Friedman: Flames have begun extension talks with Gaudreau & Eichel speculation

[Heavy Jack]

So much for this being done by the 7th of august lol

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by TOfan

You seem to be catastrophizing the Gaudreau contract situation with zero first hand knowledge. I find it extremely hard to believe the Flames management doesn’t have a handle on what Gaudreau’s desire to stay with the team is and what his next contract is going to look like. I would imagine that the two parties started discussing this month’s ago, probably even last offseason.

Suggesting Treliving has been asleep at the wheel is a lazy take. Why would he have been? Is there a single logical reason why he wouldn’t have, at minimum, ‘get this sorted out’ as you put it? Even from a self serving point of view, what good could that have possibly done for Treliving? That would basically be like you showing up to work one day and just saying ‘yeah, that big deliverable I’m responsible for, I’m just not going to do that and I’m going to let the project implode’. I suppose if you’re intentionally trying to get fired that might make sense. You’re reputation would take a massive hit as well, so it’s kind of like career suicide. Good luck getting hired again in your profession. If an individual were to do this, regardless of their profession, they should probably seek out counselling.

Do you honestly believe this is what Treliving has done/is doing?

Everything you say is likely spot on.

But here's the rub,

Unless they have a handshake agreement in hand and are just waiting to announce it for some unknown reason, he has now lost all leverage in the situation.

JG can simply decide he no longer wants to sign for what was agreed upon, or heard through the back channels what another club is willing to do next off season, or just use the new powers he has as leverage of his own for a new deal. Doesn't mean it will happen, but it certainly could. This is simply the ugly side of the pro sports business.

This needed to be settled one way or the other prior to the entry draft. It was as clear as day that the team would lose their negotiating power on the 28th...period. This is just a fact.

If there really is not a deal in place, IMO that has to be the last straw and BT needs to be jettisoned ASAP before he makes panic deals that would hurt the club even further in an attempt to save his job.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Other than a gross overpayment, what incentive does JG really have to sign a long term extension? The team hasn't done anything lately nor has it improved on paper since last season. I am sure if the Flames throw enough money at him, he will re-sign, but what's the use at that point. It won't help build a winner.

I think a lot of fans here underestimate the importance of winning potential to players deciding where they want to play.

I think Johnny will re sign, but the lack of support for him and the poor level of linemates he gets must be a factor in his mind.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

I still think there is a Gaudreau contract in the bag. With Coleman signing here, and he saying he spoke with Gaudreau about Calgary and the Flames' organization, I would assume the conversation about the future of the lineup came up. There is no way that Gaudreau tells a friend to sign in Calgary just to pull the plug a month or two later. I have no doubt that Treliving is trying to get a couple of deals done which could impact Gaudreau's contract, so those may be the holdup. There does come a time where Treliving is going to have to acknowledge that the deals just may not happen and to get the Gaudreau contract done and move on. He really needs to eliminate all distractions and have this team focused and ready for business the first day of camp. Another media circus will only hurt this team. Get Gaudreau signed. Get Tkachuk moved. Get the other pieces in town and ready to get out of the gate fast. Just have this team ready to play when the bell rings for the first time three or four years.

On the Friedman podcast a few weeks ago they were speculating Lou Lamorillo resigned a couple of his guys already and the paperwork was probably sitting in his desk ready to file any time he wanted. They speculated that he's probably doing that to not have others know how much money he has left to play with. Could be the same thing here with Johnny already done, but with other moves left there could be a gentleman's agreement to not say anything yet.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

I still think there is a Gaudreau contract in the bag. With Coleman signing here, and he saying he spoke with Gaudreau about Calgary and the Flames' organization, I would assume the conversation about the future of the lineup came up. There is no way that Gaudreau tells a friend to sign in Calgary just to pull the plug a month or two later. I have no doubt that Treliving is trying to get a couple of deals done which could impact Gaudreau's contract, so those may be the holdup. There does come a time where Treliving is going to have to acknowledge that the deals just may not happen and to get the Gaudreau contract done and move on. He really needs to eliminate all distractions and have this team focused and ready for business the first day of camp. Another media circus will only hurt this team. Get Gaudreau signed. Get Tkachuk moved. Get the other pieces in town and ready to get out of the gate fast. Just have this team ready to play when the bell rings for the first time three or four years.

At a minimum, I think one would agree that Johnny gave a positive endorsement of the City, the team and management to Coleman. Its not like the guy didn't have options, so its my feeling Johnny's feedback was very positive in all 3 of these areas.

Hopefully, the contract negotiations are positive and progressing - would love to rub Francis' face in it.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Everything you say is likely spot on.

But here's the rub,

Unless they have a handshake agreement in hand and are just waiting to announce it for some unknown reason, he has now lost all leverage in the situation.

JG can simply decide he no longer wants to sign for what was agreed upon, or heard through the back channels what another club is willing to do next off season, or just use the new powers he has as leverage of his own for a new deal. Doesn't mean it will happen, but it certainly could. This is simply the ugly side of the pro sports business.

This needed to be settled one way or the other prior to the entry draft. It was as clear as day that the team would lose their negotiating power on the 28th...period. This is just a fact.

If there really is not a deal in place, IMO that has to be the last straw and BT needs to be jettisoned ASAP before he makes panic deals that would hurt the club even further in an attempt to save his job.

It's a fact for sure.

But both sides know it, and if one side is leaning on it too heavily maybe you call the bluff because you think the player wants to stay.

You don't want to give away leverage, but if it's being over played sometimes you have to.

Clearly I don't know the story, but it's not hard to deduce that Gaudreau's camp is asking for something that the Flames aren't comfortable with or it would be done by now.

[Britflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

It's a fact for sure.

But both sides know it, and if one side is leaning on it too heavily maybe you call the bluff because you think the player wants to stay.

You don't want to give away leverage, but if it's being over played sometimes you have to.

Clearly I don't know the story, but it's not hard to deduce that Gaudreau's camp is asking for something that the Flames aren't comfortable with or it would be done by now.

Bingo you guys are much closer to this (literally) than I am but what do we think JG is asking for. If I am him I am looking at MT next contract 9M and I am at the very least asking for that and in more likely hood more.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by fleury

On the Friedman podcast a few weeks ago they were speculating Lou Lamorillo resigned a couple of his guys already and the paperwork was probably sitting in his desk ready to file any time he wanted. They speculated that he's probably doing that to not have others know how much money he has left to play with. Could be the same thing here with Johnny already done, but with other moves left there could be a gentleman's agreement to not say anything yet.

That is possible but there is a fairly large competency difference between Brad and Lou. Hopefully what you described is the case, but Lou is a significantly better GM than Brad.

[Bingo]

And if it's 8 years x $10.5M or else I don't think it's a bad negotiating move to let the deadline come and go.

Clearly no clue what's going on myself, but cap space is king. You don't want to lose an asset for nothing, but you also don't want to get stuck paying a diminutive player that relies on darting in and out of plays to create offence until he's 38.

[Sec214]

woke up, no eichel back to bed i go!

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Everything you say is likely spot on.

But here's the rub,

Unless they have a handshake agreement in hand and are just waiting to announce it for some unknown reason, he has now lost all leverage in the situation.

JG can simply decide he no longer wants to sign for what was agreed upon, or heard through the back channels what another club is willing to do next off season, or just use the new powers he has as leverage of his own for a new deal. Doesn't mean it will happen, but it certainly could. This is simply the ugly side of the pro sports business.

This needed to be settled one way or the other prior to the entry draft. It was as clear as day that the team would lose their negotiating power on the 28th...period. This is just a fact.

If there really is not a deal in place, IMO that has to be the last straw and BT needs to be jettisoned ASAP before he makes panic deals that would hurt the club even further in an attempt to save his job.

Yes, I guess it is possible Gaudreau and his agent could pull the carpet from out from under the Flames feet, but I doubt it. Here’s why:

The NHL community of executives and agents is relatively small. Reputations matter, a lot. So if Lewis Gross, Gaudreau and the Flames have a deal in principle, which I think is likely, and the Gaudreau camp decides now to change the conditions in a way that screws the Flames over, GM’s and front offices around the league will take note of that. The relationships agents have with GM’s is important and trust is an important aspect to their reputation. If Gross wants a reputation of being untrustworthy, that will only complicate his own future negotiations, as well as his clients. It’s a self-canabalizing move.

I also find it hard to believe that after public statements made by Gaudreau that he wants to stay, he would now change his perspective or the circumstances at this point. Trust is also important between the player and the team/organization.

To me, all this fretting over Gaudreau’s status is blown out of proportion. Just my two cents, but I bet there are probably two deals on the table for Gaudreau that both sides have agreed to in principle. One is probably a 7 year deal and the other 8. Should the Flames land Eichel, perhaps they go the 8 year route to help keep the cap hit slightly lower. If not, they go 7. Pure speculation on my part.

At the end of the day, I’m betting that there is good will and trust between the two parties and the July 28th date doesn’t mean much be cause both sides are on the same page. The other reason why I don’t think that date is hugely important is because there is next to no rumours, or even speculation, outside of this forum that I can find that says Gaudreau intends to test the market. You would have thought Eric Francis would be going bananas by now (maybe I’ve missed it. I tend to ignore most of his stuff). I haven’t seen anything from Friedman, CJ, Seravelli, MacKenzie, Dreger, or anyone. It has been quiet and that is fine from a Flames perspective.

Tkachuk, on the other hand, is a much bigger question mark in my mind. The Flames need to know where his head is at.

[FanIn80]

Wait, are we all back on that "Johnny doesn't want to play here" bs again?

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

That is possible but there is a fairly large competency difference between Brad and Lou. Hopefully what you described is the case, but Lou is a significantly better GM than Brad.

Bold

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Wait, are we all back on that "Johnny doesn't want to play here" bs again?

Johnny wants to be here as long as they pay him to make it worthwhile

It’s obvious they can’t agree on the value and no good trade on the table

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Johnny wants to be here as long as they pay him to make it worthwhile

It’s obvious they can’t agree on the value and no good trade on the table

It is? Tell us more….

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Sec214

woke up, no eichel back to bed i go!

You may have to be in bed for a long time

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by TOfan

It is? Tell us more….

Why don’t they have a contract if they agreed?

Why wouldn’t they trade him if there is a good deal when they desperately need a shake up and they can’t sign him?

That’s all I have folks. Don’t pretend this is something more than an internet discussion board

[OutToLunch]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Johnny wants to be here as long as they pay him to make it worthwhile

It’s obvious they can’t agree on the value and no good trade on the table

Yes, Tre crapped the bed again, he only has a year left to re-sign him. The only thing that's obvious is no one has a clue.

I don't think the trade list matters either, if they can't make a deal and tre asks for his 10 team list, who do you think he's going to name? Probably Philly, NJ, Boston, NYR, NYI and fill it out with top teams in good destinations, TB, Florida, etc. Only need 2 teams interested for a bidding war, if they're in the same division, even better.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Why don’t they have a contract if they agreed?

Why wouldn’t they trade him if there is a good deal when they desperately need a shake up and they can’t sign him?

That’s all I have folks. Don’t pretend this is something more than an internet discussion board

Like any good internet discussion board, people are mocking you for acting like your opinion is fact (it’s obvious this, clearly this is the situation, etc etc) when you’re just taking a guess and choosing one of any number of possibilities and acting like it’s “obvious.”

Don’t worry about it. It’s just an Internet forum. You’re going to get clowned from time to time.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Why don’t they have a contract if they agreed?

Why wouldn’t they trade him if there is a good deal when they desperately need a shake up and they can’t sign him?

That’s all I have folks. Don’t pretend this is something more than an internet discussion board

Don’t know. But the one thing I will say is obvious is that neither you or I are in the room with regard to the negotiation. So neither of us know, and other than that, nothing is ‘obvious’ as you put it.

It would appear you have decided to take the worst case scenario and make your judgments based on that. Awesome. Must be a great place to be.

On the other hand, I’ll assume Treliving and the Flames have been doing their job and if Gaudreau did in fact want out, he would have been traded.