[Rumour] McKenzie: Gaudreau & Flames are closing gap, but it's still a considerable gap.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Cappy

I thought that were around 6.3M right now?

I have no idea where that number is coming from. CapFriendly has the Flames with $7,989,933 in space but do not include Kulak's $656,667.

So assuming Hamilton, Vey and Kulak are on the team the Flames would currently have $7,333,266 in space.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by underclassman

Only because I know more then MOST OR ALL of the people on this thread ....... Ask me why ????

Aw man, this is a classic line. HF-esque.

[azzarish]

Has he signed yet?

[FBI]

AC is such a tease with the Johnny World Cup video.

[AC]

Originally Posted by FBI

AC is such a tease with the Johnny World Cup video.

Hahah, what if I release it and Gross uses it to suddenly ask for more?! It's a public service to wait until Johnny signs.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Someone also suggested Burke is a loose cannon and any attendance by him was bad news. There's no evidence Burke is bad in negotiations.

Brian Burke gave a 31 year old Matt Stajan 14 million dollars over 4 years. I think Burke's record in negotiations speaks for itself.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Brian Burke gave a 32 year old Matt Stajan 14 million dollars over 4 years. I think Burke's record in negotiations speaks for itself.

The suggestion was that he's a loose cannon and would sour the Gaudreau side on negotiations, not that he'd overpay.

BTW it was 30 years old and 12.5 million.

[Gaudreauvertime]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The suggestion was that he's a loose cannon and would sour the Gaudreau side on negotiations, not that he'd overpay.

Have you ever listened to Brian Burke talk?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

Have you ever listened to Brian Burke talk?

Not in a negotiation. Have you? As far as I know, he's a pro in negotiations and perhaps even player-friendly, looking at what he's given players in the past.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

Have you ever listened to Brian Burke talk?

Yeah, he's gruff, but it's not like he hates hockey players or anything.

I remember him calling out Sven when he first got to town and thinking, "That's unnecessary. Let the kid play." Well, it turns out ol' Burkie was right. Sven had some weaknesses that needed to get ironed out. He called Sven out because he wanted him to get better.

What are we afraid will happen here? He will call out Johnny and Johnny will sulk like Sven?

Burke has been a GM in this league, which means dealing with contract negotiations, since 1992. Burke's been involved in hockey management since before Johnny was born. I'm okay letting him have a role in contract negotiations.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The suggestion was that he's a loose cannon and would sour the Gaudreau side on negotiations, not that he'd overpay.

BTW it was 30 years old and 12.5 million.

Yes you are right, it was 12.5 million, he would be 31 when the contract kicked in and he had 17 points in 41 games and Burke decided we needed to lock down a guy who was at that time 3 and a half seasons removed from his most recent 40 point season.

I think it is key to make sure that we get Johnny on a good deal. We need to make sure we leave room to sign the Mason Raymond's, Engelland's and Stajan's of the world and trade for the Bollig's of the world.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Yes you are right, it was 12.5 million, he would be 31 when the contract kicked in and he had 17 points in 41 games and Burke decided we needed to lock down a guy who was at that time 3 and a half seasons removed from his most recent 40 point season.

I think it is key to make sure that we get Johnny on a good deal. We need to make sure we leave room to sign the Mason Raymond's, Engelland's and Stajan's of the world and trade for the Bollig's of the world.

You are making no sense. You are saying Burke signed one guy to too rich a contract (and in hindsight, sure), so he is going to be too cheap with Gaudreau.

[Gaudreauvertime]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Not in a negotiation. Have you? As far as I know, he's a pro in negotiations and perhaps even player-friendly, looking at what he's given players in the past.

Do you recall the Bure situation? In Vancouver?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

Do you recall the Bure situation? In Vancouver?

Yes. He couldn't stand Keenan. He basically walked out with a year left on his contract.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

You are making no sense. You are saying Burke signed one guy to too rich a contract (and in hindsight, sure), so he is going to be too cheap with Gaudreau.

No I am not saying that. I am saying sign one of the top 5 offensive talents in the game for as long a possible. I could careless if they overpay him by 500K.

Why? Because NHL GM's are idiots. They will waste money on Raymond's, Bollig's, Frolik's, Engelland's, Stajan's, Bouma's the list can go on and on. If they sign world class talents for a little more money and have less room 3rd, 4th and 5th liners that is fine by me. But we don't even have the room to lockdown an elite talent because Burke, Treliving and Feaster ensured we locked up mediocre talent for top dollar. But we better make sure Johnny signs for 581K less so we have enough room to sign Drew Stafford or Roman Polak to an inflated contract next offseason.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

Do you recall the Bure situation? In Vancouver?

Yeah, and I also recall Burke trading Bure for the best defenseman Vancouver has had in the last 15 years, as well as a first-round pick and a goalie who they traded for Felix Potvin. It was fine asset management.

[greentree]

Burke is an embarassment. Making jokes about "hookers" in front of a UofC law class last year should have sealed it for ya helloooo.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

Do you recall the Bure situation? In Vancouver?

Do you mean this?

Following the 1997–98 season, Bure told newly appointed general manager Brian Burke in a meeting on July 5, 1998, that he would not play for the Canucks again, despite still having a year left in his contract worth USD $8 million. Bure then went public with the declaration the following month, stating that he intended to leave the club for "personal reasons". Bure did not report to the club the following season. He instead went back to his hometown Moscow to practice with his former Central Red Army club. During this time, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko offered Bure a tax-free US$4 million salary to play in Belarus, which Bure turned down.

How is this Burke's fault?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yes. He couldn't stand Keenan. He basically walked out with a year left on his contract.

Plus, he never really wanted to play Van.

http://theprovince.com/sports/hockey...t-of-vancouver

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by greentree

Burke is an embarassment. Making jokes about "hookers" in front of a UofC law class last year should have sealed it for ya helloooo.

This?

Originally Posted by Five-hole

He started off with a joke for us law students: what’s the difference between a hooker and a lawyer? A hooker stops screwing you when you die. That set the tone for the candid discussion that would follow.

This joke is a thing of the past. It doesn't matter at all in the present -- it's long past being irrelevant. So why bring it up?