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

[browna]

Yeah, more and more reading the quotes from JG which are really a stretch and thinking it through, this was a plan b which I think he may already be regretting.

He wanted to stay here for the hockey, the organization, teammates, owners, coaches, fans…but the pregnant wife and own family, a family he vowed to come back to for past number of years, and he didn’t want to go back on that promise of where he was spending his next years.

His agent and the Flyers did a poor job in setting up for his hockey wishes for the past years. I think he hoped since the end of the season, the Flyers would somehow step up and make it easy for him to sign at 1201. But with the Torts appointment, maybe he didn’t want JG. Not could Philly shed salary, which they should’ve been doing for 2 years for today.

So yesterday with the Flyers for sure out, he now really is sweating it as to where put east he goes and he still hadn’t called Flames. But he has already committed to his family because he had to make the 7 year decision now so Flames are not an option after he had told them no the day before.

He doesn’t want to play for Devils or Isles for whatever reason, again I think because he expects to be in CLB for less than half his contract and move to Philly. So musical chairs game is running out of chairs to get out east and south, and here goes CBJ as a lifeline at 5o’clock. Again, I bet he wanted to revisit the Flames maybe too, but had burned that bridge the day before and then would be going back on family wishes and decision he already made, too.

Again, he needed to get closer to home and across the border for the family situation, the only option he really wanted was the Flyers if he moved there but they are out and he needed to salvage a payday and chose plan D in Columbus, will coast there on a meh team until the Flyers get sorted.

He won’t be a CBJ after trade deadline day 2025. He will get his wish and go to the Flyers. Gross won’t be his agent either by then.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Do I really need to post a map of North America for you people?


11 months ago Johnny was probably looking at $64-68M over 8 years to stay in CGY.

He played well and the team played well - I'm sure he worked really hard and also had good luck that lots of things clicked.

Today he signed for $68.25M over 7 years. And moved nearly 2000 miles closer to home. That's 83% closer in absolute distance...probably even closer in most (but not all) practical terms.

He turned down $84 over 8 to test the market. I'm sure he hoped to do better than this...I'm sure he also knew this low was a possibility - though he probably didn't expect it.

It's not ideal compared to his hopes/expectations 1 day ago. But it's a massive improvement over his reality 11 months ago. I doubt he'll lose much sleep over this.


On the hockey side he has probably downgraded his playoff chances for the next 2-3 years from slight to very slim. Beyond that I'd bet on CBJ>CGY. It's currently hard to imagine any of his rumoured suitors developing into true contenders, though I think teams like CBJ/NJD/NYI only need a lot of luck to get there (CGY needs a metric tonne of luck IMO).



I won't say I predicted it, but I certainly said CBJ were an intriguing dark horse.

I agree with this post. Logistically, Columbus is closer and allows easier travel when you consider no international flights, same time zone, and shorter travel time. Is it the best situation as far as being close goes? No. Is it a lot better? Yes. Plus, he will be in their region a lot more. There are 5 teams in his division that are close to his family home and he will be a lot more accessible to his family that way.

I also recall you saying Columbus was a possibility and they crossed my mind as well for the same reason I thought Detroit would be one. Young team with recent high picks and a lot of cap space. They were ready to make a splash. I think people under estimate them as a team on the rise and adding Gaudreau should make them pretty good in fact.

[shogged]

I guess Columbus is a nice place to play out your career. Not many other low pressure teams in the north east. Johnny instantly makes it a more desirable team to play for so maybe they make a few more moves in the coming years.

[CroCop]

Columbus…are you kidding me. Could’ve been a Flame legend now just another guy like Val Bure. Please no Video tribute on his first return and anyone cheering him then is a Simp. Hope Zad times him up hard when he does an inevitable cutback entering our zone.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Plus, he will be in their region a lot more. There are 5 teams in his division that are close to his family home and he will be a lot more accessible to his family that way.

As I pointed out elsewhere, as a Flame he was playing 5 road games a year against those five teams. Now that he's in the division, he will play 9 or 10 depending on the particular season. It's not that big a difference.

Compare to the situation if he actually had signed with one of those teams. In that case, he would be playing 7 or 8 road games plus all 41 home games, and living in the area to boot.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

The children’s hospital angle is a nonstarter imo. Nationwide does have a world renowned muscular dystrophy program, so if his wife was focused on working with those boys then I get it. But otherwise, no different than all the other children’s hospitals in big cities.

I’ll take him at his word that he wants to be in Columbus. Sounds weird, but whatever*.

*I lived in Cleveland for about a decade and visited Columbus often. Both it and Cleveland are good cities when you’re low on money/not making much. Good places if you want to live in a quiet suburb.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

The children’s hospital angle is a nonstarter imo. Nationwide does have a world renowned muscular dystrophy program, so if his wife was focused on working with those boys then I get it. But otherwise, no different than all the other children’s hospitals in big cities.

I’ll take him at his word that he wants to be in Columbus. Sounds weird, but whatever*.

*I lived in Cleveland for about a decade and visited Columbus often. Both it and Cleveland are good cities when you’re low on money/not making much. Good places if you want to live in a quiet suburb.

Yeah, any spin for his wife, who won’t be working for a year, if ever again, or any spin already or in the upcoming days about how great it is in CLB and how he loved to play there, and after getting advice from Daulton Prout (lol), is pure unabashed spin by him and Gross to make it sounds like he picked there, not was forced there as plan D after him and his agent underestimated the market/Philly, to get a bit closer to home for a short term stay before he can get to Philly.

[Wolfman]

It's getting harder and harder to trust American born players. Just sayin.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Also, just realized this but, #### any grown ass adult who goes by “Johnny”. You’re John once you’re old enough to drink

Not if you’re in the Mob.

Also, John Hockey sounds too formal.

[WCW Nitro]

I think people are overlooking one thing, Columbus finished 20 pts ahead of NJ and Philly. And now they have a legit #1 C coming in Johnson. And they have a stud on D in Werenski. It may be as simple as Johnny thinking they are in much better shape to compete

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

As I pointed out elsewhere, as a Flame he was playing 5 road games a year against those five teams. Now that he's in the division, he will play 9 or 10 depending on the particular season. It's not that big a difference.

Compare to the situation if he actually had signed with one of those teams. In that case, he would be playing 7 or 8 road games plus all 41 home games, and living in the area to boot.

Such is the live of an NHL player. You don't get to see you family a lot during the year, so a few extra time to be able to probably means a lot. Four or five more time a year might not mean a lot to someone who sees their family all the time, but to someone who rarely sees them, it is a bigger deal. It adds up over the years too.

Anyway, BJs come to Calgary on Jan. 23, 2023. Should be an interesting night.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Well this morning the offer would have been

7 x $9.75m from Columbus

or

7 x $10.5m from Calgary


At that point, maybe playing in Columbus and being a 90 minute non-stop flight from Philly is better than $0.75m per year and playing in Calgary.

Behavioral economics would also suggest that once he turned down Calgary at 8 x $10.5m, its emotionally difficult to go back and accept 7 x $9.75m. First there's loss aversion (no one likes to admit defeat and take losses). Second, there is already too much inertia to play out east.

He doesn't like planes, but I think it's reasonable to point out he could probably charter himself a biweekly flight to Philly for thr contract difference.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by WCW Nitro

I think people are overlooking one thing, Columbus finished 20 pts ahead of NJ and Philly.

They also finished 19 points behind Washington for the second wild-card spot in the East. Saying they are closer to a playoff spot is rather like saying Columbus is closer to New Jersey than Calgary is: true but misleading. It's not as far, but it's still a long way off.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Such is the live of an NHL player. You don't get to see you family a lot during the year, so a few extra time to be able to probably means a lot. Four or five more time a year might not mean a lot to someone who sees their family all the time, but to someone who rarely sees them, it is a bigger deal. It adds up over the years too.

If it meant that much to him, why did he settle for 9 or 10 times a year when he could have had 48 or 49?

[Monahammer]

Kent Johnson a #1c lmfao well then I'm ####ing Warren buffet

[OutOfTheCube]

Yeah New Jersey is an armpit city with a bad team but sounds like everyone would’ve been cool with it if he went there?

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

If it meant that much to him, why did he settle for 9 or 10 times a year when he could have had 48 or 49?

Cuz they offered less money than Columbus

[Monahammer]

This is a sick joke. I don't care how anyone tried to justify this, it makes no sense at all. Columbus is a steaming pile of #### next to us and I'm not sure how that changes in the next 5 years. Johnny can drive home in 15ish less hours now.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

This is a sick joke. I don't care how anyone tried to justify this, it makes no sense at all. Columbus is a steaming pile of #### next to us and I'm not sure how that changes in the next 5 years. Johnny can drive home in 15ish less hours now.

His parents can fly to Columbus in 90 minutes

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Yeah New Jersey is an armpit city with a bad team but sounds like everyone would’ve been cool with it if he went there?

They have upside and are in his home metro. This is like saying a calgary player wants to go home then signing in Winnipeg.

Edit: actually lol this is kind of like when we acquired Hamonic in that sense. Hope it works out the same for Columbus lol