NY Times Gaudreau article. Update: response from Johnny

[PeteMoss]

Not worried. His mom will learn to not give quotes to the media.

She's a mom. She wants her kid close to her and with her other son. Its tough to see your child move across the continent.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

There is nothing remotely inteligent about her perspective. It be one thing if somone just overheard a dinner conversation at the Gaudreau household where a loving and emotional mother made a plea for her son to finish their schooling or stay closer to home and not grow up so quickly, but she was giving an interview.........have to think she had the time to think about her stance more logically, and if so, what she's saying doesn't make sense.

And thus, what she says should be taken very seriously?

Christ "I dont want my little Johnny to grow up so fast" turns into " OMG Johnnyzz not going to sign here evaaar!! What can be done!!!"

[lanny9]

Could Johnny's mom just be playing the game? I mean, talk it up like there is a chance he will stay in school, leave in doubt that he signs and risk losing him to another team next summer all in order to get a rookie max deal for her son? Business is business and I am sure his mother knows this and is taking part in the family playing their cards. I am sure the family advisor is probably telling her what to say and when.

Could he go back for another year, yes, but he also has to consider that he risks a career ending injury in college. As compared to maybe making the team next year, with bonuses etc, it could set him up for the rest of his life even if he were to have that career ending injury in the NHL.

Looks like EldrickOnIce and I are thinking the same here....

[PeteMoss]

These parents aren't media trained/hardened. So when they are asked questions they respond honestly. After getting burned or starting up a firestorm with an honest response they'll learn to say nothing or speak in cliches like the athletes quickly learn.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

Mamas boy

If he doesn't sign then it is all on you....all on you!!!!!

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Gaudreau said in the article that what his mother says, he usually sticks with. I'm saying that that is a red flag. Was his mother sitting beside him? What my mom said usually stuck too. Didn't stop me from leaving town to go to school when she wanted me to stay home.

We've also determined that education has nothing to do with the choice. It is completely illogical. Who has determined this? A few random guys on the internet with no knowledge of JGs family situation or values? Maybe his mom hated the fact that he played hockey since day one fearing he would get hurt. Maybe she still doesn't see it as a viable career path. Some people are like this, just don't get sports or their value. There I have determined his mom is crazy.

If he wanted to stay because of his brother, why not just say so? Well nothing Johnny says seems to resonate here. Only heresay, tweets from people no one has heard of and random guesses based on what his mom said in response to a question about whether or not she wants her son to finish his college degree. And no matter what type of a degree that is, some parents see value in getting any degree at all, especially those who may not have had that opportunity themselves. But yeah, anything but engineering is a waste of time.

So refusing to accept everything at face value (when its all we have to go on is ridiculous) and making assumptions = overreacting? Maybe on CalgaryPuck.

Responses.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by devo22

he's Flames property until August 15th 2015. Schultz is not comparable - he used a loophole in the CBA that made him UFA after three years of college because he played an additional USHL year prior to college hockey. Johnny went to college directly after the draft and therefore can't sign with another team until August 2015.

So assuming he goes back for his senior year, he'll graduate in May 2015.

Certainly not inconceivable that he decides to wait until August to sign with a club other than the Flames (ie. Philly which is just up the road from his hometown, or the Devils, or Washington, or one of the NY teams as they are within easy driving distance to his home town in Carneys Point in NJ)

I know he said he intends to sign with the Flames, but he has changed his mind before...

After attending the Flames training camp, Gaudreau started his career in the NCAA with the Division I Boston College Eagles team in the Hockey East conference. He originally signed a Letter of Intent to play with Hockey East rival Northeastern University but opted for Boston College when Northeastern Hockey coach Greg Cronin resigned in June 2011, to take a position with the Toronto Maple Leafs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Gaudreau


I'm a little bit worried right now..

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If Gaudreau waits until next year to sign a contract, his ELC will be max 2 years. If he signs before the 2014-2015 season, it will be 3 years.

He's giving up $925,000 to stay in college for one more year?

Why?

That is if he is in the NHL right away. The more likely thing is he gives up his signing bonus $90k and his AHL salary $70k for more like $160k.

Not every decision made is based on money.

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Have to be more variables in play to risk that cash then just, "please finish school". Although, I probably shouldn't speculate or assume anything about how Johnny's mom would analyse the issue / problem given I don't know her. For all I know she doesn't have a logical bone in her body, or simply doesn't value the money.

Also, likely tough for any of us to say what our Mom's would say unless we've been choosing between $1M contracts. My parents would always take the finish your school stance too, but they've never been faced with that choice with guranteed contracts worth millions on the line. Not sure my parents would even hesitate to suggest I turn pro if that were the case. The typical, finish your education stances many of our parents may have had in our childhood simply don't apply in this situation.

I don't know. I think many parents want their kids to finish school.

Living in Alberta did any of our parents say. "Forget the university degree, you can go work on the oil rigs and make $150k a year without an education, that is an extra $600k in your pocket and that would take your 10 years to make that much after university.

Mom's are protective of their sons. I am not saying she is right, just that I don't think it is a reach that she is just being a mom that likes that her sons are close to home, that she likes that her sons play hockey together, and since Matty picked the school that Johnny wanted, Johnny owed it to Matty to stay there and play with him.

Originally Posted by theTrumanShow

I totally disagree. I think they are saying the right things like all athletes/parents of athletes do to get the best out of the situation. Do you honestly think that they don't know of the financial implications of this? I think they do. I agree that there is a bit of an over reaction to these quotes by his mother, but I totally disagree that they don't know what they are doing. Like any other opportunity, people have a plan.

I am sure there is a plan and they understand the financial impacts but if the decision was purely about money he would have signed his rookie max contract last year when it was offered.

I just think the family actually is thinking about his education and that she is just being a mom that likes seeing her little boys playing hockey together close to home.

Parents can be irrational and emotional, especially moms. Don't know why her wanting him to stay in school has to mean there is a big conspiracy that she is trying to cover up Johnny's feelings.

The bigger concern would be that she obviously likes having him close to home, so maybe interest from Philly or New Jersey could convince her to push him to sign there so he remains close to home.

I am going to think back to all the good things that Johnny said about the Flames, that they obviously liked it here, that many other reporters said he would sign here, and that he worked Hartley's development school in the summer before I start vilifying him and his mom for an article that really means nothing at this point in time.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

These parents aren't media trained/hardened. So when they are asked questions they respond honestly. After getting burned or starting up a firestorm with an honest response they'll learn to say nothing or speak in cliches like the athletes quickly learn.

Most of them are trained, for elite athletes who get a lot of attention. And they will often use that to advantage.

So you end any speculation and discussion at Boston by momma's comment and keep everyone focused on this year instead. Plus you put some pressure on contract talks? This is also plausible...

If JG had already decided to sign, he would never say it now.

[polak]

Look, Johnny is a communications major. Best case scenerio it takes him 10 years to make what his ELC will be worth. It's also a career path where getting in with a partial education is still possible.

</no offense to Comm. majors>

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

The Gaudreau family must have fun watching us squirm like a jilted junior high school crush.

I really don't think they care.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I have a lot of respect for athletes who complete their degrees before they go pro. I think it shows a sign of maturity (though it's surely not the only way). If Johnny wants to go back to BC for another year then all the power to him, there's a spot waiting for him, be it now or a year from now.

Like someone said earlier, until he says he isn't going to sign with Calgary I have no worries. He's Flames property.

He could do what Agostino is doing and continue to work on his courses now and finish his degree while playing pro if he so chose. There's more than one way to do it. The wildcard is his brother. I know personally that the one season I played football with my brother was the best season I had playing. But there's no reason to assume he won't sign even if he chooses to play college next year.

[Ashasx]

A political science degree is a little different than a communications degree.

The players aren't on the same skill level either.

[MissTeeks]

I can give him my communications degree, I'm not using it!

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

Al Morganti (sp?) from the East/West hot stove is close to the family and knows John personally.

He said based on his intimate knowledge he will be a Flame and fans have nothing to worry about.

He has said this numerous times on the show and has emphatically stated that everyone needs to chill, it is all going to be ok. He has even covered his back by saying anything can happen of course but the relationship is great and Gaudreau wants to be a Flame.

Until Morganti shows up with a wavering opinion this matter probably isn't worth stressing about whether he signs this year or next.

http://pmd.fan960.com/audio_on_deman...-Interview.mp3

[theoforever]

That's enough mom........
If she convinces him to go back to school, she will convince him to go with a team next to her house.
Thus, the chance of us getting the kid will go down to nothing.

I get her concern, he is small as hell and having big men trying to take his head off scares the hell out of her, scares me too.

As for education, that's a joke he can make more as a hockey player and he can always go back.

Perhaps we should look for a new mother figure for the kid.
Are there any 60 year old grandmas that are die heart Flame fans and great cooks on the forum?

BTW. Younger, women should not apply we don't need distractions.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

A political science degree is a little different than a communications degree.

The players aren't on the same skill level either.

And thus his education shouldn't matter as much? You really can't blame someone if they want to complete their degree, no matter what kind it is or what skills they have in other fields. If his parents want him to finish then fine, there's still no reason to think he won't sign with the Flames upon completion until he says otherwise.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If Gaudreau waits until next year to sign a contract, his ELC will be max 2 years. If he signs before the 2014-2015 season, it will be 3 years.

He's giving up $925,000 to stay in college for one more year?

Why?

$925,000? They don't pay that much in the AHL where he'll be going without a doubt for at least a year.

[stemit14]

The fear would be that this time next year there's another NY times article where his mother says how she wants him to stay close to home and that family is very important. And how he promised to never move away. Thanks mom.

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by stemit14

The fear would be that this time next year there's another NY times article where his mother says how she wants him to stay close to home and that family is very important. And how he promised to never move away. Thanks mom.

100% true