Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

[bobbylouie]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

I guess Johnny could look at Jersey to be closer to home,

Posting this because weather prevents me from going outside tonight and because I've seen other people say they aren't 100% clear on the geography.

I'm not suggesting that the Devils/Rangers/Islanders aren't attractive options and are certainly "close to home", but just for clarity Gaudreau's "hometown" team is the Flyers.

He grew up right cross the river from Philadelphia, attended a high school 4 km from the Wells Fargo Center, and his girl friend/now wife worked at a
hospital in center city Philadelphia, where they were also married last year.

Mostly though, I just felt like making a map.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Ah. Flippancy.



Flippancy again.

I quite like C. S. Lewis's definition of flippancy. He says it is assuming that a joke has already been made, so that all you have to do is act as if the subject at hand were already known to be ridiculous. It saves the effort of actually trying to make a joke; and also lets the perpetrator have a cheap laugh even when the subject is not ridiculous and there is no joke to be made.

Do you really believe that Backlund, or any other professional athlete, simply sits back and does nothing while watching his team lose games, when he could simply turn on a switch and perform two or three times better?

Nobody performs at 100% of peak capacity all day, every day. We all have our ups and downs; we all have rhythms and oscillations. All of us, in every field. But for some reason, some people expect professional athletes (but nobody else) to perform at their absolute peak in every single competition.

No, you’re right that is a fair comment. Do you think he’s put forth a good effort this season (judging from start of season to now)?

I just think he’s floated a lot. Like especially if you simply contrast his last 10 days vs. Anything before that and yeah, a lot of it really does just come down to how hard a guy is working. Pretty much. It’s not like his skill just disappeared. Agree with you that it is unrealistic to expect 100% effort all the time though.

Also when you walk around calling people names you probably will get flippancy back.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think signing Gaudreau now will be a huge mistake. Let someone else sign him. It’s a contract year and he will not perform like this ever again.

Gaudreau started playing like this the second Sutter put him on a line with other good players. The combination of Sutter plus good line mates has made a massive difference. Now for a little more team depth so the other team can't just key on his line 100%.

He was unreal the last 20 or so games last season

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

No, you’re right that is a fair comment. Do you think he’s put forth a good effort this season (judging from start of season to now)?

I don't think his lack of success was from lack of trying. Sometimes effort doesn't translate into effectiveness. If you try very very hard to do the wrong thing, the right thing doesn't get done – and I think that's what has happened to Backlund's offence in a lot of games. To me, he has looked like he was in his own head, and kept second-guessing himself where the first guess would have been the right one.

My late mother had pretty bad dyslexia. One of her trademark mistakes was to shelve books upside-down. More than once I saw her put a book on the shelf right side up, second-guess herself, and then turn it upside-down. Some of the things Backlund has done with the puck kind of remind me of that.

Defensively (where the work is usually hardest), he's been pretty good.

By the way, I apologize for insulting you. One other poster in particular has me badly rattled tonight, and I took it out on you. My bad.

[Sandman]

Not sure if it’s been posted yet, but Craig Button was on SportsCenter, and seemed very adamant that “Johnny Gaudreau WILL be a Calgary Flame next season!”.

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Sure, Tkachuk can be qualified at $9M as you’d say, but than he’d become an unrestricted free agent after one more season. What kind of asset management would that be? Mangiapane is on pace for nearly 40 goals and Kylington leads the team’s defensemen in goals, points and plus/minus.

These guys are all going to get paid and with whatever little cap space that remains, 7 to 8 more players will still need to be signed to fill out the rest of the roster. A buyout could end up being a necessity just to fill the team with league minimum hockey players. Then how does this team improve from what they currently are if that’s the case?

Lastly, I’m not even sure why you’re using Tampa as an example. They won 2 straight Stanley Cups! The Flames in comparison missed the playoffs last season. Of course Tampa lost players, just like Chicago did, because this league is cyclical. Success costs you more money because other teams will want your players, it’s basic supply and demand.

It’s absolute foolishness to compare the Flames and Lightning. They’ve won 15 playoff rounds over the last 5 or so years. We’re just trying to get in to the playoffs to win 1. We’re not even in the same league in terms of success.

Why is it so hard for some to just acknowledge that our GM has done a good to very good job overall. I just don't get it. If you are going to post points about his bad performance, then why is it so hard for you to at least acknowledge some good signing and draft picks that he is responsible for.

Just so we can clear the air, would you extend his contract if in some magical world you were able to do this. Tell me who would do a better job?

Would it be Ken Holland?, a hall of fame inductee who right now is getting so much flack for not getting a good goaltender.

So much of your arguments are based upon hindsight, and how he should be able to predict everything.

Grade him against all the other GM's in the league and you tell me where he rates.

Looking forward to your answer

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Not sure if it’s been posted yet, but Craig Button was on SportsCenter, and seemed very adamant that “Johnny Gaudreau WILL be a Calgary Flame next season!”.

Oh great. A 36 year old making $11.75mm. Treliving!!!!!

EDIT: And can folks try to be a little more kind to each other? I lob in sarcastic crap too sometimes....i'm trying to curb that. Try this....when someone pisses you off, say "have a nice day!!". It usually stops the back and forth (my wife taught me that one).

[SportsJunky]

Dom and Sean at The Athletic talking about missing players at the All Star game. They had this to say about Matthew.

Sean: I’m not saying this season has convinced me that Tkachuk is a perfect hockey player, but … I’m not not saying that, either. He’s over a point per game and part of one of the best lines in the league, and there’s something about his game, aesthetically, that just works for me. Plus, his brother is already going to be there. No-brainer.

Dom: He can score, he can make plays. He plays a complete 200-foot game. He has a rare mix of grit and finesse. He might actually be the perfect player.

[NewFan]

Originally Posted by bobbylouie

Posting this because weather prevents me from going outside tonight and because I've seen other people say they aren't 100% clear on the geography.

I'm not suggesting that the Devils/Rangers/Islanders aren't attractive options and are certainly "close to home", but just for clarity Gaudreau's "hometown" team is the Flyers.

He grew up right cross the river from Philadelphia, attended a high school 4 km from the Wells Fargo Center, and his girl friend/now wife worked at a
hospital in center city Philadelphia, where they were also married last year.

Mostly though, I just felt like making a map.

Can you please include Adam Pardy's birth place in the map? Then I can understand more clearly.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Dom and Sean at The Athletic talking about missing players at the All Star game. They had this to say about Matthew.

Yet...so many want to run him out of town because he positioned himself to get paid.

I really do not understand it.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Dude you’re not even worth the effort. Welcome to my ignore list.

I always find comments like this hilarious. If it wasn’t worth the effort, why tell him? You actually think he’s gonna care?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Not sure if it’s been posted yet, but Craig Button was on SportsCenter, and seemed very adamant that “Johnny Gaudreau WILL be a Calgary Flame next season!”.

Always find it interesting when Craig Button seems sure of something with his brother in Calgary.

Holds a little more weight than just a guy guessing, but far from a certainty obviously.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Why is it so hard for some to just acknowledge that our GM has done a good to very good job overall. I just don't get it. If you are going to post points about his bad performance, then why is it so hard for you to at least acknowledge some good signing and draft picks that he is responsible for.

Why is it a fact that he has done a good to very good job? Because that is your opinion?

Acknowledging some good signings and draft picks doesn't make him a good to very good GM. He has been here 7 years and the team results are not good.

He has had some great FA signings, some average, and some terrible. He has made some good trades, and some bad trades.

Most people look at the overall body of work, but most importantly the teams performance, and judge from there. And the team has not been good with BT as GM

I think this season really will seal the argument - If they can break through and win a few rounds (and then keep the core) it will be inarguable that BT build HIS team and HIS team ended up winning

If they flame out again in the playoffs and loose the core, it will be pretty indefensible his tenure here was a complete failure as we will be effectively starting over with zero success in his tenure.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Not sure if it’s been posted yet, but Craig Button was on SportsCenter, and seemed very adamant that “Johnny Gaudreau WILL be a Calgary Flame next season!”.

This makes me hopeful and happy. Button generally has a decent pulse on the Flames.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Always find it interesting when Craig Button seems sure of something with his brother in Calgary.

Holds a little more weight than just a guy guessing, but far from a certainty obviously.

I agree. Nobody could convince me that their jobs never come up in conversation, or that they never talk about the Flames. “Is it ok if I mention that on TV?” “You never heard it from me” lol

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Why is it so hard for some to just acknowledge that our GM has done a good to very good job overall. I just don't get it. If you are going to post points about his bad performance, then why is it so hard for you to at least acknowledge some good signing and draft picks that he is responsible for.

Just so we can clear the air, would you extend his contract if in some magical world you were able to do this. Tell me who would do a better job?

Would it be Ken Holland?, a hall of fame inductee who right now is getting so much flack for not getting a good goaltender.

So much of your arguments are based upon hindsight, and how he should be able to predict everything.

Grade him against all the other GM's in the league and you tell me where he rates.

Looking forward to your answer

Impossible. We need someone to blame and the all seeing all knowing Brad Treliving is the one.

I believe I have seen the same poster say that Treliving could have easily beat Vegas's Eichel offer (ie: acquire the player at any cost) and just yesterday was proposing Schiefele for Monahan and Zary or a 1st (ie: clear low ball that would surely get beat if the Schif was on the market) . No wonder some people are so relied up, their expectations are way beyond any semblance of reality.

Treliving deserves some criticism to be sure but what GM doesn't? None of them are batting 1.000. Finding reasons to be critical of a GM is easy. That is like complaining about your parents doing something 'wrong'. Tell a therapist, not Calgary Puck. There is no shortage of people making up scenarios or story's to support what ever it is that is at the root of their need to complain daily about the same things.

[gvitaly]

Good read on just how dominant Tkachuk and Gaudreau are this season. Other player report cards are also there.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yet...so many want to run him out of town because he positioned himself to get paid.

I really do not understand it.

I don’t blame him for that move. It may be an indication he is not staying though. I do think he wanted that exact contract and find it odd when people think he’s going to (a) accept a discounted contract going forward or (b) think Treliving could have easily squeezed more years at lower pay from him.

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Why is it a fact that he has done a good to very good job? Because that is your opinion?

Acknowledging some good signings and draft picks doesn't make him a good to very good GM. He has been here 7 years and the team results are not good.

He has had some great FA signings, some average, and some terrible. He has made some good trades, and some bad trades.

Most people look at the overall body of work, but most importantly the teams performance, and judge from there. And the team has not been good with BT as GM

I think this season really will seal the argument - If they can break through and win a few rounds (and then keep the core) it will be inarguable that BT build HIS team and HIS team ended up winning

If they flame out again in the playoffs and loose the core, it will be pretty indefensible his tenure here was a complete failure as we will be effectively starting over with zero success in his tenure.

Your telling me that the team needs to win 3 rounds, essentially the Stanley Cup finals to gain your confidence that he should keep his job ???

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Always find it interesting when Craig Button seems sure of something with his brother in Calgary.

Holds a little more weight than just a guy guessing, but far from a certainty obviously.

For me the thing that has always given me hope that Johnny re-signs is that his wife left her job in Philly, to move out here this season, and I think it was mentioned she was trying to transfer her work to Calgary (IIRC she's a nurse).

Personally I'm not sure I'd be suggesting that my wife make that big of a change and leaving her job in her hometown if I thought was going to be signing and moving back to that city 12 months later.