Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

[JohnnyB]

I have a feeling Johnny will re-sign too. He will cement his legacy with the Flames and the legacy of Jay Feaster's contribution in picking one of the team's all-time greats in the 4th round.

[socalwingfan]

Reading this thread reminds me of an interview I heard with CC Sabathia regarding his free agency, he basically said everything you hear from “insiders” and “friends” is bull####

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by dammage79

IMO, don't think the eigth year matters much. Of course he'd take it if the plan they sold him was good enough.

Honestly, I think he's somewhere else starting the season in the fall. The family thing is a massively convincing argument for me.

Just the way the cookie crumbles. Plus I think he's the kind of guy that does better when the bright burning spotlight isn't on him completely. Which IMO (again) gets hotter if he signs in CGY.

It'd be cool if he stayed but as this draws to a close, I'm not a believer. Eastern conference team it is for him.

I am sure given your negative outlook in the past nothing would make you happier. Prepare to be disappointed. Thinking a grown man playing a sport where almost every player plays far from home is a huge factor seems absurd to me. I guess we can kiss all of our Swede players goodbye, surely they want to play in Sweden close to their families. The man is 29 years old, not 12.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am sure given your negative outlook in the past nothing would make you happier. Prepare to be disappointed. Thinking a grown man playing a sport where almost every player plays far from home is a huge factor seems absurd to me. I guess we can kiss all of our Swede players goodbye, surely they want to play in Sweden close to their families. The man is 29 years old, not 12.

Oh jeez.

[OptimalTates]

If there was an NHL team in Sweden I guarantee you that some Swedes would take huge cuts to play there. Good thing there isn't one so we don't have to worry about Lindholm wanting to play at home. Unfortunately I heard the Eastern United States might have a team or two.

Also the man being 29 and not 12 is probably a good reason to put down roots where he wants to be long-term. His wife being a nurse in the Philly area and his family from there is more worrying that he is 29 and not some rookie looking to get away from home for the first time...

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

This isn't hockey but it ties to the situation. I wish Johnny would chat with Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers.

Freddie was drafted by the Braves and was the face of the franchise since Chipper Jones retired. This last season Freeman left the Braves as FA for the Dodgers (he is from So Cal). The Braves offered him a 5 year, 140 million offer. Dodgers signed him for 6 years 168 million with 50ish million deferred. Freeman's agent gave the Braves an ultimatum and when the deadline wasn't met the Braves thought their chance was over so made a blockbuster trade (and sign) for another player.

Freeman was in Atlanta for the first time since leaving in UFA last weekend and was visibly shaken and upset. He has since fired his agent. Ex-teammates are allegedly saying Freeman has confided in them that he isn't happy how the FA process concluded and isn't happy he still isn't with the Braves.

There is something to be said about staying with a franchise you're the face of. A place where you could cement your legacy and have your number retired. At the end of the day Johnny has earned the right to what he wants. But staying with the Flames to cement his legacy does have a value.

A classic fable as old as time itself.

Originally Posted by Poe969

Doesn't his dad have heart issues? I moved away from where my parents lived, I still saw them regularly but not as often as I would have if I lived there. I recently lost a parent and I would give up anything to see them again or to see them hold one of my children. All the money in the world won't fix that.

I get money is important but family trumps it. If he changes teams to be closer to family, I'll respect him even more...if he goes to some random team for big money, I'll hate him with the fire of a thousand suns.

Unless he chooses VAN, EDM, or WPG he'll be significantly improving his family connectivity no matter where he goes. Pretty sure every other city has direct flights and most would have no customs. A x-country first class flight would be a lot more tolerable than connecting, though if he does leave I doubt it's anywhere west of STL.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I have a feeling Johnny will re-sign too. He will cement his legacy with the Flames and the legacy of Jay Feaster's contribution in picking one of the team's all-time greats in the 4th round.

It couldn't be any other way.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am sure given your negative outlook in the past nothing would make you happier. Prepare to be disappointed. Thinking a grown man playing a sport where almost every player plays far from home is a huge factor seems absurd to me. I guess we can kiss all of our Swede players goodbye, surely they want to play in Sweden close to their families. The man is 29 years old, not 12.

Great, now I have flashbacks of Loob heading home.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

If there was an NHL team in Sweden I guarantee you that some Swedes would take huge cuts to play there. Good thing there isn't one so we don't have to worry about Lindholm wanting to play at home. Unfortunately I heard the Eastern United States might have a team or two.

Also the man being 29 and not 12 is probably a good reason to put down roots where he wants to be long-term. His wife being a nurse in the Philly area and his family from there is more worrying that he is 29 and not some rookie looking to get away from home for the first time...

His wife used to work in Philly, she works in Calgary now. More reason for him to stay. So how come Coleman signed here? Surely he should have signed with Dallas. MacKinnon won't re-sign with the Avs right? He obviously is heading to Montreal, close to home. One player has ever bolted as a UFA to play near home, one. Then there are some Flame fans that will come up with any excuse to speculate a player wants to leave.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

His wife used to work in Philly, she works in Calgary now. More reason for him to stay. So how come Coleman signed here? Surely he should have signed with Dallas. MacKinnon won't re-sign with the Avs right? He obviously is heading to Montreal, close to home. One player has ever bolted as a UFA to play near home, one. Then there are some Flame fans that will come up with any excuse to speculate a player wants to leave.

The big difference between Coleman and Gaudreau is rarity. Gaudreau is a unique talent and pretty much has his pick of the litter. I would bet that if Gaudreau went around to every team, there would be at least 25 GMs that, after climaxing, would sign Gaudreau and then figure out the cap after the fact.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The big difference between Coleman and Gaudreau is rarity. Gaudreau is a unique talent and pretty much has his pick of the litter. I would bet that if Gaudreau went around to every team, there would be at least 25 GMs that, after climaxing, would sign Gaudreau and then figure out the cap after the fact.

Ok, so why is MacKinnon not heading East? Surely he will go UFA by your logic, I mean he is better than even Gaudreau.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ok, so why is MacKinnon not heading East? Surely he will go UFA by your logic, I mean he is better than even Gaudreau.

I have no idea what he will do when he becomes a UFA or by the time his 29th birthday is on the horizon. Maybe he will head east.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I have no idea what he will do when he becomes a UFA or by the time his 29th birthday is on the horizon. Maybe he will head east.

Maybe the Flames will sign MacKinnon.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I have no idea what he will do when he becomes a UFA or by the time his 29th birthday is on the horizon. Maybe he will head east.

I may be remembering wrong but I thought I read it somewhere that MacKinnon will re-sign with Avs less money so the team can retain a Championship team. He regards winning championship more important than money. I'd think it means he regards winning championship more important than playing close to home?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I may be remembering wrong but I thought I read it somewhere that MacKinnon will re-sign with Avs less money so the team can retain a Championship team. He regards winning championship more important than money. I'd think it means he regards winning championship more important than playing close to home?

Could be, everyone has different priorities or those priorities change over time. Just like the Gaudreau's seem to have some really strong family oriented priorities, like not every player has their family traveling so much to visit and watch them play. As cool as it was every time Guy and Jane came to town, part of me couldn't help but think of the hassle it was for them and that they might want to convince him to play closer to home one day.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

His wife used to work in Philly, she works in Calgary now. More reason for him to stay. So how come Coleman signed here? Surely he should have signed with Dallas. MacKinnon won't re-sign with the Avs right? He obviously is heading to Montreal, close to home. One player has ever bolted as a UFA to play near home, one. Then there are some Flame fans that will come up with any excuse to speculate a player wants to leave.

Players have asked for trades to be closer to home.

Just as Tavares choosing to go home doesn’t mean Gaudreau will, Coleman not choosing to go home doesn’t mean Gaudreau won’t. I don’t think anyone is arguing that every player even wants to go home, so making that argument doesn’t change the fact that Gaudreau might. It’s been mentioned in the media, he’s obviously super close with his family that lives there and loves the area, so it’s possible, that’s all.

I honestly don’t understand why it’s an issue for argument. It’s possible. That doesn’t make him 12, that doesn’t mean Mackinnon is going home, that doesn’t mean he lied about wanting to stay in Calgary. Who knows, the rumours could be planted to put big pressure on Calgary to pay up. But they’re believable rumours, at least.

It’s not that people are looking for an excuse to speculate on a Flame leaving, people are just having a discussion. And it’s super tiring reading one side getting shouted down constantly when they’re not bringing any of that heat themselves. So what if someone thinks he’ll leave, who cares? Nobody wins the argument, he’s just gonna stay or go regardless of what is said here.

[Jason14h]

Almost no player leaves to be closer to home . Usually because they haven’t lived at home since they were 16 or 17 and in that decade (min) they have no remaining friends or connections there

Maybe JG wants to be close to his family or in-laws , but it is almost non existent that players choose to play closer to “home” because the location hasn’t been their home for a decade

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am sure given your negative outlook in the past nothing would make you happier. Prepare to be disappointed. Thinking a grown man playing a sport where almost every player plays far from home is a huge factor seems absurd to me. I guess we can kiss all of our Swede players goodbye, surely they want to play in Sweden close to their families. The man is 29 years old, not 12.

I didn’t realize that Sweden had a team in the NHL?

[Roof-Daddy]

Why couldn't Makar have been more like Adam Fox?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ok, so why is MacKinnon not heading East? Surely he will go UFA by your logic, I mean he is better than even Gaudreau.

I didn’t know there was an NHL team in Cole Harbour.