Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

[Strange Brew]

Things are beginning to melt down in here.

Still clinging to the hope that Flames received a formal counter from the Gaudreau camp and that's the worst case scenario.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by memphusk

So he can't want to stay but also want to try something else? Weird.

No, what is weird is fans saying it's ok that he said he wanted to be here yet didn't really. Or that he told that to little kids who are fans of his that will break their hearts. His outpouring to the fan base was even more so than Tavares and we saw what happened there. It is ridiculous to think fans shouldn't feel betrayed and lied to if he leaves. Again, I think he signs but this whole "it's ok that you lied to your fanbase, here is a hug and best wishes" crap that is being touted on here is not genuine at all.

[agulati]

9 hr 27 mins to go for the 8th year to still be viable.

[littlereddevil]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I don't think you have to worry about. Not now, not ever.

The current metro area population of Calgary in 2022 is 1,611,000. And it's one of the best hockey markets in the continent. Calgary is one of the wealthiest cities in North America. Only an idiot would move.

The NHL has done many dumb things over the years, so it's not so far-fetched. But, I doubt that Calgary would move so quickly, especially when Arizona has been coddled by the league for so many years.

Like I said, I am a glass half empty guy today, so obviously I'm thinking about the worst case scenario. Until Gaudreau re-signs or there's more certainty about the direction the Flames are heading in for next season, I will have these concerns.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Balk Gaudreau to sign the 3rd defence pairing. Love it.

Not what I said at all, but okay.

If Gaudreau leaves I simply don't think the Flames will be a player for any high profile UFAs. Probably an unqualified former RFA or two at the most.

Originally Posted by dissentowner

He assassinated his own character when he went on and on about wanting to be here and stay and then leaves. He could have just as easily never have said those things and nobody would be upset. If your partner told you she loved you and wanted to stay with you and then left you for her childhood sweetheart would you be bitter or would you wish her all the best while shaking her new lovers hand? You do you.

If he leaves it doesn't mean those things weren't true. It just means that when the options were finally actually in front of him (I don't believe competing offers have been remotely concrete until today, and maybe not even yet), he chose what was best for he and his family.

What a monster.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Nice emotional hedge, starting up with conditional character assassination.

A guy who prioritizes being close to GRANDMA and GRANDPA (x2) over MONEY is simply a good person, full stop. The odds of winning with any of his likely suitors (including CGY) are pretty slim.

Definitely nothing wrong with his personal character or values if he chooses to go that way, but it does affect his value to any team which is prioritizing a goal of winning a cup. He can be a good person and not have the disposition to be focused on winning, and that can affect what a team should be willing to pay.

If he goes to Philly/Jersey on a sweetheart deal where they can build around him, fair enough and maybe he just gets the best of both worlds. If he goes anywhere based on a contract offer that pays him a huge amount but limits the team's ability to build a winner around him, then it would have likely been a mistake for the Flames to pay that much anyways.

If he goes to either Jersey or Philly on a sweetheart deal, it will also chafe that he didn't make those intentions fully clear earlier.

Edit: Nevermind. Misread your post as being choosing between family and winning. If he chooses family over money, I agree it doesn't say anything about him as a player.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, what is weird is fans saying it's ok that he said he wanted to be here yet didn't really. Or that he told that to little kids who are fans of his that will break their hearts. His outpouring to the fan base was even more so than Tavares and we saw what happened there. It is ridiculous to think fans shouldn't feel betrayed and lied to if he leaves. Again, I think he signs but this whole "it's ok that you lied to your fanbase, here is a hug and best wishes" crap that is being touted on here is not genuine at all.

Lied? This is getting out of control.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

So I guess what I still don't really know...

Did the Gaudreau camp in fact propose an $11MM AAV deal to the Flames?
Or have the Flames just been upping their offer as the deadline approaches?

If the former, still a chance this gets done. If the latter, I am rather pessimistic.

It all hinges on whether Gaudreau is negotiating and making offers. In that case, we are talking dollars not location, which can be figured out. If Gaudreau is not making offers back, then he's gone.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, what is weird is fans saying it's ok that he said he wanted to be here yet didn't really. Or that he told that to little kids who are fans of his that will break their hearts. His outpouring to the fan base was even more so than Tavares and we saw what happened there. It is ridiculous to think fans shouldn't feel betrayed and lied to if he leaves. Again, I think he signs but this whole "it's ok that you lied to your fanbase, here is a hug and best wishes" crap that is being touted on here is not genuine at all.

Grow up. Stop pretending like you don’t understand the complexities of this situation.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yeah, they were cliche answers and people have been saying it all year. Again, not his fault you can't seem to grasp that.

Welcome to sports.

And, spoiler, this is basketcase.

And spoiler, enjoy your sin bin time.

[nik-]

We can only hope that if he walks, that Treliving follows Gaudreau out the door so closely that they end up in the same quadrant of the revolving door.

8 years, no progress, gambled hard on this year, lost huge. Gone.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

If only the flames signed him to 8 years on his last contract and bought out 2 UFA years you'd have no worries.

And Gaudreau was smart not to agree to 8 which would have made him a UFA at 31 instead of 29.

Honestly if you’re a top end player you’re kind of foolish to take 8 coming out of your ELC. Matthews and Johnny were right to take shorter duration.

Even Tkachuk would be smart to take a 3 year deal I think and be UFA again at 27.

Originally Posted by nik-

We can only hope that if he walks, that Treliving follows Gaudreau out the door so closely that they end up in the same quadrant of the revolving door.

8 years, no progress, gambled hard on this year, lost huge. Gone.

No progress would be wrong, and he was likely right to gamble on this season based on it being the best Flames regular season and team since the 80s.

Playoffs can be a toss up and only 1 team wins but the team was clearly in the mix this past season.

Plus The return for Gaudreau in a trade last season would have likely been underwhelming to be honest, he was coming off two mediocre seasons.

Nobody would have been close to wanting to extend him for $10M+ last year, most probably wouldn’t have wanted to go above $9M.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, what is weird is fans saying it's ok that he said he wanted to be here yet didn't really. Or that he told that to little kids who are fans of his that will break their hearts. His outpouring to the fan base was even more so than Tavares and we saw what happened there. It is ridiculous to think fans shouldn't feel betrayed and lied to if he leaves. Again, I think he signs but this whole "it's ok that you lied to your fanbase, here is a hug and best wishes" crap that is being touted on here is not genuine at all.

You realize what he said could have been completely true when he said those things right? He has a kid on the way and his wife and her family also impacts his decision. These things likely weren't discussed seriously till after the playoffs ended for the Flames.

[Goriders]

If it was you and you only had to wait 9 hours to see if someone would give you millions of dollars more and you couldn’t make less wouldn’t you wait?

I certainly would. If the Flames don’t want him to wait. Make the offer better and see if he bites.

He may just want out of cgy. I get the feeling they are just using their leverage to get the most $$. That’s what agents are for. He’s just doing his job.

[Mephisto]

Come on people - keep it together until something is officially announced. We still don’t what’s going to happen.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

And spoiler, enjoy your sin bin time.

I mean they may bin me, but that doesn't change the fact that you're essentially spinning 180 on your heals, frothing at the mouth basically ####ting all over the player, you were worshipping 6 hours ago for his personal decision, his RIGHT, to go where he wants. Basically because you're too naive to separate fluff answers to the media from reality like you've never witnessed any players in free agency ever.

You are unstable in this thread..

[BlindMilwaukee]

I’m saying this half for me and half for any other poster on this board who wants/needs to hear it.

This is supposed to be entertainment. Watching your favourite team is supposed to be fun.

If following the team is adding negativity to your life then it’s absolutely not worth it for you anymore.

There is zero shame in taking a year off. Plenty of free time will open up for you.

Maybe you can get back into reading, pick up that guitar again, or dust off that old bike.

Life is too short to be yelling at the TV because you disagree with who the Flames picked in the third round.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Mephisto

Come on people - keep it together until something is officially announced. We still don’t what’s going to happen.

Yeah there's no point in losing your cool either way. There was always only two outcomes here and fans should have been prepared for both.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by jg13

You realize what he said could have been completely true when he said those things right? He has a kid on the way and his wife and her family also impacts his decision. These things likely weren't discussed seriously till after the playoffs ended for the Flames.

Whatever, it doesn't matter, he is signing here anyhow. I am simply saying it is unrealistic to not expect people to feel bitter if he left after what was said.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by BlindMilwaukee

I’m saying this half for me and half for any other poster on this board who wants/needs to hear it.

This is supposed to be entertainment. Watching your favourite team is supposed to be fun.

If following the team is adding negativity to your life then it’s absolutely not worth it for you anymore.

There is zero shame in taking a year off. Plenty of free time will open up for you.

Maybe you can get back into reading, pick up that guitar again, or dust off that old bike.

Life is too short to be yelling at the TV because you disagree with who the Flames picked in the third round.

I like yelling at the TV