[News] Johnson: Flames fans patiently wait for Gaudreau

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by T@T

I think it's a big help that Connie and Gaudreau share the same agent, Connie hated leaving Calgary and it showed. Fairly certain the agent has nothing but good things to say about the organization and the city.

He doesn't have an agent. NCAA players are banned if they talk with an agent so this is false.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

He doesn't have an agent. NCAA players are banned if they talk with an agent so this is false.

"family advisers"

[Coach]

"Advisor". Come on, they all have them.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by kehatch

...At that point to you want to play for the team that drafted you, that has a number of other college prospects (Knight, Jankowski, Arnold, etc), that has treated you well, and where you will get a lot of opportunity?

Or do you want to play for the team you cheered for growing up, that is a contender, and that is close to home.

If I was in the position it would be a tough decision for me when the time came...

I think that for most players in their late-teens or early-twenties the decision is probably not as difficult as it would be were they established professionals in their mid-late twenties. Familiarity will play a big part in the decision to stay with the Flames, and these summer development camps provide just that. For any young kid who is just in the process of making his own way in the world, building upon what is already familiar will almost always take some precedence

This is Gaudreau's third camp in the only professional organisation he has known. He knows the management and coaches, has established relationships with other players/prospects, and the team is working very hard to ensure that its personnel are all treated extremely well. By all counts—regardless of what one believes about the hockey-ops dept.—the Flames have a great reputation for treatment of players. How much more difficult would it be for Gaudreau to leave what he has already established here in Calgary for another team with a completely unknown environment? How much more difficult would it be for him to leave a situation that by all counts is extremely good to begin with? Based on everything we know, I find it highly unlikely that he would make such a choice.

[FAN]

There's no question in my mind that if Gaudreau decides to play out his senior year and then decide on where to go next, the choice will be between the Flames and some other team. I won't however underestimate the difficulty of such a choice. For some players, staying close to home and the chance to play for his hometown team is a big draw. But there's no guarantee that the Bruins would be interested, and to pass up the opportunity to advance his NHL career sooner rather than later for a chance at something that may or may not happen is a huge gamble. Fairy tale endings rarely happen. Just ask Tim Erixon.

[getbak]

People act like he was born and raised in Boston and has only ever left home to come to these camps.

He grew up in southern New Jersey, closer to Philadelphia than any other NHL city. When he was 17, he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, which is pretty close to the middle of nowhere, where the Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin borders meet. Then, at 18, he moved to Boston for College.

The kid moved further away from his place of birth at the age of 17 than I've lived away from my birth place in 40 years.


I don't know what team he cheered for as a kid, but there are five or six teams closer to Carneys Point, New Jersey than Boston. Even if the Bruins covet him because they'd love the story of a BC hero becoming a Bruin, it doesn't mean he has any desire to go there.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by getbak

People act like he was born and raised in Boston and has only ever left home to come to these camps.

He grew up in southern New Jersey, closer to Philadelphia than any other NHL city. When he was 17, he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, which is pretty close to the middle of nowhere, where the Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin borders meet. Then, at 18, he moved to Boston for College.

The kid moved further away from his place of birth at the age of 17 than I've lived away from my birth place in 40 years.


I don't know what team he cheered for as a kid, but there are five or six teams closer to Carneys Point, New Jersey than Boston. Even if the Bruins covet him because they'd love the story of a BC hero becoming a Bruin, it doesn't mean he has any desire to go there.

That's a good point but he isn't without ties there. His father is from New England.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

He doesn't have an agent. NCAA players are banned if they talk with an agent so this is false.

No, they lose their eligibility of they hire an agent. They are allowed a family advisor, which quite often are agents that simply aren't getting paid yet.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by FAN

That's a good point but he isn't without ties there. His father is from New England.

Now you're just reaching and trying to manufacture something. New England is huge, comprising five states, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont.

Guy Gaudreau, Johnny's father, actually grew up in Beebe Plain, Vermont. That town is literally on the Canadian border with Quebec. This is where he fell in love with hockey. Guy Gaudreau is bilingual and probably spent a lot of time on the Canadian side of the border taking advantage of Canadian drinking laws, as most American kids in border towns are prone to do. Back in his day, border crossings were no big thing. So there is probably some kinship with not just hockey but also Canada. I wouldn't think that would have much impact on the decision of where Johnny plays, but neither would where he played his other hockey.

On the whole proximity thing for team selection, this is a real load of bunk. Johnny grew up in Carneys Point, New Jersey, which is closest to Philadelphia. But it is also within 120 miles of Washington and New York. If we go on where Guy grew up, you can drag Montreal into the mix. So now you have the Bruins, Flyers, Capitals, Devils, Rangers, Islanders and Canadiens as teams with possible linkage to the Gaudreau clan, simply based on geography.

Thankfully geography has a small to non-existent component to this decision. The affinity a player builds with his team after being drafted is more important, and Johnny Gaudreau has been pro-Flame since being drafted. It helps that he has a team mate, in Bill Arnold, who is also a Flames prospect. I suspect those two have spent more than a few hours together dreaming of the day they are making passes to each other in the NHL for the team that drafted both of them.

Something interesting I stumbled on while considering the geography conundrum is Guy Gaudreau grew up in Beebe Plain, VT. You know what is 2.5 miles from Beebe Plain? Stanstead College, where Mark Jankowski was discovered. Talk about cosmic connections?

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by New Era

Now you're just reaching and trying to manufacture something. New England is huge, comprising five states, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont.

Guy Gaudreau, Johnny's father, actually grew up in Beebe Plain, Vermont. That town is literally on the Canadian border with Quebec. This is where he fell in love with hockey. Guy Gaudreau is bilingual and probably spent a lot of time on the Canadian side of the border taking advantage of Canadian drinking laws, as most American kids in border towns are prone to do. Back in his day, border crossings were no big thing. So there is probably some kinship with not just hockey but also Canada. I wouldn't think that would have much impact on the decision of where Johnny plays, but neither would where he played his other hockey.

On the whole proximity thing for team selection, this is a real load of bunk. Johnny grew up in Carneys Point, New Jersey, which is closest to Philadelphia. But it is also within 120 miles of Washington and New York. If we go on where Guy grew up, you can drag Montreal into the mix. So now you have the Bruins, Flyers, Capitals, Devils, Rangers, Islanders and Canadiens as teams with possible linkage to the Gaudreau clan, simply based on geography.

Thankfully geography has a small to non-existent component to this decision. The affinity a player builds with his team after being drafted is more important, and Johnny Gaudreau has been pro-Flame since being drafted. It helps that he has a team mate, in Bill Arnold, who is also a Flames prospect. I suspect those two have spent more than a few hours together dreaming of the day they are making passes to each other in the NHL for the team that drafted both of them.

Something interesting I stumbled on while considering the geography conundrum is Guy Gaudreau grew up in Beebe Plain, VT. You know what is 2.5 miles from Beebe Plain? Stanstead College, where Mark Jankowski was discovered. Talk about cosmic connections?

Good post, but there are actually 6 New England states; Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. I think you're right about geography not playing a role anyway, it's pretty immature for a drafted player to hold out for his hometown/favorite team like an overgrown fanboy. Whatever team drafts you should be your new favorite team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by getbak

People act like he was born and raised in Boston and has only ever left home to come to these camps.

He grew up in southern New Jersey, closer to Philadelphia than any other NHL city....
I don't know what team he cheered for as a kid, but there are five or six teams closer to Carneys Point, New Jersey than Boston...

In an interview during Flames dev'p camp last year Gaudreau said that his favourite player growing up was Danny Briere, and his favourite team was the Philadelphia Flyers.

[Anduril]

Glad to see lots of calm and rational heads in a slightly paranoid thread. Some might say that this discussion is a year early, I'd peg it closer to 20 months too early.
Even with the huge steps Gaudreau has taken, dealing with the world's best over an 82 game schedule is an even bigger leap.

[undercoverbrother]

He has said he wants to sign here (IIRC from the newspaper).

Lets just accept him at his word.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Personally, I don't care if Gaudreau decides to finish off his senior year. The only time I will start getting concerned is a month after his last season is over, and he remains unsigned. No use sweating and worrying about something that is over 2 years away, and that will probably never happen. I think the media are making it a bigger thing than what it really is because of a couple incidents.

[Tinordi]

Drafting Monahan might be the clinching reason for Gaudreau to stay with the organization.

[The Yen Man]

I think the people worrying he won't sign with the Flames underestimate the draw of the Flames to a guy like Gaudreau. He has an opportunity to be a key cog of a team that's into a full rebuild. He'll be getting a great opportunity to jump into the NHL right away, and will most likely get the full support of the coaching staff and management. If he signed with the Bruins, there is a far bigger chance he plays in Providence than he would in Boston.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by fotze

Hopfully BC doesn't make their post season. Whens the NCAA season over?

The Frozen Four is April 10-12 in Philadelphia next year. That's also likely the final weekend of the NHL regular season. Even if BC doesn't go all the way, Johnny will still likely be there as one of the Hobey finalists, again.

[Stay Golden]

I hope the Flames have a real strong certainty Johnny will sign with the Flames next year and if they don't then they should deal him since he is coveted by particular GM's.
Personally i do not like the way the CBA does not protect the drafted team with NCAA players.
The CBA should have written that any NCAA player drafted must sign a 3 year ELC just like any CHL or Euro league drafted player. Not the 2 year that NCAA players only require.
If any NCAA player is unwilling to sign with their drafted team upon leaving the NCAA they are suspended for 1 year and any team that picks them up must give up as compensation their 1st round pick.

This would eliminate any of this BS with NCAA players. Actually i would like to see that for all drafted players. They play for the drafted team unless their rights are traded away or they don't play and any team that is willing to scoop them will pay a hefty compensation to get them.
This of course is not the way it is and as for Johnny G i feel only 60% confident he will sign with the Flames in a year. A year ago i probably would have been 90% sure he signs a ELC with the Flames.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by fotze

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenHaynes_CP22m
Re: Future, Gaudreau said "Hopefully they want me next year at the end of the year and hopefully I can come in and make an impact for them."


Hopfully BC doesn't make their post season. Whens the NCAA season over?

this comment to me makes all the "will he won't he" sign with us stuff completely moot. he does not plan to play college hockey after next year and wants to be a flame after this coming season.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I hope the Flames have a real strong certainty Johnny will sign with the Flames next year and if they don't then they should deal him since he is coveted by particular GM's.
Personally i do not like the way the CBA does not protect the drafted team with NCAA players.
The CBA should have written that any NCAA player drafted must sign a 3 year ELC just like any CHL or Euro league drafted player. Not the 2 year that NCAA players only require.
If any NCAA player is unwilling to sign with their drafted team upon leaving the NCAA they are suspended for 1 year and any team that picks them up must give up as compensation their 1st round pick.

This would eliminate any of this BS with NCAA players. Actually i would like to see that for all drafted players. They play for the drafted team unless their rights are traded away or they don't play and any team that is willing to scoop them will pay a hefty compensation to get them.
This of course is not the way it is and as for Johnny G i feel only 60% confident he will sign with the Flames in a year. A year ago i probably would have been 90% sure he signs a ELC with the Flames.

Whether a player comes from the CHL or the NCAA has no bearing on how long their ELC is. The only factor is the age when the player signs:

18-21: 3 years
22-23: 2 years
24: 1 year
25: no restriction

If Gaudreau signs next year when he's 21 he'll get a 3 year ELC just like any guy coming out of the CHL or from Europe who signs at that age.

As for the rest, good luck trying to negotiate total ownership of drafted players by teams.