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

[GioforPM]

Columbus is giving Gudbranson at least $1M right out of Johnny’s pocket. Maybe $2M.

[Huntingwhale]

I'm not even sad about JG leaving. I was way more sad when Brodie, Iggy, Gio or Kipper left. This is just so odd. Even HF is in complete shock over this. Truly one of the strangest UFA signing I have ever seen. It's still a big chunk of money he's getting. But he was offered much more, in a city that worships him and that he and his family are loved in. Heck, his parents and uncle are pretty much celebrities here.

So I'm not mad, sad or any other negative emotion. I truly think this is hilarious and baffling at the same time. I'm just gonna enjoy the ride now and savor the juicy gossip this is going to cause this off-season from all corners of the NHL. Nobody is going to make sense of this.

I harbor no ill feelings towards him. If anything I kind of feel he got duped by his crappy agent I mean sure he's close to home...but still far away. Johnny's agent is dog crap. BT definitely gets a pass on this one since I'm sure he feels like most of us now; big WTF.

Sometimes miracles really do happen, except in this case it's a #### ing weird one.

[Nammer403]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

This is hilarious

https://twitter.com/nickadamsinusa/s...BR01BDqxiU75EA

LOL thanks for the chuckle

[PuckSlap]

Okay

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

This is hilarious

https://twitter.com/nickadamsinusa/s...BR01BDqxiU75EA

It's something alright

[littlereddevil]

Honestly, I think the simplest explanation for this weird signing is that Gaudreau wanted to get out of an intense Canadian hockey market.

In which case... good riddance. Time for the Flames to bring in players who actually want to play in an intense Canadian hockey market.

[Philly06Cup]

So much sour grapes. It's his choice -- let's be grownups and respect his decision.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

So much sour grapes. It's his choice -- let's be grownups and respect his decision.

I respect his right to decide. I can think it’s a dumb dumb decision though.

[Muta]

Only a one-hour flight to the Skittles factory in Yorkville, Illinois too - only six hours by car, and 111-hours by foot if he feels like being Forrest Gump for a week

[icarus]

Columbus: Allows 62 regulation shots at home against the Flames and gets shutout

Johnny: "Wow the grass is so much greener over there, sign me up!"

smh

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

So much sour grapes. It's his choice -- let's be grownups and respect his decision.

I'm fine with his decision. I don't understand it but it was his decision to make and he made it.

[browna]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Flyers fans dislike NJ, but they hate the Pens, Rangers and Caps more. This is more like a Flames fan signing in Winnipeg.

I don’t think this comes into it at all actually. Players are pretty rational about other teams.

As I said earlier, I think only explanation, and he will never say it until it happens, but he ends in Philly in the next couple years. It's Philly or bust, today or 2 years or 4 years from now. He wants to play there. This deal is a placeholder to get paid,get into the US and get closer to family.

He will demand an exit in 2 or 3 seasons or less when they have finances in order. If he went to NJ today or NYI they wouldn't trade him to division rival Philly in 2 years, but Clb doesn't really care.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

What a slap in the face to all his team mates here too.

Some of them spent many years here with him building up to a 111 point team that killed in the advanced stats department. As Tre said they took another step.

He just took a big #### on all of them too.

That's another thing that gets me... he seemed so close to guys like Monahan, Tkachuk, Lindholm, Mangiapane. I wonder what they think

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Chill the #### out

Pretending him and Mony never had run ins with hard drugs is cute.

Let's just say that game where they were benched under Hartley wasn't just because they goofed off in practice.

[JohnnyB]

I don't know if there's another team I would have felt better about him ending up with in a way. I know he won't be with the Flames, but I won't ever have to think of him either. It's like he just ceased to exist.

[-TC-]

This has Yoko Ono vibes all over it…

Where’s the wife from? Where are her folks?

This stinks to high heaven.

Career year w/Daryl, best buddy is on the team, they backed the truck up and were on track to be a legit contender. And you bail to make less and live in a college town in Ohio?

Nope, something else happened…

[442scotty]

Maybe Columbus will take Chucky for Laine now….

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by browna

As I said earlier, I think only explanation, and he will never say it until it happens, but he ends in Philly in the next couple years. It's Philly or bust, today or 2 years or 4 years from now. He wants to play there. This deal is a placeholder to get paid,get into the US and get closer to family.

He will demand an exit in 2 or 3 seasons or less when they have finances in order. If he went to NJ today or NYI they wouldn't trade him to division rival Philly in 2 years, but Clb doesn't really care.

Maybe, but that’s an FU to Columbus. You don’t want players you sign demanding trades in a couple years. If that’s the case, it’s more games playing by a player and agent who seem to have been playing disingenuous games for over a year now.

[Ferarri]

Makes me appreciate Iginla even more. That guy embodies what it means to be a Flame. Enjoy your time in Columbus, Johnny…

[FlamesAddiction]

Giving up that much money is stunning, but I can't believe people don't think that this doesn't put him in a position to see his family more. Columbus puts him a lot closer. I am also guessing that the Devils just were not appealing to him. The guy grew up a Flyers fan. That would be like a Flames fan signing in Edmonton.