[Signing] Flames sign Gaudreau and Arnold. Will be available for Sunday's game against Canucks

[terminator]

Originally Posted by TheKing

And smaller.. vs better competition.

Give him a chance before setting ur hopes to high

[Scoutski]

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

Yes. The hype is out of control right now. The Flames are going to be much improved much sooner because of the other legitimate prospects we have, and players we've been patiently developing. - Monahan. Baertschi. Backlund. The top draft pick this year.

I hope Gaudreau is a massive player for the Flames. I am just pointing out my reservations.

That's fair enough and you're absolutely entitled to hold your judgement, but are the rest of us so wrong for being excited? The guy is about to play in the NHL for the first time and we get to see that, it's fun!

[sureLoss]

Kristen Odland @KristenOdlandCH
Gaudreau and Arnold are both flying from Philly tonight to meet up with the team in Calgary. Then onto Vancouver.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by terminator

Give him a chance before setting ur hopes to high

k brah.

[terminator]

Socalflamesfan is right, what happened was fairly routine a draft pick was signed.... The boards arec crazy right now. I like you am pumped but I'm not gonna say he's a Kane or Crosby like a has been done

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

I did watch it. And I've seen him play in person. The NCAA's are not the NHL. The game last night was error filled, with soft defending and space that doesn't exist in the NHL. It's why there are so many great NCAA players who are 5'7" and 5'8" but so few in the NHL.

Yeah, level of play was poor but Johnny was doing well.
It will take 2 to 3 years before we know what we have with JG, but he is a very good prospect.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

Is this how far we've fallen as the Flames? That we're celebrating the signing of a 5'7", 160lb 4th round draft pick like the second coming?

Great that he's had some success in his college career but really people. Look at this list. How many of these players were anything in the NHL? 6 or 7? Of them who are real difference makers? 2 players in twenty plus years?


1993 Paul Kariya
1994 Chris Marinucci
1995 Brian Holzinger
1996 Brian Bonin
1997 Brendan Morrison
1998 Chris Drury
1999 Jason Krog
2000 Mike Mottau
2001 Ryan Miller
2002 Jordan Leopold
2003 Peter Sejna
2004 Junior Lessard
2005 Marty Sertich
2007 Ryan Duncan
2008 Kevin Porter
2009 Matt Gilroy
2010 Blake Geoffrion
2011 Andy Miele
2012 Jack Connolly
2013 Drew LeBlanc

Listen, I hope he's Paul Kariya v.2 ... but lets get real. I really don't get the joy. 99% of people here have never even seen him play. His chances of being an NHL player are pretty small imo. The odds are really against him. Just shaking my head at all the media hype and ridiculous nonsense surrounding a mid round pick signing a contract.

The odds have been against him at pretty much every level up to now as well. Dude has destroyed the nay-sayers.

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

I haven't said anything not nice. Just of my perspective. We should be celebrating wins and playoffs. This is how far we've fallen.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

Somehow I think they'll enjoy the flight, and Craig's company as well. Damn good role model. motormouth or not!

No doubt about it.

I am an unapologetic Craig Conroy fan, as a player, as a person and as a manager. I think the guy should be our next GM.

That's another thread though.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

But signing our prospects is just something every team does almost every day. Every prospect should be signed unless something drastically bad has happened.

My thanks meter just started refilling and I just pissed it all away again thanking people who made fun of you.

Just stop.

[bubbsy]

SoCalFlamesFan

think you're fair in tempering expectations, as i think everyone's pretty excited that he actually signed after years of worry that he'll choose to walk away for some reason.

there's no denying 2 things about him, 1) he is uber skilled, 2) he wins everywhere he goes. If he wasn't as small as he is, i think everyone would have penciled him in as at least a 2nd line LW a few years from now. I think the only question mark he has is if he can adjust to the NHL given his size. As a guy who grew up watching theo fleury, i'm not going to simply assume that he's just too small for the league.

I think it's fair to be excited. What i think everyone needs to account for is a learning curve. It might be a while before we see him being able to establish himself at the NHL. I think the baertchi example is a good one. We need to be patient.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

But signing our prospects is just something every team does almost every day. Every prospect should be signed unless something drastically bad has happened.

So a prospect I'm very excited about seeing a Flame... becoming a Flame, is something you feel obligated to ridicule us about?

Keep your opinions to yourself. This is an entire thread of people excited to see a prospect join the club, I'm pretty confused about what goal you're trying to achieve here. Was I going to read your post and think "He's right! Screw being happy! Thanks for taking a dump on the parade to bring be back to reality!"

No. So reserve your pessimism for rubbing it in our face every time he has a bad game.

Go Flames go! Eh bud?

[terminator]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

No doubt about it.

I am an unapologetic Craig Conroy fan, as a player, as a person and as a manager. I think the guy should be our next GM.

That's another thread though.

Start a new thread then?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by terminator

Start a new thread then?

Can't. I'm shy.

[DOOM]

Lol, I love how SoCalFlamesFan hasn't had a post in 5 months and then decides to randomly show up in this thread.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

I did watch it. And I've seen him play in person. The NCAA's are not the NHL. The game last night was error filled, with soft defending and space that doesn't exist in the NHL. It's why there are so many great NCAA players who are 5'7" and 5'8" but so few in the NHL.

Are you saying NCAA isn't professional, NHL level hockey?

Gasp.

[sureLoss]

John Gaudreau @johngaudreau03
Want to thank Boston College for an amazing three years! Amazing teammates, amazing coaches, and amazing friends! Going to miss it next year

[MisterJoji]

The pity party lovefest between terminator and Socal leads me to believe they are the same person circle-jerking themselves with 2 accounts.

[krynski]

my bad.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by SoCalFlamesFan

I did watch it. And I've seen him play in person. The NCAA's are not the NHL. The game last night was error filled, with soft defending and space that doesn't exist in the NHL. It's why there are so many great NCAA players who are 5'7" and 5'8" but so few in the NHL.

Who are the "great" 5'7" and 5'8" NCAA players you speak of? and how many have scored 2 points a game and as a 3rd year player...answer..none!

[Red Ice Player]

I think a lot of people are getting carried away with their giddiness, but its just so justified in this case. This signing has been anticipated across multiple threads for weeks, even years. Now we are getting an explosion of relief. Let everyone have their celebration. The Flames have won back their fanbase. The rest of the league doesn't care, but we sure as hell do. Its gonna be a long summer.