Friedman: Gaudreau negotiations will be put on hold during World Cup

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

For the record, I don't actually believe this tourney will have impact on the contract. I actually think when the real thing starts, team NA will compete but will not take out the strongest nations and the JGs of the world will look good, but won't really prove anything new.

My argument is around the statements that JG all world performance at this event won't impact his negitiations, because I believe if that happens, it actually would.

[Weitz]

If anything a good tourney helps cement his ask.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Sample size and relevance. It ain't the NHL and it is too short. If they can build a case around his NHL career they don't have a good enough case

I agree that's my counter if I'm BT. But if he's having to counter, it's already impacting. And how many times has an MVP at a world best on best actually been just a flash in the pan?

You'll argue with me that a great performance in this tourney means nothing in a contract negotiation, but then I guarantee you'd yse it as ammo in an argument about brighter futures with your Oiler buddies, why, because it will actually make you feel JG is an even better player than you thought if he's one of the best in this tourney.

[Enoch Root]

Two exhibition games, prior to a short, outside-the-NHL tournament.

The actual tournament won't have any impact. Nevermind pre-tournament games against the weakest opponent in said tournament.

Just watch and enjoy and accept it for what it is. And hopefully he keeps outperforming McDavid throughout, because that is pretty hilarious.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Weitz

If anything a good tourney helps cement his ask.

No more than a bad tourney would weaken it (which is not at all)

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Sample size and relevance. It ain't the NHL and it is too short. If they can build a case around his NHL career they don't have a good enough case

I agree in principle BUT if NA does well and johhny lights it up it could impact some. But I think when they play the top 4 teams they're in trouble

[HelloHockeyFans]

It's always interesting to see some people take such dramatic positions to one side or the other in debates online.

Posted this a week ago when Darren Haynes first penned his article, but he wrote a neat piece exploring how Johnny's performance at the World Cup could indeed have impact on his current negotiations.

http://www.flamesfrom80feet.ca/2016/...hance-for.html

My view is that his performance won't shrink or grow what he ends up getting significantly, but there certainly will be an impact based on his performance.

And the way things are looking, it will be in his agent's favour.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Re-read the article and it's interesting how Haynes made an almost prophetic prediction:

For example, should Gaudreau score three times tonight, including dangling around Roman Josi and going bar-down in a video clip that instantly goes viral, that's not going to hurt his cause. Same thing if he leads Team North America to the finals.

Replace Roman Josi with Sbisa (ha ha Canucks) and you have half of his scenario actually happening tonight.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

...None of the other comparible contracts have had that "maybe" erased before. I'm struggling to see how it wouldn't impact, because it would certainly up my confidence that JG could be worth crazy dough.

Like I said, were Gaudreau's unalterable negotiating position any different, then I could see this tournament possibly having an impact on his contract number. But the fact is that he is an RFA with five years remaining before free agency, and he has no arbitration rights. Treliving might agree that Gaudreau is presently one of the best players in the world, but can still at the same time reasonably argue that his RFA years are not worth enough to push the value of his deal much over a $7 m AAV.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I agree that's my counter if I'm BT. But if he's having to counter, it's already impacting. And how many times has an MVP at a world best on best actually been just a flash in the pan?

You'll argue with me that a great performance in this tourney means nothing in a contract negotiation, but then I guarantee you'd yse it as ammo in an argument about brighter futures with your Oiler buddies, why, because it will actually make you feel JG is an even better player than you thought if he's one of the best in this tourney.

Even if I would use it as an argument against fans that has nothing to do with actual contract negotiations

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No more than a bad tourney would weaken it (which is not at all)

I don't really agree.

An outstanding versus a poor tournament will probably alter Gaudreau's view of where he stands among the league's best.

If he finishes top 3 in tournament scoring, I think he'd be more likely to feel that he doesn't have to cave in and accept anything lower than his ask because he's proven that he is one of the very best on a stage of the very best.

The tournament isn't going to change how Johnny's agent and the GM negotiate, but I think it could very well change Johhny's mindset in regards to what he will Ok as a final deal.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I don't really agree.

An outstanding versus a poor tournament will probably alter Gaudreau's view of where he stands among the league's best.

If he finishes top 3 in tournament scoring, I think he'd be more likely to feel that he doesn't have to cave in and accept anything lower than his ask because he's proven that he is one of the very best on a stage of the very best.

The tournament isn't going to change how Johnny's agent and the GM negotiate, but I think it could very well change Johhny's mindset in regards to what he will Ok as a final deal.

If he wants to be paid like a top 5 player, he better lead the Flames to a SCF or WCF or two before that.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

If he wants to be paid like a top 5 player, he better lead the Flames to a SCF or WCF or two before that.

I didn't say that, only that a very strong tournament by Johnny will likely strengthen his resolve, and a weak tournament could see him accept less than he would with a strong one.

[Zevo]

I would think if Gaudreaus agent tries to use a what, 8 game tourny? in negotiations, Treliving can fire back with his lack of production in 41 games on the road.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

If he wants to be paid like a top 5 player, he better lead the Flames to a SCF or WCF or two before that.

Yeah, just like Ovechkin had to do before he was considered a top 5 player.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Yeah, just like Ovechkin had to do before he was considered a top 5 player.

Another exhibit of don't overpay for your franchise winger and build a team around him?

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Zevo

I would think if Gaudreaus agent tries to use a what, 8 game tourny? in negotiations, Treliving can fire back with his lack of production in 41 games on the road.

and then his agent can fire back with his production over 82 games. Being the 6th best scorer in the league, in your second season, is a heck of an accomplishment.

[dying4acup]

If, and only if, the Flames are using home/road splits as a reason why Johnny hasn't earned the contract he's asking for, then high scoring performances against the defenseman in this tournament (not including Europe, sbiza hahaha) would make a good case for him having done just that.

An argument could be made (not that I even remotely understand how these negotiations work) that it's his linemates that failed him in road games.

There is no way that either the Flames or Johnny move away from the other sides ask as a result of this tournament. There is, however, the possibility that one side moves a bit closer to the other sides ask based on the results of this tournament. There's also that one side remains more convinced that they are right and the other is out to lunch.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

and then his agent can fire back with his production over 82 games. Being the 6th best scorer in the league, in your second season, is a heck of an accomplishment.

Oh for sure, but that's were the negotiation should be, not broken down to cherry picked segments, by either side.

[Gaudreauvertime]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

How about over an 8 year deal?

7.4-7.8 is where he'd probably get signed on an 8 year deal. Given that, I don't we see him sign anything long term because I do believe management wants to enforce the Gio cap.