Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Yeah, but it's also a life choice.

I'd hold no ill-will towards Johnny if he were to head back to the East coast. Dude has a kid on the way, is recently married, and his family is all out there. Those are important things.

If he stays? What a win for the Calgary Flames. Getting a player of his quality to choose to stay in Calgary would be a big win. I hope he stays, but will cheer him on anywhere he goes (except for when he plays against the Flames).

This entire playoff run I told myself to just enjoy what we get to see as it may be Chucky and Johnny's final games as a Flame, and I thought they both played great. Things can happen so quickly, and people are always so quick to place blame - but Johnny put up 14 points in 12 games while shooting 5.8% and Chucky put up 10 points in 12 games. They both had strong playoffs, and I really hope they're back long-term. I think if Markstrom, Hanifin and Andersson don't completely crumble against Edmonton (and I think Tanev's injury had a big impact on those three things happening), this team wins that series.

My dream scenario is that we keep Johnny, Chucky, Mang, and somehow acquire Chychrun. That'd give us the defensive depth needed to overcome an injury to a top guy like Tanev.

If he does chose Calgary, it says a tonne about the town, the fans, and the organization. Because it sure as #### isn't the weather, the taxes, and the facilities.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

LeBrun today saying he sees a scenario where Gaudreau and his agent don't want to close the door on Calgary but may want to take a peek at the UFA market. I don't like that at all because all it takes is one team to come out of nowhere and make a crazy offer that the Flames can't/won't match.

It's also a terrible situation for the Flames because they might miss out on all the other options available if they don't act quickly on them, and then if Gaudreau, after waiting, ultimately chooses somewhere else the Flames are left with nothing.

So really, the Flames would be forced to chase after other options because they can't afford to wait.

[Ashasx]

If Gaudreau tells the Flames he's waiting for free agency, they lose the option for 8 years and you just have to operate assuming he won't be back.

[Moneyhands23]

I bet he is signed by Friday

Gonna try something new and be positive!

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

You mean the perfectly placed shot he fired to score in game 7 OT to beat the top goalie in round one?

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Yeah that shot he works on all the time. Total fluke, I bet these players don’t even mean to go bar down when it happens. All fluke.

Are they even really aiming at the net? Or just hoping?

No kidding lol. Watched an ex NHL guy out at sticks and pucks with his kid line up 8 pucks at the blue line and put 7 of them off the cross bar that he was aiming for. He was not Johnny level whatsoever, he was a journeyman NHL'er when he played. Hard wristers, it was ridiculous.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I bet he is signed by Friday

Gonna try something new and be positive!

Serivali mentioned/reiterated this morning on the FAN the Flames are really pushing to get this done asap. Pretty much echos what Friedman says that the team is being aggressive and really trying to close this asap.

[Toonage]

From LeBrun (The Athletic)

https://theathletic.com/3352265/2022...ni-malkin-ufa/

Less predictable in my mind is where the Gaudreau situation is headed. Fresh off a whopping 115-point season, the UFA winger has indicated a genuine love of playing in Calgary. I do think that’s real. So, that’s an important start. But on the flip side, an extension didn’t get done last summer before talks were frozen once this season got underway. Why didn’t it get done last summer?

Again, we’ve got a veteran player agent involved here in Lewis Gross, who has been in this situation many a time.

Flames GM Brad Treliving made it pretty clear at the team’s season-ending media availability that he isn’t going to sit back on this one. He’s going to aggressively try to get Gaudreau re-signed. But I think if you read between the lines, there’s a more important message hidden in there: It’s not just about wanting to re-sign Gaudreau but also wanting to get some kind of answer — either way — on the player’s true intentions sooner rather than later.

Which is to say I don’t think the Flames will want to be doing this dance on July 11 or 12 ahead of free agency. They will want to know where they stand probably within the next couple of weeks. Because if they realize they can’t get him signed, they will want time to pivot. Remember, they also have RFA Matthew Tkachuk to sign.

The question, however, is whether Gross gives Calgary a firm, clear answer on that kind of timetable or uses the next five weeks to play things out.

It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a scenario in which Gaudreau and Gross don’t want to close the door on Calgary but, given how close they are to the UFA market, may also want to take a peak. That’s a scenario the Flames can really live with. They need a firmer answer than that.

One thing to also remember: If for whatever reason the Flames can’t re-sign Gaudreau, and decide to gauge the trade market ahead of July 13 to see if the eighth year on a max deal is worth enough to another team to jump the start of free agency, Gaudreau can only be traded to five teams without his consent. So the agent has a lot of control over that particular path.

For now, the only thing the Flames are focused on is finding out if Gaudreau would re-sign and, if so, how they can make that happen way before July 13.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

You mean the perfectly placed shot he fired to score in game 7 OT to beat the top goalie in round one?

Even Johnny admitted he was just throwing the puck at the net.

Likely half the goals scored in the league fall into that category.

[NewFan]

I think Johnny will be re-sign $88 mill for 8 years if Monahan and Lindholm stays.
If Monahan can play RW in the 1st line, Johnny-Lindholm-Monahan may work well.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Toonage

From LeBrun (The Athletic)

https://theathletic.com/3352265/2022...ni-malkin-ufa/

Less predictable in my mind is where the Gaudreau situation is headed. Fresh off a whopping 115-point season, the UFA winger has indicated a genuine love of playing in Calgary. I do think that’s real. So, that’s an important start. But on the flip side, an extension didn’t get done last summer before talks were frozen once this season got underway. Why didn’t it get done last summer?

Again, we’ve got a veteran player agent involved here in Lewis Gross, who has been in this situation many a time.

Flames GM Brad Treliving made it pretty clear at the team’s season-ending media availability that he isn’t going to sit back on this one. He’s going to aggressively try to get Gaudreau re-signed. But I think if you read between the lines, there’s a more important message hidden in there: It’s not just about wanting to re-sign Gaudreau but also wanting to get some kind of answer — either way — on the player’s true intentions sooner rather than later.

Which is to say I don’t think the Flames will want to be doing this dance on July 11 or 12 ahead of free agency. They will want to know where they stand probably within the next couple of weeks. Because if they realize they can’t get him signed, they will want time to pivot. Remember, they also have RFA Matthew Tkachuk to sign.

The question, however, is whether Gross gives Calgary a firm, clear answer on that kind of timetable or uses the next five weeks to play things out.

It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a scenario in which Gaudreau and Gross don’t want to close the door on Calgary but, given how close they are to the UFA market, may also want to take a peak. That’s a scenario the Flames can really live with. They need a firmer answer than that.

One thing to also remember: If for whatever reason the Flames can’t re-sign Gaudreau, and decide to gauge the trade market ahead of July 13 to see if the eighth year on a max deal is worth enough to another team to jump the start of free agency, Gaudreau can only be traded to five teams without his consent. So the agent has a lot of control over that particular path.

For now, the only thing the Flames are focused on is finding out if Gaudreau would re-sign and, if so, how they can make that happen way before July 13.

But Johnny cannot be traded and have that team give him 8 years, so the 5 team NTC allow list is not relevant, as any deal would have to be a sign and trade, which Johnny is obviously involved in.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I would wager that on a scale of 1 to 1000, that would factor into Johnny's decision making process at a 0.

I would take that bet, his wife was a Philadelphia nurse and at least one teammate signed here saying this was a nice safe place to raise their family, .... don't underestimate the wife!

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by NewFan

I think Johnny will be re-sign $88 mill for 8 years if Monahan and Lindholm stays.
If Monahan can play RW in the 1st line, Johnny-Lindholm-Monahan may work well.

I expect Monny staying or leaving is not relevant. His career may be largely over, depending on his recovery from surgery this winter.

No reason to move Lindholm is Johnny stays.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CGY12

As somebody who's been super critical of this core and still under the belief that the current makeup of that core isn't a Stanley Cup winning one, Johnny is absolutely part of the solution and not even close to being an issue. Losing him would be an absolute dagger to this franchise. He is literally the only one on the team that has the skill and IQ to skate the puck up and gain the zone effectively almost every time he touches the puck.

I agree with everything but the bolded - I think sometimes the team has "Let-Johnny-do-it Syndrome", which will only carry you so far.

Without Johnny I think we could be like Islanders teams of the last few years (though hopefully not last season!)

Originally Posted by Toonage

From LeBrun (The Athletic)

https://theathletic.com/3352265/2022...ni-malkin-ufa/

One thing to also remember: If for whatever reason the Flames can’t re-sign Gaudreau, and decide to gauge the trade market ahead of July 13 to see if the eighth year on a max deal is worth enough to another team to jump the start of free agency, Gaudreau can only be traded to five teams without his consent. So the agent has a lot of control over that particular path.

For now, the only thing the Flames are focused on is finding out if Gaudreau would re-sign and, if so, how they can make that happen way before July 13.

Weird for LeBrun to whiff on a rule that 70% of plugged-in fans know.

[Toonage]

I believe LeBrun is suggesting a sign and trade otherwise, yeah, odd.

But if the Flames are giving him max term and max dollars they'd just keep him. lol

To suggest otherwise is to suggest a rift between the team and the player and I don't see that here.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I would take that bet, his wife was a Philadelphia nurse and at least one teammate signed here saying this was a nice safe place to raise their family, .... don't underestimate the wife!

Saying its a safe place to raise a family I can buy into. Saying I'm signing in Calgary because I don't want a school massacre is another thing.

Although the original poster may well have used an unusual situation to voice what you've just said.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Serivali mentioned/reiterated this morning on the FAN the Flames are really pushing to get this done asap. Pretty much echos what Friedman says that the team is being aggressive and really trying to close this asap.

Yep, ideally, Treliving will not want to wait around as this decision ties up everything else. This isn’t a situation where if Gaudreau signs or doesn’t sign, the team just goes about their day.

We’ve reached the proverbial fork in the road and Johnny’s deal holds up the path the team decides to take. So the quicker this gets done, the quicker Brad can move on to everything else on the agenda which I can only assume is crammed based on our current situation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Yep, ideally, Treliving will not want to wait around as this decision ties up everything else. This isn’t a situation where if Gaudreau signs or doesn’t sign, the team just goes about their day.

We’ve reached the proverbial fork in the road and Johnny’s deal holds up the path the team decides to take. So the quicker this gets done, the quicker Brad can move on to everything else on the agenda which I can only assume is crammed based on our current situation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wonder what Treliving will do if Johnny indicates that "Calgary is in the ballpark", but he wants to wait to see what kind of offers are out their in "UFA land" before he signs?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I wonder what Treliving will do if Johnny indicates that "Calgary is in the ballpark", but he wants to wait to see what kind of offers are out their in "UFA land" before he signs?

Those are buying signals so he needs to press to find out what will close the deal and see if they can bridge that gap. The Flames held firm on Johnny down until the eve of the regular season and Johnny finally caved in 2016. He may look to do the same on July 12th because the Flames best offer likely comes at that time

[Oil Stain]

It will be interesting to see if Treliving's RFA negotiation tactics will impact the contracts of guys like Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Mangiapane.

When Brad had the hammer in negotiations he ground these guys down for every last dollar and cent.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, will these guys look to get every last dollar or will Brad be able to convince them to see the bigger picture?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

It will be interesting to see if Treliving's RFA negotiation tactics will impact the contracts of guys like Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Mangiapane.

When Brad had the hammer in negotiations he ground these guys down for every last dollar and cent.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, will these guys look to get every last dollar or will Brad be able to convince them to see the bigger picture?

I think the only one that might understandably have a beef is Mangiapane. Gaudreau's final year looks like a bargain, but when the deal was signed, it was market value for a player with his production at the time.

Tkachuk got an extremely player-friendly deal. It wasn't without risk for him, but the amount of control over his future and the forced qualifying amount was probably something Tkachuk liked. In fact, if Tkachuk only signs a qualifying offer then walks to unrestricted free agency in a year, that could be a fireable offense for a GM.

I am only 50/50 on whether Gaudreau re-signs. I believe he sincerely loves the team and the decision is hard for him, but I also can't help but think that if it was 100% going to get done, it would be done. I doubt Treliving is playing hardball with him. Unless Gaudreau is demanding to be the highest paid player in the league or something, in which case, you have to move on. The Flames can't put themselves in a worse position than the Oilers by having 2 people eat up extremely disproportionate cap space.

I actually think Tkachuk is more likely to sign a long term extension. I don't know why, just a feeling I get from him.