NY Times Gaudreau article. Update: response from Johnny

[SeanCharles]

Typical mom!

[Ashasx]

The obvious choice would be Boston. If Gaudreau is going back for another year, it's nothing to do with getting an education. He likely would have a team in mind. Ask him which team it is, and do a favour for both parties.

[troutman]

it’s not going to be all fun anymore

Living in a dorm, studying, writing papers and exams, is more fun than staying in top hotels, flying first class, dining in the best restaurants, and puck bunnies?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

Do we have any connection to him? Former team mate, coach, friend....that sort of thing.

Bill Arnold and I beleive another BC player (Roy?).

Also the fact that the Flames are the team that took a chance on a what looked to be 12 year old kid in the NHL draft. I think that holds more weight with Gaudreau and his family than people think.

[BurningSteel]

Cant they just give him an honarary degree and let everyone win???

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The obvious choice would be Boston. If Gaudreau is going back for another year, it's nothing to do with getting an education. He likely would have a team in mind. Ask him which team it is, and do a favour for both parties.

Why is Boston an "obvious choice"?
Why do you presume this has nothing to do with getting an education?
What on earth would lead you to believe that he has designs on another team?

[formulate]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Bill Arnold and I beleive another BC player (Roy?).

Also the fact that the Flames are the team that took a chance on a what looked to be 12 year old kid in the NHL draft. I think that holds more weight with Gaudreau and his family than people think.

I believe you're thinking of John Gilmour who plays with Jankowski and Gillies in Providence, not BC.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why is Boston an "obvious choice"?
Why do you presume this has nothing to do with getting an education?
What on earth would lead you to believe that he has designs on another team?

Because he's there already. Don't you know that players choice of team is based on proximity to their current location and not child-hood favorite teams or the NHL team that went out on a limb to draft them?

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why is Boston an "obvious choice"?
Why do you presume this has nothing to do with getting an education?
What on earth would lead you to believe that he has designs on another team?

A communications degree, bare minimum class load, and what do you really expect his GPA to be?

He could sign with a team right now and make more money on the signing bonus alone then he could probably make working for 2 years. That's before his base salary and the max bonuses he will get.

People really believe this is about getting an education?

[Huntingwhale]

Gaudreau's mom just cockblocked the Flames

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

A communications degree, bare minimum class load, and what do you really expect his GPA to be?

He could sign with a team right now and make more money on the signing bonus alone then he could probably make working for 2 years. That's before his base salary and the max bonuses he will get.

People really believe this is about getting an education?

Yes, seeing as its an article based on the wishes of his mother. Of course she wants him to finish college. You realize he can get a pretty substantial sum of money from the Flames too, right?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by fotze

We did it with Corban Knight.

and it would be Philadelphia if he wanted to go to another team.

Did what, exactly? At what point did the Flames first have contact with Knight? did they initiate it? Did they persuade him to reject Florida's contract offer?

There is a whole lot of speculation here that requires much more clarification before any of us should believe what you are insinuating.

[Canada 02]

I'll focus on the positive.

Jim Montgomery, the Denver coach, who had Gaudreau on his United States Hockey League team in Dubuque, Iowa, compared Gaudreau to the Detroit Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk and the Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane.

“His creativity is off the charts,” Montgomery said. “He does things you don’t see anyone else doing, like Datsyuk. His footwork and handwork are extraordinary, and his puck protection is like Patrick Kane’s.”

[psyang]

From GreenLantern's meeting with Johnny and his mom last week:

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

...
Then as I went to leave I told Johnny good luck in the tournament and I will see you in Calgary in April. He again, had a huge grin and looked at his Mom with a "Can I play?" kind of look, and his Mom had a "We'll see" smirk on her face. But he just said Thanks a lot. And then I left them alone.
...

Good news is, if it really is Johnny's decision, sounds like he wants to play.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I have to say, NCAA rules are stupid in this situation. They basically force these kids to choose to finish school, or progress their career.

I think they should be allowed to sign contracts in the senior year, but stay and finish their education.

Would BC revoke his scholarship if he left school a year early? I'd be a bit surprised if that's the case but I'm curious what the rules actually are... does it depend on the sport (i.e. football/basketball versus hockey)?

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by fotze

We did it with Corban Knight.

and it would be Philadelphia if he wanted to go to another team.

We traded for Knight. IIRC, we didn't have an "under the table" deal with him.

Johnny seems like a nice kid. I don't think he's going to pull such a d*** move ala Schultz. For starters, it seems like he's happy for being drafted at all, that's gotta hold some value.
And by all accounts, the Flames have always treated him very well. For example, didn't the Flames buy him and his family rink side tickets for this years BOS/CGY game? Or when Feaster got canned, Burke made sure that Gaudreu knew we still count on him. Flames have always treated him well.

Plus, there is that hockey aspect. Flames are in a really good position to give him some NHL time.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by troutman

it’s not going to be all fun anymore

Living in a dorm, studying, writing papers and exams, is more fun than staying in top hotels, flying first class, dining in the best restaurants, and puck bunnies?

He's the BMOC at Boston College. He probably has more women lining up for him now than he ever will at the NHL level. And less responsibility in college than he ever will at the NHL level (communications degree lol). He's probably doing what most of us would do at that age and circumstance: Lots of co-eds.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Would BC revoke his scholarship if he left school a year early? I'd be a bit surprised if that's the case but I'm curious what the rules actually are... does it depend on the sport (i.e. football/basketball versus hockey)?

As soon as he signs a pro deal he is done playing college hockey period. He can go back and get his degree later, but he would have to pay for his final classes. Not like it would matter after many seasons of NHL hockey and multiple championships....

[btimbit]

I totally get what his mom is saying though, I remember talking to Klimchuk's mom about something similar, and the pressure that agents and teams can put on kids at times like this can be huge. Johnny's mom, like most, wants what's best for her son and the NHL seems like a huge scary step, and sounds like her concern is whether he can handle the pressure.

That said, he's 20. Appreciate the concern ma, but he's gotta make this decision on his own. Surely this is what he's been working for, to play in the big leagues. Why not jump at the opportunity now? Why wait?

Originally Posted by psyang

Good news is, if it really is Johnny's decision, sounds like he wants to play.

I hope so. The kid's a hockey player. Nothing left for him at the college level.

[strombad]