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

[Northendzone]

If Columbus was really one of his preferred landing spots hen one would think he would have looked at thier roster to get the names of at least two of thier 4 centres before the presser in Columbus

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

So you believe the purpose of the game of hockey is to accumulate assets, and not to win games. Gotcha.

Short of outright saying he would not re-sign (back to the honesty / decisiveness topic), Gaudreau gave every hint possible he would not be back. Not signing last year, not negotiating during the season. This should have maybe raised some eyebrows, but Treliving and Co made the mistake of believing Johnny. When his actions didn't line up with what he was saying he should have been shipped out, regardless of how great of a season he was having.

Edit: I should also say that while last season was entertaining, at no point did I believe the flames had a shot at the cup. A strong regular season followed by an early ish playoff exit, the song remains the same and there was no reason to believe this year was different.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Hackey

I'm curious to know if he knew his only two options were Calgary or Columbus if he still would have chosen Columbus.

Yes, his wife.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Short of outright saying he would not re-sign (back to the honesty / decisiveness topic), Gaudreau gave every hint possible he would not be back. Not signing last year, not negotiating during the season. This should have maybe raised some eyebrows, but Treliving and Co made the mistake of believing Johnny. When his actions didn't line up with what he was saying he should have been shipped out, regardless of how great of a season he was having.

It's too late once the season started. You can't trade your best player while you are in first place. At that point JG was a rental.

[Classic_Sniper]

Based on all the accounts, to me, it seems like:


- Philly was the intended target, waited, no realistic moves could be made and no offer on the table

- Johnny’s side pivoted to the choices around the area which ultimately meant living in Newark or Columbus

- Calgary was still a possible destination, my speculation is that Calgary was Johnny’s second choice which is why they circled back to the Flames, but ultimately Meredith vetoed Calgary as we offer nothing for her

- Likely chose Columbus because of proximity and because they’re about to start a family and a smaller city fits their needs better. Meredith allegedly has family in the area and a really good pediatric hospital nearby for possible career aspirations

- Based everything I’ve seen though, I don’t think Johnny wanted to go to Columbus one bit. I think it was more so, Columbus fit Meredith’s needs. Think about it, Johnny didn’t, stills doesn’t know anything about the town, couldn’t name a center he would be playing with, never explored the city, only stayed in the hotel and played videos games, he hates their cannon. His presser was also very awkward and uninspired where ironically, he looked more beaten up from this UFA period than after 82 games + playoffs.

- Compare that to his Calgary post season presser where he was confident and legitimately jovial. All the questions he answered rolled off the tongue and seemed natural. I think that was the true Johnny Gaudreau and his true feelings on display.

- I think if it was just up to him, he would still be a Flame today as logically, outside of proximity, there was no good reason why he would choose Columbus over Calgary. Division winner, more money, best line in the NHL, lots of friends, legacy. All these things fit Johnny’s prerogative though, not Meredith’s. Location was the ultimate deciding factor and unfortunately, we’re just no where close to home for them.

- I’d be curious to see Meredith’s Instagram account from her time in this city, can’t be easy moving to a new city where you have no friends or family and have to basically start all over

[PuckDemon]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

1) Hey may have been either dishonest or indecisive, either way Johnny's choice to not sign last off-season / negotiate during the season eventually screwed us. I'd like to address this statement from you:

"That’s why Calgary was still in the mix at all, because this was Johnny’s preferred (realistic) destination"

And reply to it with another statement from you:

"You must be new to professional sports because rarely do you get honesty in this business".

Some people (not you) have been saying things like would you trade Johnny after his great season? Well using hindsight I could rephrase that question like "would you trade Johnny after we got stomped by our biggest rivals in round 2?" Either way, any assets for Gaudreau that could have been recouped would be better than what he set us up to get.

What Gaudreau did is still a step up on Fox, and I do appreciate his play and enjoyed his time while he was here, but it has been greatly soured by his / his agents actions this last year and especially last week. He will be booed by me and I'm quite sure by many others. And much like he earned the right to leave as a UFA, his actions have earned the booing he will get.

Johnny did screw us in a way, but the only part that I can see was purely his fault was when he reneged on the 8x10.5 demand when the Flames matched. That happened on the last day. So the only thing he screwed us out of was compensation from a team who wants to sign him to an 8th year. That's what, a 4th round pick maybe? The Oilers offered draft picks to the Leafs to sign Hyman to an 8th year, but the picks were so worthless that the Leafs said no thanks.

Any other worth we could have gotten for Johnny (or time to pivot) before Tuesday was in Treliving's hands. He took a risk that did not pay off.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by overtimewin

We are all human - imaging having to change his mind/get controlled by his wife...along with all the pressure, lack of sleep. He was never the most emotionally cheerful guy out there in interviews, kinda subdued.

I respect your opinion (except probably the part about running him, lol) - but I truly believe his desire was to stay...and to me, that means enough for me to understand, not be happy about it but understand.....

yeah, just a bum deal all around....well... Except for MERIDETH ofcourse, she's partying it up

I said run him through the boards...whats wrong with that exactly?

that should happen to any opposition player, maybe a little extra juice on him though...why not?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Or, he's moving on with his life and isn't worried about pacifying emotional toddlers who will find fault with him no matter what he says?

Maybe he's a little overwhelmed with all the changes happening and is devoting more brainpower to the things that matter to him going forward.


If I accepted a job in a different city I'd be focused on getting those logistics sorted out. There would be plenty of time later for heart2hearts with the colleagues I'm leaving.

He is a professional athlete its part of the job, he shouldn't have been shocked by the questions I mean really.

He literally said anywhere but Calgary...WTF did he think was going to happen

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Short of outright saying he would not re-sign (back to the honesty / decisiveness topic), Gaudreau gave every hint possible he would not be back. Not signing last year, not negotiating during the season. This should have maybe raised some eyebrows, but Treliving and Co made the mistake of believing Johnny. When his actions didn't line up with what he was saying he should have been shipped out, regardless of how great of a season he was having.

Edit: I should also say that while last season was entertaining, at no point did I believe the flames had a shot at the cup. A strong regular season followed by an early ish playoff exit, the song remains the same and there was no reason to believe this year was different.

I agree with most of this except that Gaudreau still should have been traded during the season regardless of how the team was doing. It would have made every other player want out. There was a point of no return part way through the season.

But they should have traded him before. You can’t go into the final year of a contract with your franchise player unsigned unless you are prepared to lose him and with JG, there were a lot of warning signs.

[browna]

Gaudreau preferred to play hockey here. Preferred to live in Philly.
When Philly was finally out on him, option c, for now.

Probably the worst possible timing for making this life altering decision with a child on the way. If this was next year or two years he and the wife would've adapted to life with a child in Calgary already with a 10 month old (or whatever age) here already, or if they were still a year or so from having a child, or it was a second child etc, Johnny could've made Calgary work and convinced the wife of that... but with her in the stages of pregnancy with a first child and the element of the unknown about what will happen and the support she thinks she may need, she was probably pretty firm even though Johnny would've preferred to have stayed here, thus the last minute pull out.

Ideally he'd prefer to be closer to his parents but they made the Calgary situation work for 8y so far.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I agree with most of this except that Gaudreau still should have been traded during the season regardless of how the team was doing. It would have made every other player want out. There was a point of no return part way through the season.

But they should have traded him before. You can’t go into the final year of a contract with your franchise player unsigned unless you are prepared to lose him and with JG, there were a lot of warning signs.

While I do agree that it would be highly odd if he was traded mid season, haven't there already been rumblings of guys questioning the flames direction now that Gaudreau is gone? I thought I heard Zadorov was questioning re-signing here because of a possible re build. It seems like either way this was going to have a ripple effect on the team.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by browna

Gaudreau preferred to play hockey here. Preferred to live in Philly.
When Philly was finally out on him, option c, for now.

Probably the worst possible timing for making this life altering decision with a child on the way. If this was next year or two years he and the wife would've adapted to life with a child in Calgary already with a 10 month old (or whatever age) here already, or if they were still a year or so from having a child, or it was a second child etc, Johnny could've made Calgary work and convinced the wife of that... but with her in the stages of pregnancy with a first child and the element of the unknown about what will happen and the support she thinks she may need, she was probably pretty firm even though Johnny would've preferred to have stayed here, thus the last minute pull out.

Ideally he'd prefer to be closer to his parents but they made the Calgary situation work for 8y so far.

I never though of this. Good points. And she (they) would have made friends with couples in a similar situation.

I have no doubt JG would have been over the moon to stay. Calgary was great for him in every way. No doubt it was the wife’s decision.

I don’t agree with it at all but that’s just me.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Based on all the accounts, to me, it seems like:


- Philly was the intended target, waited, no realistic moves could be made and no offer on the table

- Johnny’s side pivoted to the choices around the area which ultimately meant living in Newark or Columbus

- Calgary was still a possible destination, my speculation is that Calgary was Johnny’s second choice which is why they circled back to the Flames, but ultimately Meredith vetoed Calgary as we offer nothing for her

- Likely chose Columbus because of proximity and because they’re about to start a family and a smaller city fits their needs better. Meredith allegedly has family in the area and a really good pediatric hospital nearby for possible career aspirations

- Based everything I’ve seen though, I don’t think Johnny wanted to go to Columbus one bit. I think it was more so, Columbus fit Meredith’s needs. Think about it, Johnny didn’t, stills doesn’t know anything about the town, couldn’t name a center he would be playing with, never explored the city, only stayed in the hotel and played videos games, he hates their cannon. His presser was also very awkward and uninspired where ironically, he looked more beaten up from this UFA period than after 82 games + playoffs.

- Compare that to his Calgary post season presser where he was confident and legitimately jovial. All the questions he answered rolled off the tongue and seemed natural. I think that was the true Johnny Gaudreau and his true feelings on display.

- I think if it was just up to him, he would still be a Flame today as logically, outside of proximity, there was no good reason why he would choose Columbus over Calgary. Division winner, more money, best line in the NHL, lots of friends, legacy. All these things fit Johnny’s prerogative though, not Meredith’s. Location was the ultimate deciding factor and unfortunately, we’re just no where close to home for them.

- I’d be curious to see Meredith’s Instagram account from her time in this city, can’t be easy moving to a new city where you have no friends or family and have to basically start all over

Very well said.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

1) Hey may have been either dishonest or indecisive, either way Johnny's choice to not sign last off-season / negotiate during the season eventually screwed us. I'd like to address this statement from you:

"That’s why Calgary was still in the mix at all, because this was Johnny’s preferred (realistic) destination"

And reply to it with another statement from you:

"You must be new to professional sports because rarely do you get honesty in this business".

Some people (not you) have been saying things like would you trade Johnny after his great season? Well using hindsight I could rephrase that question like "would you trade Johnny after we got stomped by our biggest rivals in round 2?" Either way, any assets for Gaudreau that could have been recouped would be better than what he set us up to get.

What Gaudreau did is still a step up on Fox, and I do appreciate his play and enjoyed his time while he was here, but it has been greatly soured by his / his agents actions this last year and especially last week. He will be booed by me and I'm quite sure by many others. And much like he earned the right to leave as a UFA, his actions have earned the booing he will get.

Well #1, it takes 2 sides to make a deal. Maybe Treliving was trying to lowball Johnny after coming off of 2 bad seasons. That wouldn’t be out of character for Treliving who’s a notoriously difficult negotiator. The fact that Johnny said they almost had a deal done prior to the season shows me there was a willingness to re-sign at the time.

But things changed later on as his wife now understood what her life would be like living in Calgary and she was also expecting a child. I had a friend who moved to a new city for work as a late 20’s guy and he couldn’t stand it. He basically had to restart his life because he had no friends or family in the area. He would drive 7 hours back to Calgary constantly just so he could hang out with some people. He even ended up developing a drinking habit just to numb the loneliness.

Now I’m not saying that’s how Meredith’s life was going. But I can understand why living anywhere close to her hometown would be imperative for her especially with a baby on the way. Maybe Johnny was even caught a little off guard at how difficult it would be to convince her to stay and which caused all the “confusion” as Johnny put it.

As for the whole asset management/Johnny screwed us trade talk. Like I said, I think Johnny wanted to come back if it was just up to him. But there were extenuating circumstances as I stated above. Treliving also wasn’t going to trade Johnny as last season was the final year of Treliving’s window of opportunity. He set it up so that the Flames could contend up to 2022 right when many important contracts ended.

For Treliving’s legacy as a GM, he went all in on this specific season. He was never trading Gaudreau as he was absolutely vital to his team’s success and Treliving’s future employment options. Remember, Treliving’s job was very much in jeopardy after last season. This season was going to make him or break him, he wasn’t going to trade Johnny for any futures. He needed to win now.

He also wasn’t going to trade Johnny at the TDL because he had a legitimate contender on his hands and it would’ve been idiotic to trade a top 3 scorer in the league. So really, all that’s left is a trade for Johny’s rights and honestly, I don’t think a 3rd round pick in a weak draft is worth getting upset about.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

I 100% don’t fault Johnny for WHY he’s leaving. It’s his right to make the decision that’s best for him and his family, and it’s not fair to hate on him for doing what he wants to do with his life.

I think where I (and hopefully most people) get upset is with HOW it happened. If you knew your wife/family had no desire to stay in Calgary and wanted to get back close to family, that’s not something that is changed overnight. There’s no reason Johnny couldn’t have communicated this to the Flames earlier and put both parties in a better situation. It’s not like his family was going to change their minds about moving/staying the day of free agency.

That’s my whole issue with this. I think if this didn’t get sprung on the fan base the day of free agency and the Flames could have even got some assets for Johnny’s rights, a much smaller percentage of people would be faulting Johnny.

What if he really wanted to stay in Calgary and thought he could convince them otherwise?

Maybe Johnny is thinking that if the flames can offer $15m more over 8 years, the wife and her family would change their mind.

They're newlyweds. I misread my wife all the time and we've been together 10 years. They don't communicate directly and I don't listen well. I think that's a pretty common problem in relationships lol

[Cecil Terwilliger]

The fact CP is on a first name basis with Johnny’s wife is creepy in and of itself.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

The fact CP is on a first name basis with Johnny’s wife is creepy in and of itself.

I refer to her as the wife. And some may consider that disrespectful or inappropriate.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Isn’t so interesting. So many always so upset about the lack of success this team has, but also aren’t willing to accept the risk a team needs to take to have that success. When you are trying to win, the odds are things won’t work out, but they’ll never work out if you don’t take the risks in the first place.

Tre new the risk of what just happened and the cap complications that would of occurred if Johnny stayed. Last season was a season to take risks. We can’t hindsight question then now that they didn’t work out.

30+ years of taking a win-now approach, seemingly every single year. Overall I'd say the results haven't been that great. Maybe time for a different approach?

Last year was different as the team was legitimately a contender to at least make it to the conference finals. But looking at the big picture, it's probably time to stop moving out first round picks; time to take a more patient approach to things.

And maybe be less hestitant to trade players who are nearing UFA and haven't given clear indication that they are committed to staying long term.

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

The loyalty argument is being overstated here.

If johnny signed that contract here and then 2 weeks later Colorado offers up MacKinnon and Makar for Gaudreau and lucic... The Flames would make that trade in about 0.1 seconds. And if the Flames turned it down out loyalty to Gaudreau, people would be calling for Treliving's head.

I've turned the page on the Johnny leaving for Columbus thing, and I wish he and his family the best, but... your example here is not analogous for several reasons.

1) No team would ever offer a deal like that

2) Johnny would have full NMC and would likely block the trade

3) The Flames would have a lot to lose by not making that trade (assuming they somehow could make it), and a lot to gain by making it. Compare that to Johnny's move out of Calgary... there were tons of good reasons to stay, and no significant downsides to staying. Conversely he's leaving behind a lot of good things here, and it's not really clear what he's gaining by leaving other than geographical location.

Johnny had it all here. Very friendly city, lots of close friends, a fan base that adored him, a team primed to make deep runs in the playoffs, a coach and teammates who helped propel him to career numbers and 4th in Hart voting, $16M over and above where he would have got elsewhere. The Gaudreaus were set for life, so they had access to the finest child care money can buy, right here in Calgary! Plus, one of the nicest and safest cities on the continent to raise a child in.

The downsides seem minimal. An extra couple hours on the plane between where he plays hockey and Salem, covid protocols at the airport, and not living in the same city as his in-laws. If those are the things it really came down to.................. no comment.

All of these "felt it was the best fit for his family" narratives really don't explain anything because they don't mention anything specific.

With all of that being said, none of it really matters anymore as what's done is done and there's no changing the past. Looking to the future makes a lot more sense than continuing to dwell on what happened. As long as valuable lessons have been learned, that's the thing that truly matters at this point in time.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I refer to her as the wife. And some may consider that disrespectful or inappropriate.

I used the wife because I didn't know her name at that time. May be I should've used his wife instead.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

The fact CP is on a first name basis with Johnny’s wife is creepy in and of itself.

I thought it was a Greys Anatomy joke, but if that’s her name then that is super weird.