After Days to Reflect

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Macman

I’ve also been thinking about it the few days after now and what Gaudreau did was kind of a Richard move. I think we should be happy that he’s gone now as I don’t think you can win with guys like that. They obviously knew for a long time that they were moving on so then why couldn’t he be honest about it?

We’ll miss his points but I think the Flames will become a better team without him.
Enjoy your obscurity in Columbus Johnny. Is their coach Brad Larsen even any good, they missed the playoffs last year.

I agree with you on potential to be better. Question is how long is that going to take. Because they are in their window right now.

If they could replace him with JT Miller or someone of his make up I think we’re a better playoff team. Problem is that’s never going to happen.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

->

If that is how it went down and in all fairness to Edwards, I would be upset and also think that the negotiation was a sham.



If I'm negotiating with someone, they give me an offer, and I agree to it then it seems fair to consider the matter done. To have that person say sorry but we've decided to go a different direction is negotiating in bad faith.



Honestly, if that is how Johnny goes about his business then I'm not sure the Flames would have won with him as a cornerstone. He's a great offensive talent but maybe he lacks the drive to actually push through in the playoffs - just my speculation.

[djsFlames]

Is there a way to land JT Miller without gutting another part of the current roster?

It's too bad he's on a divisional rival which makes the ask that much more steep.

I miss Jim Benning..

[Owen15]

I’ve read something like this a few times from various posters…

“We couldn’t win with a $6 odd million Johnny, why would we think we’d win with an $11 million dollar johnny” to paraphrase…

I couldn’t agree more.

This is a blessing, but I’m a born and raised Calgarian. Proud or our city and tired of being weaned on disappointment by our sports teams. So the optics hurt.

In the end we will be better off so long as we use the cap space wisely. From Johnny but also next year when Lucic and Monny are off the cap.

[BurningSteel]

I'm already moved on. He totally tarnished his reputation IMO. I won't boo him but I won't cheer for him nor likely don his jersey ever again, not will I burn it. Any may he never gain another point at the dome the rest of his career (sadly unlikely)

[DazzlinDino]

It could be that if this situation was handled poorly, it was unintentional. Johnny and his wife don't have a whole lot of experience with this type of situation, and I highly doubt Johnny was even trying to hurt the organization. It is more likel he was just trying to do right by his wife and they are thinking about each other. People early in their marriage can understand this amd it is important that Johnny supports his wife's goals too. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point Johnny comes out and addresses the Flames fans and the organization. Johnny has given a lot to this city, he played his heart out this season, never took a shift off and had a lot of praise for the city and Calgary fans. Let's give him benefit of the doubt and give him time to respond. He is usually very genuine and responds to situations like somebody who actually cares. I wouldn't be surprised if Johnny feels bad about everything that's happened; Now he has to listen to comments from confused and frustrated fans. When he's ready I wouldn't be surprised if Johnny comes out at some point amd addresses the fans. Once we get the full picture that should make things easier. Just the fact that Johnny said that he was unaware of all the responses that we're going on around him shows that he's probably just not very good at the negotiation sort of thing.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by BurningSteel

I'm already moved on. He totally tarnished his reputation IMO. I won't boo him but I won't cheer for him nor likely don his jersey ever again, not will I burn it. Any may he never gain another point at the dome the rest of his career (sadly unlikely)

Yeah, after a few days, I've moved on as well. I won't spend my energy to boo him.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

->

Well, if true, Murray Edwards is an even bigger ego than I would have thought before, and that's saying something. You can't blame a player for sticking to the deadline they have at their disposal when you and your team is too dense to impose it's own soft deadline on the matter.

Say you tell Gaudreau that the draft is the last day to talk extension, this all happens nearly a week from free agency and you at least have a few days to regroup.

The Flames only have themselves to blame for not taking care of their own business ahead of time. I have zero sympathy for them other than it really sucks as a fan to to lose a player like this for nothing and have zero backup plan thought out (you'd still think a competent manager would have 2-3 scenarios worked out) that would enable the team to jump into the trade or UFA market in a meaningful way and salvage the roster as much as possible.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

…Let's give him benefit of the doubt and give him time to respond. He is usually very genuine and responds to situations like somebody who actually cares… When he's ready I wouldn't be surprised if Johnny comes out at some point amd addresses the fans.

He will get that opportunity on Tim and Friends at around 4 pm MST today. Whether he’s ready or not, it would be a good time to come clean and start doing some damage control.

[Fire]

One thing I have realized after all this is that Gaudreau is not a guy you pay over $10 million and expect to have a realistic chance at winning a cup. Paying a guy that much you expect more leadership and desire for winning.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

From all the insider information throughout the 2400+ posts in the Gaudreau thread, here is my summary of events:

1. After elimination, Flames offered him 8x9.5M

2. Gaudreau was undecided but his family/wife was pushing for him to leave Canada because of Covid travel restrictions, distance, etc. He is also welcoming his first child soon.

3. His heart was clearly on his home town team, the Flyers, but the Flames remained a serious option for him.

4. Tuesday the 12th - the Gaudreau camp issued an ultimatum to the Flames to match an offer of 8x10.5M + other conditions otherwise they would go to Free Agency. This is basically seen as handshake deal from the Flames side to meet their requests and the deal is done.

5. The Flames went out of their way to meet all the requests but got radio silence in return.

6. The Gaudreau camp finally responds at the 11th hour that despite meeting the ultimatum that they would go to free agency after all. At this point Murray Edwards reportedly broke out in anger and heavily admonished the Gaudreau side for reneging, handcuffing the team, dealing in bad faith, and unprofessionalism.

7. July 13th - The Gaudreau camp saw all the signs that the Flyers (the number 1 choice) were clearing cap space and assumed they would send an offer but no offer was forthcoming. They then turned to the Devils which offered a deal of 7x9M+ but there were snags in the negotiations such as they would not include a no trade clause.

8. Columbus announced their interest and Gaudreau's wife approved this choice as she had a lot of family in the area. That there is a famous children's hospital in Ohio may have factored into the decision in terms of care of their upcoming baby but not much in terms of her career as she isn't intending to work full time and is rather going to volunteer in various capacities. They sign for 7x9.75M after there are no other viable offers from the market.

9. Gaudreau is dealing with a lot of conflict and emotions and a last minute choice of Columbus so he cannot really commit to any comments about Calgary or provide any concerted reason to Columbus media for why he chose their team. In the end, it appears his family chose for him to end up there after the Flyers were no-longer an option. The fall-out in the final call with Calgary and the pressure from the family meant there was going to be no return to Calgary after free agency opened up.

Thank you for taking the time to wade through that #### show of a thread for the rest of us. You made us all the winner of Free Agent Frenzy.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

He will get that opportunity on Tim and Friends at around 4 pm MST today. Whether he’s ready or not, it would be a good time to come clean and start doing some damage control.

Did anyone catch this? Is it somewhere online?

NM - found it in the other thread.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

Great post, Coach.

I think there is still a lot of speculation about how this happened, but in the end it really doesn't matter. The Flames misread Johnny's intentions - badly. Even if Johnny wasn't upfront, it is the organization's job to know its players - what makes them tick, what drives them, what they really want to acheive in their career. Frankly, its the job of any leader in any organization.

It is incredibly naive to think a player will re-sign out of loyalty. We see every year that hockey is a business and loyalty doesn't matter.

I will continue to use the term "system failure" because this is not on one person, but on the whole franchise from the ownership to management to coaching staff. Someone had to have known, or had an inkling, that Johnny didn't want to be here. It wasn't a decision he made in 24 hours.

It’s pretty naive to think an organization can tell when a player is stringing them along or not, especially when that player says “give me an offer of X”.

[wired]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I agree with what you said.

Honestly I think they can build a better playoff team with a few good moves and use of their cap space.

Although Johnny was the best Flame I’ve seen outside of Iginla. I never felt he could win us a cup. This season solidified that for me.

I really thought that the team, even with Johnny, would not go far in the playoffs. I'm not sure if Tkachuk is the glue to hold the team together. Something needs to be done to shake the team up, and enable them to move forward. I hope it happens this year, but don't really see it.

I think, that If there is no arena deal made in the next two years, the Flames will not have Calgary in front of the logo..... I think they move.