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

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

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

Respecting his decision is all well and good, but 'understanding' his decision is what is important to help this team move forward.

If there was a genuine underlying issue here that was so egregious that it caused an NHLer to leave $18M on the table rather than stay here then I think it would be valuable to know what it was.

If it was irrational then fine, it would be valuable to know that too.

At the moment for all we know we have to surmise that Cthulhu lives under the Saddledome and Johnny is the only one who knows it.

[Inferno]

I'm with the crowd who thinks he figured he could get a deal with Philly or New Jersey and it backfired on him. Columbus was the only option left and he didn't want to be left out.

Unless he really did hate it in Calgary I think it was mistake to tell the Flames he wasn't coming back. Instead he could have told them he wanted to see what his options were before making a decision. I think maybe he knew if he circled back to the Flames after saying he wasn't coming back things wouldn't be the same.

[boogerz]

Aside from everything else Gaudreau gave up to leave (e.g. money, legacy, etc), imagine also giving up the opportunity to play on the best line in the NHL.

How often do players find near instant chemistry and balance like what Gaudreau, Lindholm, and Tkachuk had...?

Columbus has two gems in Johnson and Sillinger, but it will be half a decade before those two are as good as either Lindholm or Tkachuk.

[questionmotives]

Within 24 hours Johnny Gaudreau went from a sympathetic figure in Calgary to the most disliked player since Adam Fox said “bleep you” to the Flames.

Good for him.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

What’s with all the vitriol here. We all knew Johnny wasn’t coming back already. We all knew he was going to play out east in the EST. We all knew it wasn’t about the money. What’s the difference between him signing in NJ for $10M vs Columbus for $9.5M? Is it strictly because he chose Columbus over our city and that’s some kind of slight against our town?

Yeah, I don’t get the fury. No doubt he would have preferred NJ or Philly. But he’s still closer to home, not in Canada anymore, easier for family to visit.

Living in the U.S. obviously has a lot of value to Gaudreau and other American players. There were rumblings during the pandemic that many American NHLers were not at all happy with how restricted they were in Canada. Then you have the climate, international customs for families (in a country where most people don’t even own passports), taxes, etc.

This is just the way the league is going. NHL markets are breaking into clear tiers, and small-market Canadian teams are at the bottom - yes, even below American markets like Columbus. In that light, Gaudreau’s decision isn’t baffling at all.

As for the relative competitiveness of the teams, I honestly don’t think that matters much to UFAs. It’s only a big deal to vets in the twilight of their careers chasing a Cup.

[browna]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

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.

Sure it is, but even if it plays out like that, for 2 or 3 years they get a talented player still in his relaitive prime, sell some more swears and make other UFAs think about going there becuase of this high profile signing.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

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

It was his right to do this and it's our right to complain and be bitter about it. (comment removed)

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I'm with the crowd who thinks he figured he could get a deal with Philly or New Jersey and it backfired on him. Columbus was the only option left and he didn't want to be left out.

Unless he really did hate it in Calgary I think it was mistake to tell the Flames he wasn't coming back. Instead he could have told them he wanted to see what his options were before making a decision. I think maybe he knew if he circled back to the Flames after saying he wasn't coming back things wouldn't be the same.

I’m not sure Treliving would have picked up the phone because he might think all the pre-deadline negotiation was just Gross using him to try and drive up the price in NJ/Philly.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by browna

Sure it is, but even if it plays out like that, for 2 or 3 years they get a talented player still in his relaitive prime, sell some more swears and make other UFAs think about going there becuase of this high profile signing.

I suppose they also may think this makes up for “losing” Panarin.

[djsFlames]

If the media/hockey market speculation is true then it confirms that Johnny just doesn't have the fire for the game that we were led to believe.

Just sent himself to hockey's Elba Island for no reason but to fade away from relevance and glory in peace.

[littlereddevil]

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.

I think this is a plausible explanation.

Still a dumb career decision in my mind though to be limiting your options for teams to basically your childhood team, for the slim chance that this team may finally be relevant in a couple of seasons, when who knows what kind of form you'll be in by then during the latter half of your NHL career. If every NHL player basically demanded to play for their childhood team, we'd have a less than 15 team league.

Methinks that this will be one of those signings that Gaudreau will end up regretting.

[Vansmack]

This makes me believe the Murray Edwards ultimatum actually happened.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yeah, I don’t get the fury. No doubt he would have preferred NJ or Philly. But he’s still closer to home, not in Canada anymore, easier for family to visit.

Living in the U.S. obviously has a lot of value to Gaudreau and other American players. There were rumblings during the pandemic that many American NHLers were not at all happy with how restricted they were in Canada. Then you have the climate, international customs for families (in a country where most people don’t even own passports), taxes, etc.

This is just the way the league is going. NHL markets are breaking into clear tiers, and small-market Canadian teams are at the bottom - yes, even below American markets like Columbus. In that light, Gaudreau’s decision isn’t baffling at all.

As for the relative competitiveness of the teams, I honestly don’t think that matters much to UFAs. It’s only a big deal to vets in the twilight of their careers chasing a Cup.

Yeah it could be something as simple as his wife not wanting to live in Canada for 8 years.

[Hack&Lube]

had to illustrate my true feelings on the matter

[TherapyforGlencross]

Johnny, consider yourself banished from Calgary. You have no respect here in this GREAT city! Good ####ing riddance. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vansmack

This makes me believe the Murray Edwards ultimatum actually happened.

What was this Edwards ultimatum?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Locke

At the moment for all we know we have to surmise that Cthulhu lives under the Saddledome

Shhh! You weren't supposed to tell anyone! There are some secrets man was never meant to know.

[Vansmack]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

What was this Edwards ultimatum?

That he called Johnny last night with the best and final offer from the flames and told him to take it or leave it.

Did not call Gross and did not involve Tre.

[tony-soprano]

Originally Posted by Ferarri

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

Kipper as well, he just silently embodies the Flame.

[MrMike]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FXlh0QxW...pg&name=medium

No Gaudreau goodbye tweet, compared to Carolinas good bye tweet