[Signing] Gaudreau to Columbus (7 x $9.75 million)

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by tony-soprano

If this is the case, I bet Johnny's family is just as baffled.

Guy's gunna smack him one behind the ears.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by questionmotives

We can at least boo him now, right?!

With vigor!

[JohnnyB]

Well, I kind of feel better about the Flames losing Johnny now. It really seems like confirmation that he doesn't care that much about winning.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Someone a ways back said Johnny wasn't staying because of one person specifically in the organization. Now I'm curious as to whom.

Whoever that person is...better be pretty F-ing important to the organization. Because the Flames just lost their star player to....Columbus. If Gaudreau said him or me, the organization should have taken a long look at letting whoever it was go.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Weird
I have to wonder if he assumed Philly could clear room and when they couldn’t, at least enough for what he wanted, he had to move to plan b?

I think there is something to this, but my suspicion is that the numbers being tossed around were nowhere close to what was ever actually on the table.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I’m trying to wrap my head around this and so far I can only think of a few options:

- Gross massively misplayed this and the offers weren’t there as expected - I assume Johnny would find new representation in short order if this was an agent misplay?

- Being the States anywhere was actually massively important.

- Johnny’s wife (or Johnny actually hated Calgary tge city)

- or there is massive bad blood between Johnny and the org. But this lame talk of revenge for tough negotiations 6 years ago just aren’t realistic. That would bubble up sooner and have been handled differently most likely. 6 years later and $15M would make that water under bridge pretty fast.

That said so interested to know what makes him take the worse offer and worse team. Not sure we’ll ever know.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Great minds think alike! (And so do ours.)

Out of thanks, but agree!

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I mean the state of the Devils franchise is really strong.
I think they have a young #1 centre who is going to explore this year (Hughes), a great #2 two-way centre, and several other high end scorers to compliment them.
And then they just drafted their future #1 D.

I mean....W.D.F.

I suggested a couple days ago in a different that NJD for him would be like EDM for a Calgary born player. I imagine he grew up hating the Devils. As a strictly hockey decision, I'm baffled that he'd choose CBJ over NJD, but then again, if I was in the NHL, I could never imagine signing with EDM, regardless of the circumstances.

[Roof-Daddy]

115 point UFA winger in his prime turns down $84 million to sign for $68.25 million in....Columbus.

What an idiot.

And Lewis Gross is a ####ing moron.

He ####ed Johnny, he ####ed Gaudreau's legacy in Calgary, he ####ed the Flames

Kid's going to get booed now, I have no doubt

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Someone a ways back said Johnny wasn't staying because of one person specifically in the organization. Now I'm curious as to whom.

Yeah there have been many posts hinting at him not being treated right or unhappy with the organization in some way, may have been personnel but I seem to recall it was leaning towards a player?

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Of course it was never going to happen. But Gaudreau's attitude towards the team would be irrelevant if it did.







Nobody was talking about Columbus.

He was NEVER signing in Calgary no matter what fictitious scenario you dream up.

He earned the right to be a UFA and walked.

Calgary deserved nothing and got nothing.

Case closed.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Tbh I wouldn’t be shocked if Johnny just wanted to go to a small market where the spotlight isn’t on his as much and he doesn’t have to deal with crazy Canadian hockey fans as often

Is Calgary media even that bad that though?

Lol. You're meaning to tell me he gave up millions because he was tired of Francis' rhetorical questions?

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Lewis Gross must be fired immediately.

Interesting if true.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jason14h]

Lewis Gross isn’t a moron if this is what JG wanted . He’s doing his job

The rumour of them also turning down a larger offer from NJ adds to the weirdness though . Clearly their was other interest

Why Columbus ……

[Erick Estrada]

Clearly there's something behind the scenes we don't know about. I recall a poster here weeks ago saying that there was a person in the Flames organization that may prohibit his return. Maybe that's what it all came down to? One of the more bizarre free agency moves ever.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Someone a ways back said Johnny wasn't staying because of one person specifically in the organization. Now I'm curious as to whom.

Get over it. Grow up. Everyone has people they don’t like at work.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I suggested a couple days ago in a different that NJD for him would be like EDM for a Calgary born player. I imagine he grew up hating the Devils. As a strictly hockey decision, I'm baffled that he'd choose CBJ over NJD, but then again, if I was in the NHL, I could never imagine signing with EDM, regardless of the circumstances.

Or Calgary for an Edmonton-born player, like Jarome Iginla? Weird things happen sometimes.

But yeah, I'm leaning towards the idea that Gaudreau had his heart set on Philly and was left begging for offers when Philly couldn't do it.

Also that he and his agent panicked and signed way too soon. The people who were saying yesterday that this was all a brilliant scheme to gain leverage… well, they were definitely not right.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by blankall

Whoever that person is...better be pretty F-ing important to the organization. Because the Flames just lost their star player to....Columbus. If Gaudreau said him or me, the organization should have taken a long look at letting whoever it was go.

it was joked about at the time, but watch it be Craig Freaking Conroy

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Lol. You're meaning to tell me he gave up millions because he was tired of Francis' rhetorical questions?

Have you ever meet Eric Francis' smug face in person? It's worth getting away from.

[Strange Brew]

Is anyone saying this is revenge for contract negotiations from six years ago?

Or did a knowledgeable poster imply that there may be issues with how players view the organization, and that could be one of several reasons behind it?