman]

I think it needs to be said that Sutter isn't employing a stifling, grind-it-out trap system like he did in his previous tenure here. Our team plays an up-tempo, details-oriented system based on puck-possession and quick transition that tilts the ice in our favour. You can check all the fancy stats, the nightly shots tally, and the time spent with the puck in the offensive zone on any given night, and we are usually the better team by a large margin. This is no longer a team where offense goes to die-offensive players can flourish here.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It isn't like Weegar and Huberdeau are some unknown commodities. Just because they were new to you, doesn't mean they were new to the organization - the staff know what they got, and what they signed. Only a fan who is unfamiliar with players on other teams would suggest that they need to wait before signing them.

And you have made this silly claim about Huberdeau not fitting into Sutter's system. Of course he can - it isn't like Sutter is playing some completely different game, it's still hockey. And Huberdeau is an elite player. Yes, there is some adjustment needed. But suggesting he can't play for Sutter is ridiculous.

Discussing hockey with people is like describing what you see at the flea circus.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

\That’s definitely a sad revelation in that we could’ve had Johnny, Chucky and the best line in hockey back had it not been for Brad’s infamous penny pinching ways.

What makes you think Tkachuk would have re-signed here?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

Gaudreau spent eight full seasons in Calgary and Tkachuk six. Tkachuk was straight up when he left and said that if he wanted to win anything, he had to get out. Gaudreau was much more diplomatic but taking ten or fifteen million dollars less to play in Columbus says it all, really.

Tough to think of a franchise that is run worse in all of the four major North American sports leagues. We lose our two top guys and bring in older players on long term deals. It'll take a miracle for us to be competitive in the next decade.

K, I'm going to need some citation on Tkachuk stating he needed to he had to get out of Calgary if he wanted to win anything. I miss some news from time to time, but I feel that would have dominated headlines had he stated it.

[dino7c]

lol this went off the rails with some major revisionist history
Flames did so much winning with Tkachuk and Gaudreau...one playoff series win in six seasons

D would look pretty suspect right now without Weegar and the Flames would have had to move somebody else out to give Tkachuk and Gaudreau matching 8x10.5s

Add Tkachuk/Gaudreau
Remove Weegar, Huberdeau, Kadri, Mangiapane?

are they really better? especially in a playoff series

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
\That’s definitely a sad revelation in that we could’ve had Johnny, Chucky and the best line in hockey back had it not been for Brad’s infamous penny pinching ways.

That couldn't get out of the second round.

[scotty2hotty]

The goal of the NHL is not ‘fun’. It’s not to ‘entertain’ the fan base.

It’s to win the Stanley Cup.

I’m genuinely a Johnny and Tkachuk fan …but I’m confident that they proved NOT to be the core pieces of a Stanley Cup winning team here.

I don’t don’t know that the current team is a contender …but I definitely saw recurring evidence that the previous iteration was not.

For that reason alone …I’m not overly upset that they left.