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

[Muta]

Really hoping Mangiapane takes the next step in his career and becomes that consistent 1st line LW. What a boon that would be for us right now.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Insulting to who? Why does the money matter? God forbid someone make a life decision that’s a bit more than money.

And so what if he cares more about family than winning? Maybe he thinks CBJ can be competitive.

As if being a family man who doesn’t care about money are bad traits to have as a person.

Well obviously, based off this thread, it's insulting to me and a huge amount of other Flames fans.

They guy was full of #### IMO. If he's willing to leave that much money on the table just to get away from Calgary, then he was never going to sign here. Especially when it wasn't to go to a contender or to a team that is anywhere near where he calls home.

[2macinnis2]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Nope. Wrong. Some guy who went to a **top** med school says that’s wrong and people don’t make choice based on the quality of the employer or career opportunities. And if a guy claiming to be a doctor on CP said so, it has to apply to everyone who is in the field of medicine because of course some rando on CP should be able to speak for a woman he doesn’t know and has never met.

We can debate hockey all day, but I’m confident in my understanding how most medical professionals think about career opportunities. She’s a new grad. I know the hospitals in those cities. They have a right to whatever opinions they want, that the Columbus hospital is a better opportunity than working in one around NYC or Philly or Calgary. Or that the hockey team is better in Columbus. Or that the sky is more blue in Columbus.

ALL I am saying is that basing this decision on a new grad’s potential opportunity at that hospital vs any of these other cities makes little sense. Take it or leave it.

I agree with the subsequent poster’s sentiment that the hospital discussion is foolish. It likely had nothing to do with anything.

[Infinit47]

Nobody thinks it's weird that a person who is in the top 10 or 20 of their profession in the entire world choses their work location on where their spouse, a recent graduate with little work experience, would like to work?

That doesn't seem selfish to anyone else? I really, really doubt his wife was driving this decision away from what Gaudreau wanted to do with his career.

It's okay for Gaudreau's career to matter more right now, and her career to matter more later.

Ultimately If Gaudreau wanted to stay in Calgary he would have. He didn't, and this is where we are.

People are upset because he repeatedly said one thing, and then did another in a pretty harmful way to the organization.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think any competent GM should assume that the players are going to do what's best for them and nothing more. There's a reason long tenured GM's like Lamoriello are cut throat.

Professional sports is funny. There’s no more brutally ruthless industry in the world. The money is huge. The egos are huge. There’s no prize for second place. The owners, management, and players have shown time and time again that each of them acts in their own self-interest and exploits every bit of leverage at hand to get they want.

And yet fans are encouraged to believe it’s all about higher ideals like loyalty and honour. Even when owners, management, and players demonstrate their selfishness, we don’t want to believe it.

You’re absolutely right. GMs like Lamoiriello have has the success they’ve had because they don’t even pretend to be about anything other than winning the deal.

[TheIronMaiden]

I understand people are upset, but I don't understand the knee jerk character assassination.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

What would you suggest they give up for Miller, because the cost to obtain him will be substantial.

That’s why I don’t think it will happen. Vcr probably won’t want to trade him in their division either.

Betting we’re too late to the game on Kadri.

[CaptainCrunch]

At the end of the day, John (Not Johnny) its definitely you and not us.


You had the tiger by the tail here. You could have become one of the top paid players in the league. Played for a contending, really good team. Had the adoration of the city, had the respect of your team mates. You were a poster boy. You, John, coulda been a contenda.


Now . . . . you're nothing. You're John Gaudreau, hockey player for the Columbus Blue Jacket. The guy who pissed away millions, and literally it feels like, told Calgary that you didn't want us.


Yeah, man, its definitely you, not us.


I don't know if I'd be all that inclined to join in on a salute on Dome ice for him next year. I won't boo the guy, but I'm not over the moon happy about the circumstances around you're departure.


At the end of the day, all I can come up with is this.



The Calgary Flames reached an agreement that allows John Gaudreau to leave for Columbus. We wish John good luck in his future endeavors.



End of message.

[djsFlames]

It won't be an instant thing to turn the page but I'm beginning to come to terms with what's happened and how this team can change/evolve by building around a different kind of player/s and how that will change the entire dynamic of how they play the game. Maybe we end up with a product that's on average much less frustrating than we've seen here for years.

I will admit building around a small LW never felt like a recipe for success, i was just always hoping that we could beat the odds and prove it could be done with the right supporting cast.

Maybe now we can give the core better bones to set it up for real future success. With players that want to be here.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

My wild guess is I think the Flames pressured Johnny on Tuesday and he wasn't ready to give an answer. I'm guessing Edwards guilt tripped him perhaps for holding up the organization to that point knowing that the deal presented was more than reasonable, or that was the tone of message sent through the people in communication. I can see the Flames side wanting to do their business and maybe sending a shot or two from the top at his camp for running down the clock. It wasn't recieved well and so he took his toys home to play in the US. Until that point, he probably was genuinely torn between options.

It makes a lot of sense that tempers would boil over at 11:59 on the proverbial clock. Flames might have sealed their own fate while Johnny simultaneously burned that bridge with his old team and teammates by allowing emotions to factor in.

It's too bad, really. And now nobody wins.

Could have taken many different turns in retrospect, but that's always easy to point out after the fact. In the midst of the process of negotiations it is clear that both sides didn't have an extended future with the Flames ruled out entirely.

The public statements are just salad dressing and don't tell the whole story and we likely won't know much until tidbits slip out over time, maybe through friends and family of those that were in the room that afternoon/evening.

I am curious as #### how it unraveled though.

I agree 100% that this what went down. Hope we find out some day.

[3thirty]

It's funny in his interview Gaudreau said he and his wife were happy when they (Columbus) called, but Columbus said it was his agent that called them first...Him and Jarmo give each other looks right after too

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

Nobody thinks it's weird that a person who is in the top 10 or 20 of their profession in the entire world choses their work location on where their spouse, a recent graduate with little work experience, would like to work?

That doesn't seem selfish to anyone else? I really, really doubt his wife was driving this decision away from what Gaudreau wanted to do with his career.

It's okay for Gaudreau's career to matter more right now, and her career to matter more later.

Ultimately If Gaudreau wanted to stay in Calgary he would have. He didn't, and this is where we are.

People are upset because he repeatedly said one thing, and then did another in a pretty harmful way to the organization.

He gets to make double digit millions of dollars a year to slap rubber around with a stick, 110 vs 120 million dollars in career earnings doesnt appear to make much of a difference and he can do it wherever. His career is already set. It is pretty noble to let his wife also have a fulfilling career

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

It's funny in his interview Gaudreau said he and his wife were happy when they (Columbus) called, but Columbus said it was his agent that called them first...

One of those sources is an established liar.

[dcbc]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

One of those sources is an established liar.

CBJ reached out first but didn't ever expect to hear back. I read Jarmo speaking about this yesterday but can't remember where will try to find it.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I think any speculation and subsequent critique of the Flames (BT or Edwards, or anyone) if they maybe pressed hard on Tuesday night on Johnny, and that that may have rubbed him the wrong way needs to get parked.

IF that did happen, I have no issues with it. I understand it's Johnny's "right" to take whatever time he wants, and that's cool. But at that point in time if he's still not able to give you an answer, about where he wants to be, and if he wants to stay with an org he's been with for 8 years, then I'm fine if the Flames (through which ever member of the org) threw down the gauntlet.

He's had a long time to decide if he wants to be in Calgary or with the org. At that point in time it should be about dollars and structure, not still "I'm not sure if I want to be here".

[Flame On]

Something that not many people seem to be picking up in the side-rail issue of hospital rankings and spouse happiness, is a few things he brought up in the presser related to seeing it in Columbus:

That's who you want to play with, guys who get along in the locker room and love coming to the rink and working every single day. It's just a healthy environment to be around.

Seemed a strange thing to highlight, or is that a reach?

[Yoho]

I’m happy everything has probably been said about this by now.
You’re a punch line Jonny Im sure most of your peers are laughing at this decision.
Carry on and thanks for your time in Calgary.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by rohara66

I agree 100% that this what went down. Hope we find out some day.

If this is true, I have even less respect for him. The theory makes him sound like a child.

[djsFlames]

It's just funny when even the Columbus press are asking "why Columbus?!?" in disbelief, and he doesn't even have a good or concrete answer for it outside of typical formalities.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by stone hands

He gets to make double digit millions of dollars a year to slap rubber around with a stick, 110 vs 120 million dollars in career earnings doesnt appear to make much of a difference and he can do it wherever. His career is already set. It is pretty noble to let his wife also have a fulfilling career

That's insane.

His career and job satisfaction (team fit, teammates, competitiveness) is significantly more dependant on the location than hers would be. She is a recent grad for goodness sake.

Not to mention that his career will be over in a decade and she can then take the family wherever she wants. Seems like a way for both of them to win.