Seravalli: Gaudreau has informed the Flames he will not return

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am ok, thanks for the concern. I am a Flames fan, Gaudreau was my fav player but I cheer for the logo on the front, not the name on the back. This didn't gut shot me nearly as badly as when Fleury left who was my fav player growing up. That one sent me to sitting on my bed bawling like a baby. I got over it though. I am still optimistic about this team and am actually kind of excited to see what happens now that the team has some flexibility. I also want to apologize to any poster I offended with some of my posts, I can be a little too emotional and passionate about my thoughts, I will try and be a better poster going forward. One thing that unites us all is the passion for this team, go Flames go!

Fleury leaving was a bit more of a shocker. It was hard to imagine him as anything other than a Flame. With Gaudreau, the dots were always there to connect and for that reason, I never let myself become 100% attached to him or thought of him as a lifer. I would have loved it if he was, but it just never really seemed like it was going to be in the cards.

It's one of the reasons I was saying to trade him before his final year, although man, what a final year it was. Would have hated seeing that on a different team.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Johnny's dad has had heart issues the last couple years.

You never know with these kind of things.

If he wants to raise children and be able to see his family every week, can you really be upset about that? Have your kids grow up with your grandfather down the road?

Sounds pretty good. I can't imagine anything more important. Seems pretty mature to me.

Can't argue with any of that, except that none of the above are suddenly breaking news at the eleventh hour of contract negotiations.

Tre: "johnny, as discussed, we've got the deal you want approved and ready to go. just sign here."

Johnny: "that's great, tre. but it slipped my mind that my wife is pregnant and my dad has heart issues, so i'm out."

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by zuluking

Can't argue with any of that, except that none of the above are suddenly breaking news at the eleventh hour of contract negotiations.

Tre: "johnny, as discussed, we've got the deal you want approved and ready to go. just sign here."

Johnny: "that's great, tre. but it slipped my mind that my wife is pregnant and my dad has heart issues, so i'm out."

maybe just maybe he also liked Calgary and this was not an easy decision to make along with his family.

[Jason14h]

What could the Flames have done differently if they knew last week ? Assuming trading his rights for a low pick isn’t the only answer (as I assume the return is negligible)

MT market is the exact same as at the draft if they decide to deal him .

Only scenario i can see is IF NJ offered the second pick and IF flames would have accepted the offer and IF they would have used that pick on Wright then I guess we got screwed

Other then that I fail to see the difference deciding last night vs before draft

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am ok, thanks for the concern. I am a Flames fan, Gaudreau was my fav player but I cheer for the logo on the front, not the name on the back. This didn't gut shot me nearly as badly as when Fleury left who was my fav player growing up. That one sent me to sitting on my bed bawling like a baby. I got over it though. I am still optimistic about this team and am actually kind of excited to see what happens now that the team has some flexibility. I also want to apologize to any poster I offended with some of my posts, I can be a little too emotional and passionate about my thoughts, I will try and be a better poster going forward. One thing that unites us all is the passion for this team, go Flames go!

Why?

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Locke

Why?

Agreed. I have a very bad feeling we're in for Young Guns 2.0 very shortly here.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Royle9

It's not mom.. its his wife and their kid on the way.
I take it you're not married nor have kids? Not a jab, just a serious question.

There's nothing stronger than a women having their mom around when a baby is born. I can almost certainly tell you that the biggest decision was keeping his wife happy and close to her parents.

Yup.

We moved across town (okay, it's Lethbridge not the same comparable) to be just about 2 block away from my in-laws.

Mother-in-law was primary babysitter and it was so much easier for her to walk over to our house (and do our laundry too!) than for us to drive 20 minutes across town to drop off the kids for the day. Now that the kids are older and my father-in-law just passed away it is so much more convenient for us to be so close for my wife to be there for her mom. Me and my kids can quickly pop over to help out with house or yard maintenance too. Proximity to family isn't about being close to mommy and daddy because you haven't grown up yet.

[NOISIA]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

maybe just maybe he also liked Calgary and this was not an easy decision to make along with his family.

Sure, but he’s had lots of time to do that since the season ended. 11th hour BS is what is pissing everyone off.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

Agreed. I have a very bad feeling we're in for Young Guns 2.0 very shortly here.

What was the Flames team salary budget during young guns 1.0? It was impossible to competitive during that time.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I don't think I ever said he didn't take too long and in the end screwed this Franchise. I'm just simply saying he made the FAMILY over FRANCHISE choice and stated what likely was the reasons behind doing so.

I too think he took way to long and likely decided this at the end of the season as she was pregnant before the playoffs ended.

Just a #### situation.

My whole post wasn't directed in reply to you.
I just piggybacked off the family part and the added my feelings on the situation.
Sorry if it seemed I was implying you said anything, wasn't meant that way.

[NewFan]

I also think that the Family thing is just a easy reason to explain his decision. Must be he doesn't like something here. Money, chance to win, current team structure or may be just wants play at east coast.
Anyway, I didn't disappoint much and used to the super stars don't want play here.
I'm a little bit excited how the team will change for the next season and will cheer for the guys who wants play for our team.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Nick Kypreos on 960 saying Johnny knew for a long time that he was leaving and he simply played his hand perfectly just as Tavares did. He said if it was his son he would have done the same thing as players going to do what's best for them.

Ya, because Kypreos knows. He’s a blowhard, he likes to hear himself speak. I’m sure there will be a bunch of bs like this floating around.
I’m gonna bet things started to change once Johnny’s wife found out she’s expecting. Even then, probably still uncertainty.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Only if he did at the perfect time IMO. Like right before his NTC kicked in. Otherwise, I don't believe so.

Something would be better than nothing. I'm sure we'd all be pissed after he goes and has a career season but...

We'd have some type of asset for him and the team would be farther along on "plan B" than where we are today.

Last year was fun but who is to say how thing would have gone.

[oldschoolcalgary]

we'll see what JG signs for before really being able to evaluate things... my feeling is that he ends up signing for a little less than what he could have here, but we'll see.

As for BT, the next year is going to be interesting... It sucks to lose JG, but Treliving cannot do the same thing with Tkachuk.

I love Chucky, but if he isn't going to sign by midseason, Calgary absolutely needs to start fielding trade offers. You can't let a second franchise type player (in Calgary's system) walk away without assets in return.

[Manhattanboy]

I don’t blame JG at all for wanting to be closer to family.

I am hugely disappointed how his camp handled things.

Exactly like Tavares.

The Flames could have been in an entirely different place had he been honest with them. And he still would have been able to sign with which ever team he wanted. Loyalty, obligation and just doing the right thing for the franchise that made him who he is obviously meant nothing to him. Maybe that’s his agent’s fault but ultimately it was his choice how it went down.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I don’t blame JG at all for wanting to be closer to family.

I am hugely disappointed how his camp handled things.

Exactly like Tavares.

The Flames could have been in an entirely different place had he been honest with them. And he still would have been able to sign with which ever team he wanted. Loyalty, obligation and just doing the right thing for the franchise that made him who he is obviously meant nothing to him. Maybe that’s his agent’s fault but ultimately it was his choice how it went down.

Will see what he signs. If it is a discount then I think he was actually torn. If it is a 11x7 then he ######d us.

[Enoch Root]

Suggesting that Treliving should have traded Gaudreau last year is completely off the mark, IMO. When you have talented players in their prime, you add to that and try to win. They had a great team this year, that had the potential to win, it just didn't work out unfortunately, but we did get one of the best seasons from an individual player in Flames history. Continuing to build around him, and try to re-sign him, was the right move.

Now that is over, though. And they have lost their best player. Now its time to decide what is the right direction moving forward. For me, after losing their best player, they no longer have enough to build around. I am strongly against building around Tkachuk. And let's look at where they are in teh division, without Gaudreau:

Better than VGS or EDM? No.
Better than VAN? I don't think so
Better than LA? Maybe for one more year, but so what?

If they go out and sign a Kadri (or similar), they probably make the playoffs. But they're 1st round fodder. Time to rebuild.

They have a TON of valuable assets, most notably Lindholm, Tkachuk, Markstom, and Mangiapane, plus others. They could get a pile of prospects and picks over the next three years.

They could do a full rebuild in time for a new arena. It's a no brainer, IMO. Unfortunately, there is no chance of that happening.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Goriders

We flew my wife’s mom in.

Planes are a thing.

Some people like their kid's grandparents to be a part of their daily or weekly lives and available for child care.

[Racki]

Watching the Oilers add and add while we seem to be coming apart at the seams makes this all the more difficult to take.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Suggesting that Treliving should have traded Gaudreau last year is completely off the mark, IMO. When you have talented players in their prime, you add to that and try to win. They had a great team this year, that had the potential to win, it just didn't work out unfortunately, but we did get one of the best seasons from an individual player in Flames history. Continuing to build around him, and try to re-sign him, was the right move.

Yup and for those saying the Flames should have got him signed last offseason, this place would have rioted if he signed a 9.5-10x8 contract. His covid seasons were pretty mediocre.