Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Why, exactly is it easy to say a 10M Gaudreau contact would look bad as soon as 3 years from now?
I don't think the vast majority of people would think that.

He will be 32 turning 33 in three seasons, for the most part unless you are a true generational talent your offensive production really starts to dry up when you are that age.

Even if Johnny just sees a slight dip in production and is putting up 65-75 points then $11M isn't going to look great.

I want them to sign the deal to keep him in the fold, but you have to know that there is going to be risk that you are paying a retirement contract here and by the mid-point of the contract it may not look great.

Look at Tavares (31), Kane (33), Toews (34), Price (34), Karlsson (32), and Doughty (32) and how their $10M+ deals have aged and how much those teams are loving those contracts.

[Erick Estrada]

If he re-signs we will all celebrate as we should but the fallout is that the deal will be massive and there's a good chance that this contract will be a burden after the halfway mark prohibiting the Flames from keeping other players as this is the cycle of big contracts in a salary capped league. If he leaves it's going to suck for the next few seasons but there will be a day where we are probably happy it didn't happen. I guess that's the bright side even if the present outlook would be pretty bleak.

[Mars]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

They've drafted 2: Adam Fox.

Angriest thanks I’ve ever given

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Not his problem. If he was my agent I'd be glad he's thinking of me first, and not what helps the people on the other side of the negotiation table.

Depends on how he views the big picture, and what he ultimately wants

Crosby has been fine at 8.7, he has 3 Cups, and is learning every year that getting another is not easy

Having room for better teammates helps him in a non monetary way

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If he re-signs we will all celebrate as we should but the fallout is that the deal will be massive and there's a good chance that this contract will be a burden after the halfway mark prohibiting the Flames from keeping other players as this is the cycle of big contracts in a salary capped league. If he leaves it's going to suck for the next few seasons but there will be a day where we are probably happy it didn't happen. I guess that's the bright side even if the present outlook would be pretty bleak.

I agree completely with this. In my heart I want him to sign but in my head I wonder if its the right thing.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I think most are saying that Gaudreau is an 11M player, but I think people would expect him to take a slight discount so the team can stay competitive (using the 8th year to lower the cap hit).

I don't see the Oilers, Sharks, Stars, Rangers, and Canadiens winning anything over the next few years with all of their eggs in one basket.

[bax]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I've been assured that this is simply impossible.

If he does sign, I think a lot of the "a million is nothing" people will be singing a different tune within 1.5 years. Not necessarily because Johnny will be bad, but there is nothing to suggest this past year was sustainable.

He doesn’t need to perform at last seasons level for his contract to be worth it.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If Gaudreau's camp put an $11 MM demand in front of the flames, then it's not about going closer to home IMO.

It never was, IMO.

Every single step in this process has suggested Gaudreau's agent is doing exactly what he needs to do to extract maximum dollar for his client.

[dino7c]

What % of the cap was 8.7M when Crosby signed?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I agree completely with this. In my heart I want him to sign but in my head I wonder if its the right thing.

I think in a perfect world this would have been done last offseason for about 8 x $8.5 million prior to him bursting out with a 100+ point season. That contract would have been totally fine even if his play dropped off in his 30's. Now we are faced with what sounds like an 8 x $10+ million contract which has long lasting implications. I'm just trying to find positives right now in the case that he leaves.

[DinnerDog]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Depends on how he views the big picture, and what he ultimately wants

Crosby has been fine at 8.7, he has 3 Cups, and is learning every year that getting another is not easy

Having room for better teammates helps him in a non monetary way

When he signed that deal it was 14.50% of the salary cap, similar today would be AAV of $11.96M.

[McG]

You don’t lose an asset for the minimum nhl salary.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If he re-signs we will all celebrate as we should but the fallout is that the deal will be massive and there's a good chance that this contract will be a burden after the halfway mark prohibiting the Flames from keeping other players as this is the cycle of big contracts in a salary capped league. If he leaves it's going to suck for the next few seasons but there will be a day where we are probably happy it didn't happen. I guess that's the bright side even if the present outlook would be pretty bleak.

For fans of the Calgary Flames I think he absolutely has to re-sign. Even if the number is 11 M it has to happen. By letting him go you lose your best player and then your 2nd best player has to decide if he stays. By getting a coach like Sutter and a goalie like Markstrom, Calgary wanted to make the playoffs and at least be competitive. You jettison other players into the sun to make it work.

From a rival fan, it's a no brainer for me. Calgary fans should be wanting Gaudreau to sign with no if's and's or but's about it. He still has years of good production left and is your best player by a decent amount IMO.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by cral12

https://twitter.com/user/status/1546865321071370240

The best Flames draft pick since 1987. It's unbelievable really.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I agree completely with this. In my heart I want him to sign but in my head I wonder if its the right thing.

I'm just scared of what they'd do if Johnny walked. They'd probably still see themselves as a really good team with an elite coach and I could easily seem them overpay for mediocre UFAs to fill the hole ... which would probably keep us in "not good enough, not bad enough" purgatory again.

if I had the feeling they'd entertain a rebuild without Gaudreau, I wouldn't be all that worried about Johnny's decision. It'd be a completely different direction obviously, but one I could get behind.

[littlereddevil]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Depends on how he views the big picture, and what he ultimately wants

Crosby has been fine at 8.7, he has 3 Cups, and is learning every year that getting another is not easy

Having room for better teammates helps him in a non monetary way

Crosby is a generational player, but an even more stand up person outside the NHL. Of course he would be selfless and thinking of his team first before his own financial needs. We're very lucky to have watched him play in this league. He is also receiving lots of sponsorship money from Adidas, Reebok, Gatorade, Tim Hortons, etc. so he can rest easy knowing that he is set for the rest of his life after he retires as a player (and I'm sure he'll still then be connected to the league in an executive role).

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If he re-signs we will all celebrate as we should but the fallout is that the deal will be massive and there's a good chance that this contract will be a burden after the halfway mark prohibiting the Flames from keeping other players as this is the cycle of big contracts in a salary capped league. If he leaves it's going to suck for the next few seasons but there will be a day where we are probably happy it didn't happen. I guess that's the bright side even if the present outlook would be pretty bleak.

See what Toronto is facing in goal. The Tavares deal which was such a win when announced has become a burden. It actually never made sense to me to be paying an aging 2C $11M.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by dino7c

What % of the cap was 8.7M when Crosby signed?

I don’t think the league was as deep back then. You could still fill a fourth line with plugs that play 6 minutes a game. You need production from that line now.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

See what Toronto is facing in goal. The Tavares deal which was such a win when announced has become a burden. It actually never made sense to me to be paying an aging 2C $11M.

And Tavares was 27 when he signed that deal.

Johnny will be 29.

I want the Flames to sign him, but it would be foolish to think there is no risk in giving a 29 year old LW a $11M contract for 8 years.

You do this to try to win in the next 3 seasons but after that it's not going to look great.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I agree completely with this. In my heart I want him to sign but in my head I wonder if its the right thing.

Sure but where was your breaking point? Certainly Flames management and all of us we all knew #13 was going to need a gigantic contract to stay here.