Brad Treliving on serius radio

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Treliving doesn't throw out many kernels like "will get something done sooner than later" unless it's almost done.

Man I hope so. This board will be a mess if they aren't signed soon.
Also it will be nice to see where the flames will stand cap wise at the end of this season.

[Huntingwhale]

I had a dream last night that I was hanging with Johnny and he signed a 5 year contract.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Treliving doesn't throw out many kernels like "will get something done sooner than later" unless it's almost done.

Is that true? I thought he was saying something similar from the start. Maybe I didn't pay close enough attention to the words he was using.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Is that true? I thought he was saying something similar from the start. Maybe I didn't pay close enough attention to the words he was using.

My memory says all of them (Treliving, Monahan, Gaudreau) having been saying "it's close" for quite awhile now

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Johnny grew up dreaming for playing for Philadelphia. Before everyone jumps on me, because you're probably already hitting reply, no, I don't know this for fact, just what I am insinuating based on what I have read. It's unfortunate for Flames fans but it's likely true. He's a young kid. Does it mean he'll make the right business decision for his career? I'm not sure how much it would impact that. Does it mean that today if he had to choose to play for the team he always dreamed of vs. the team that drafted and gave him his shot and he's got a buddy on?

Don't know about that either. And that's why I say he probably wants to keep the term low and give himself options, and I'm suggesting that likely in his mind, an option is playing for the team he grew up loving. I don't think I'm off base by suggesting that, and I do think Flames fans are delusional if they think that all of a sudden magically he would surrender his career and term to only play for the Calgary Flames.

Two things.

First, I am very curious to know what it is you have read to make you feel so strongly that Gaudraeu is hell-bent on playing out his career in Philadelphia. I have been following this player pretty closely since his rookie season at BC, and I honestly don't recall anything ever reported outside of the usual platitudes about favourite teams growing up from all players to indicate that he has any pressing desire to return to NJ or PA.

Second, why is it "delusional" to think that Gaudreau would play long-term in Calgary? And moreover, how would a long term deal for Gaudreau damage his career? I don't see anything out of the ordinary whatsoever in expecting Gaudreau to sign a long-term deal, and I don't see how this would require him to "surrender his career."

I have said it before, and I will reiterate it here again: The concerns about Gaudreau's yearning to play in the East might be justified if he was the only one of the Flames pending RFAs to still be negotiating his contract. But since both he and Monahan—who stood on the stage at the NHL entry draft—are involved in a long negotiation I tend to think that the delay is more nuanced than a hangup over term.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Johnny grew up dreaming for playing for Philadelphia. Before everyone jumps on me, because you're probably already hitting reply, no, I don't know this for fact, just what I am insinuating based on what I have read. It's unfortunate for Flames fans but it's likely true. He's a young kid. Does it mean he'll make the right business decision for his career? I'm not sure how much it would impact that. Does it mean that today if he had to choose to play for the team he always dreamed of vs. the team that drafted and gave him his shot and he's got a buddy on?

Don't know about that either. And that's why I say he probably wants to keep the term low and give himself options, and I'm suggesting that likely in his mind, an option is playing for the team he grew up loving. I don't think I'm off base by suggesting that, and I do think Flames fans are delusional if they think that all of a sudden magically he would surrender his career and term to only play for the Calgary Flames.

I'm not going to jump down your throat, and I'm not even saying you are wrong about him wanting to play for the Flyers etc...

What I'm saying is I'm not sure how much that's playing into the negotiations on THIS contract. A someone else pointed out, every player (almost) grew up with a team they dreamed to play for. This contract has to be signed with the Flames..........whether Johnny likes it or not. The goal on this contract is most likely all about Johnny's camp setting up a deal that sets them up to maximise Johnny's earnings regardless of where he plays.

Finding a way to end up in Philly may very well be on Johnny's mind. Regardless of how many years he signs for, trying to land on one very specific team would be difficult for any player of any stature, but there are also lots of options for Johnny to persue down the road when that becomes an options for him (trade request, etc...). I highly doubt he's going to do something that doesn't maximise his earnings right now simply to get away from the Flames as quickly as possible and MAYBE get to play for his childhood team.

Johnny had a gold opportunity to manipulate where he ended up playing just 2 years ago when he CHOSE to sign with the Flames vs. heading back to college and becoming UFA the following year where he could have made sure he stayed east or even ended up in Philly. He chose to take the money, and start his NHL career back then, and since then I'd wager his comfort with Calgary and the organisation could have only grown. So I have a hard time believing the negotiations going on right now are being overly influenced by anything other than, "what is the right move to maximise my earnings over the next 8 years of my career", even if a lingering desire to one day play for the Flyers or be closer to home is on his mind.

[CroFlames]

So every player in the league wants to leave and play for his hometown club?

How many times has Johnny complimented the C of Red? IMO, he says it more so than other Flames players, and that is telling because he doesn't have to. The fans in Philly can be a bit rough around the edges towards their players, and maybe Johnny wants to avoid that? Especially since he'll be the hometown boy they expect to lead the Flyers to multiple Cups.

You can't definitively say he wants to go East unless you talked to him directly. For all you know, he wants to avoid Philly and the East. Maybe he's super grateful to the Flames club for drafting him at all, and wants to repay their faith with loyalty. You never know these things.

All we can do as fans is hope he signs the 8 year deal.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Treliving doesn't throw out many kernels like "will get something done sooner than later" unless it's almost done.

That's not actually what he said though. He said "he's hopeful things will get done sooner rather than later".

[sun]

Every single player on every single team had a favourite team growing up. Hockey players are different than hockey fans. It's a business. This is their job.

Millions upon millions of dollars will change your "favourite team" in an instant. Would you play for the oilers for the league minimum? Of course. This "favourite team" narrative is created by fans because we don't think of things from the athlete's point of view. We imagine them as fans, like us. They aren't. They're in the entertainment business.

Steven Stamkos makes a pros/cons list of signing in Toronto, where would "I had a Wendel Clark jersey once" end up on the list? Probably somewhere so far behind "term", "millions of dollars", "convenience", etc that it's not even on the same sheet of loose-leaf.

Gaudreau might want to play closer to his childhood home some day. You know what might outweigh that desire? Literally everything else about being a professional athlete.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by sun

Every single player on every single team had a favourite team growing up. Hockey players are different than hockey fans. It's a business. This is their job.

Millions upon millions of dollars will change your "favourite team" in an instant. Would you play for the oilers for the league minimum? Of course. This "favourite team" narrative is created by fans because we don't think of things from the athlete's point of view. We imagine them as fans, like us. They aren't. They're in the entertainment business.

Steven Stamkos makes a pros/cons list of signing in Toronto, where would "I had a Wendel Clark jersey once" end up on the list? Probably somewhere so far behind "term", "millions of dollars", "convenience", etc that it's not even on the same sheet of loose-leaf.

Gaudreau might want to play closer to his childhood home some day. You know what might outweigh that desire? Literally everything else about being a professional athlete.

And not for nothing, his childhood home is Philadelphia. I'm sure when he was chasing Skittles around the backyard in Carney's Point, Johnny Gaudreau was dreaming of one day being booed by the crowd at the Wachovia Centre.

[4X4]

Is there some reason why it's only Gaudreu who is constantly talked about like this? I've never heard this kind of fan obsession with a player allegedly wanting to go to a specific team the way it is with him. Did he say it? I'm asking legitimately. Did he say it?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Is there some reason why it's only Gaudreu who is constantly talked about like this? I've never heard this kind of fan obsession with a player allegedly wanting to go to a specific team the way it is with him. Did he say it? I'm asking legitimately. Did he say it?

He politely answered a question in a radio interview this summer about the possibility that he might return to PA at some point in his NHL career. His response was that it would be easier for his friends and family to watch games if he played regularly in the Eastern time zone.

[TapeToTape]

I don't know why more good players don't push harder for the earliest UFA status. Make up your own mind where you want to play. Take a bit less money and make sure you like your environment throughout your career. They make obscene amounts regardless.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by TapeToTape

I don't know why more good players don't push harder for the earliest UFA status. Make up your own mind where you want to play. Take a bit less money and make sure you like your environment throughout your career. They make obscene amounts regardless.

Because of the risk of declining performance/injury. If you sign a longer contract, you're negating most of the risk and you are insuring you get what you are worth now, for much longer. I think players know in the back of their heads that they can always pull a Heatley/Nash/St.Louis if they want out bad enough. As well, if they have an NMC, they have the same power to join their preferred team that a UFA does.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by polak

Seems like term is the sticking point every time he speaks.

Everyone wants an eight year deal.

[TapeToTape]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Because of the risk of declining performance/injury. If you sign a longer contract, you're negating most of the risk and you are insuring you get what you are worth now, for much longer. I think players know in the back of their heads that they can always pull a Heatley/Nash/St.Louis if they want out bad enough. As well, if they have an NMC, they have the same power to join their preferred team that a UFA does.

The team you go to has to trade stuff out for you, making them weaker and not as likely to win compared to a free signing. There's also the fan backlash towards all those players you mentioned. It would be much more satisfying to have every team you play for have good memories of you. The difference between 20 and 40 million is probably not going to make most people actually happier. Better to exceed your pay with your play during your whole career so you don't have to encounter the charge that you are overpaid and closer to mediocre than superstar like Weber.

I get your point about insuring your earnings, I just don't think that it should be as important to so many.

[TheFlamesVan]

Why so Serius?

[Badgers Nose]

IMO his agent is being smart. Sign a short contract now so that you can renew at $12-13m in 5 years.

Has nothing to do with any other teams. It's about Getting Johnny everything he can, like a good agent should do.

In a few years his face will be on wheaties boxes, nutella jars and skittles bags. Everyone knows what a big deal he is. He's P Kane without the d-bag traits.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Everyone wants an eight year deal.

It will probably cost north of $8m/year to get a long deal and give up 2 years of UFA.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

It will probably cost north of $8m/year to get a long deal and give up 2 years of UFA.

Not according to the other contracts that have been signed. It should be $7.5 million max for Gaudreau on a 8 year deal and $6.5 million max for Monahan on a 8 year deal.