NY Times Gaudreau article. Update: response from Johnny

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by fotze

It was January 23, 2013 at 4:15 in the afternoon.

You won't ever find proof, but I have zero doubt that this happens. Tim Erixon just happened to be so lucky he was traded to NYR. Imagine his luck, traded there of all places.

Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't.

The scenario you have imagined for Gaudreau is nothing like what happened with Erixon, whose dad was employed by the team who traded for his rights. It is a lot more difficult for a team to get the kind of access to Gaudreau that the Rangers had to Erixon.

[formulate]

Originally Posted by fotze

Is he? I didn't know that.

"We go way back," Agostino chuckled. "We grew up playing against each. Every year, we'd play each other multiple times and I have a lot of memories of his team beating mine. Every now and then, we'd get a win.

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=665585

[Wolfman]

Until Johnny Hockey himself says "I'm not signing with the Calgary Flames".

Why get upset?

[dammage79]

Meh, we will see. I get the feeling his mom knows he's done in college and is just trolling us fans..

If he stays another year that's cool. I'm not going to judge someone because they choose to finish college or think anything else for that matter. An education is an education. He'll have a spot waiting for him regardless.

Edit: Transition wise it makes sense for him to sign this year as he will have Arnold to come in with. But, it doesn't really matter as Arnold will still be here next year too.

[Burke Salad]

Originally Posted by formulate

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=665585

I guess not best friends then, my bad!

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

We do have an ace in the hole. Kenny Agostino is one of his best friends. The conspiracy nuts should look toward sneaky Lou and the Devils tampering, if you are into that sort of thing.

Don't leave us hanging; what happened here?

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

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.

Yeah but having almost a million per year is would be pretty fun too...

[Burke Salad]

Originally Posted by Muta

Don't leave us hanging; what happened here?

Was meant to be a joke, nothing happened just throwing out another stupid conspiracy idea for the people that keep coming up with these things.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Are you seriously going to lecture someone you have never met about how she should be advising her own son about his future?

Please. As if the Gaudreaus don't know a thousand times better than you or any one of us the stakes in their son's decision here.

Over react much? I was just pointing out that a lot of money and long term security can be left on the table by ignoring opportunity knocking. I am certain that the Gaudreau's will have a long talk with their advisor and he will mention exactly what I just said.

[moon]

The vast, vast majority of college players sign with their original drafts teams or teams who own their rights through trades.

I understand many see Gaudreau as some sort of saviour but considering how rarely it happens a few d-bags like Schultz, Wheeler and Knight shouldn't make people overly concerned.

[Vinny01]

Until the day I see confirmation that Johnny is signed there will always be a slight shred of doubt.

He has elevated his game from being a 4th rounder to being able to get contract offers from 30 teams in August 2015. I think he does have strong ties to the organization for taking a chance on him and not pressuring him. He went from a long shot to a guy that looks like he will get to play in the league for sure. It is not risky at all to sign pro right away and get paid. As many have stated he can still graduate later. He has nothing to prove at the NCAA level. If it is really his choice hopefully he follows his dream of playing in the NHL.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Until the day I see confirmation that Johnny is signed there will always be a slight shred of doubt.

Funny how people need confirmation that he is signed before the doubt goes away, but can't wait for confirmation that he won't before there is freak outs.

[Rubicant]

I'm just curious to see if he can translate his game to the NHL - if so, that could be an all time home run draft pick.

[CaptainCrunch]

Paranoia will destroy ya

[Ashasx]

Chris Peters ‏@chrismpeters Some really interesting quotes from Johnny Gaudreau's mother, who Johnny says in the story "usually wins out in these kind of things."

This to me just sounds like damage control when #### hits the fan.

[Fuzzy14]

As a young male close to Johnny's age who takes his education very seriously.... i'd take dat money.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I can see both sides, the education aspect is something that holds a lot of weight to some people and some families, who are we as hockey fans to judge what is important for the Gaudreau family? The guy is going to make his millions now or he will make them later. Who knows this could benefit the Flames, if he spends another year in college, signs with the Flames after, the Flames are very unlikely to make the playoffs next year so it just adds another year of the entry level deal onto the backend for the when the Flames start to contend for the playoffs again.

Hopefully he does what he wants though.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Wow, some really dumb logic going on there, and I think education is important. One, really, Johnny's mom is concerned he'll be taking a spot from a guy with a wife and kids................give me a break. That will be the case the following year, and that's the case whenever anyone takes any job. You could always argue you are taking a job from someone who "needs it more than you do". I guess we should all just sit around and do nothing until we've sure everyone in life with a different situation than our own is taken care of.

And then the whole "finish your education first" crap. Education is valuable, and I feel that every budding pro hockey player should take care of their back up plan. But Johnny isn't a 17 year old trying to figure out if he's going to forgo University to play in the WHL or AJHL with a very remote chance at making it pro. Johnny will get a pro contract if he wants one at this point. A pro contract that will pay him big money.........far more money then he will earn in probably the first 10 years of any other career he'd get with his education..........and certainly more than enough money for him to go back to school and finish that last year should he never sign another pro contract in his life.

I can't imagine how any logical person could think staying would be in his best interest, including from an education point of view. Hate to say it, but sounds to me like Johnny isn't sure if he wants to sign right away with the Flames or wait another year and get more choice of where he plays his pro career and good ol Mom is chucking herself infront of the bus for her son should he decided to snub the Flames.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think Gaudreau has said all the right things. He already declared his intention to sign with the Flames... eventually, so it is important for the Flames to not act in any way that pushes him away. If it is going to cause him a lot of stress to not do what his mom is pushing for, the Flames really need to step back and let the family sort it out.

Having said that, Gaudreau needs to be careful. I remember former Flames prospect (Aaron Marvin maybe) turned down a contract to finish school citing family pressure and then his development stagnated and his career suffered. Granted, Gaudreau is at a much higher level so maybe it won't be a big deal, but it could be.

I understand people want an education, but "education" does not have to mean a degree.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I can't imagine how any logical person could think staying would be in his best interest, including from an education point of view. Hate to say it, but sounds to me like Johnny isn't sure if he wants to sign right away with the Flames or wait another year and get more choice of where he plays his pro career and good ol Mom is chucking herself infront of the bus for her son should he decided to snub the Flames.

Think that is a little bit of a stretch.

Every other report made it sound like Johnny wanted to turn pro, including many reporters that supposedly had close ties in the Boston area.

Sounds like a mom making up mom like excuses to keep her boys close to home IMO.

Of course she would want her two boys to say together for another season, and of course she would prefer that he get his college degree.

Also as she mentioned she would like to see him get a little bigger and a little stronger, you have to think that as his mother she is a little afraid that her son is going to be playing against the Shea Weber's of the world in just a couple months.

The article is just one of a protective mom looking out for her son, and maybe being afraid of how fast he is growing up.

I don't think there is any reading in between the lines here that shows that Johnny isn't sure if he wants to sign. The article kind of makes it sound like he knows he wants to sign and the protective mom is trying to convince him otherwise.