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

[Toonage]

Thanks everyone. Weird I missed it but thought maybe Johnny felt slighted that they didn't say anything. Would be a childish reaction but had me wondering. No clue why Gaudreau hasn't said anything. Other than sheepishness.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

All you're good at these days is pointing fingers, Jiri.

Doesn't really add anything.

I mean, you're saying dumb ####. What should he do?

[bluejays]

At this point I’m sincerely hoping they go the rebuild route, as unlikely as it is, while taking on bad contracts under two years from contending teams. Load up on the first and second rounders from teams desperate.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It is far easier to go relatively incognito in larger cities. The Canadian cities are not only smaller, but there is one big show in town (hockey), and hockey players are recognized everywhere they go, by virtually everyone they run into.

The other thing is that there are definitely players in other sports avoiding NY and Boston to go play in Tampa, or wherever - it definitely happens, whether you're hearing about it or not. There are people that relish the spotlight, and people that avoid it. And everything in between.

Yeah, I can't imagine that any of the high profile players really enjoy being in this kind of fishbowl.
Nothing about not being a real man, like a couple of posters here mentioned.

Despite the vast majority of fans being decent, it would only take a couple of jerks harassing your wife or kids in public before you say screw it, and want out.
And it would be nice for the player themselves to be able to do every day activities without constantly being approached and bothered, no matter how polite the fan is.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

No, she just gets it. It's true. That should drive a man. You're not being one if you're running away from that to be a recluse in an irrelevant market. What does it say about the make up of your character? Let alone handling this in the way he did with his former team.

Don't be so sensitive.

That's just wrong. You can be a man in many ways. He said it was about his family. Well maybe he's happy to take more than enough money to provide, but also not be in the spotlight so much and have extra time off in the spring to spend with his family, not having to worry about the playoffs and all. Taking care of your family is a #1 goal as far as "being a man" is concerned. Now, you can say he isn't a "#1 Alpha Male" becuase he isn't pursuing a hockey goal, which is fair enough, but I'd argue that's probably a good thing.

He doesn't owe us anything, he can do whatever he chooses. Fans are so toxic it's sad.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This is the weird part.

No up front money and no signing bonus (which is a huge impact with Escrow).

Signing bonuses are absolutely subject to escrow.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by nik-

I mean, you're saying dumb ####. What should he do?

Be a man about it…. Or something. I think.

[Roof-Daddy]

What pisses me off is it appears he never wanted to come back to the Flames.

Maybe he was unsure, but then he wanted to go to Philly, but when Philly didn't come through why not circle back to the team he'd just spent 8 years with?

Why would you pick CLB over the Flames unless you never intended to return in the first place?

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This is the weird part.

No up front money and no signing bonus (which is a huge impact with Escrow).

I mentioned this earlier in the thread and it got lost in the shuffle but I found myself with a random conversation with somebody close to the family last night (not going to name names but a mod can PM me if they want).

Based on the conversation it really does sound like Johnny was truly torn by this decision to leave Calgary and it really was 50/50. Also it sounds like the family was as surprised as the rest of us that it’s Columbus in the end.

I really think this came down to Johnny really wanting Philly, and when that didn’t work out he just took the best offer that was in the East and closer to home, where he’s had some friends play. I don’t think it being a smaller market hurt either.

Honestly I have a feeling there might be some pressure on Lewis Gross today too, because I think everyone thought they would be offers of $10.5M AAV on the table and that just didn’t come to fruition.

I would hope that Gross is under some pressure today. The biggest contract of his client's life really seems like it was poorly handled. I can accept that it was a 50/50 decision for Johnny, and it could be possible that Edward's was the one that closed the door on further negotiations with the Flames come midnight of the 12th, but there seems no doubt to me that he could have come out of this situation much better than he did. A contract at $9.75 for seven years with no front-loading and no bonuses in what was probably a second choice city is a pretty poor result for the best UFA to hit the market in a long time.

I really wonder what will leak out from the Flames and from his former teammates over the coming weeks and months about how they viewed this.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by BigRed

So bizarre. Based on absolutely nothing, I’m going with an unvaxxed mother in law


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Hadn't thought of this, and it could make some sense if true.

Getting in and out of Canada with restrictions wasn't really a big deal. I did it plenty prior to vaccine availability. But some people just hate the whole thing and don't want to take a test (which is all it would take).

[BigRed]

Really wonder how much his performance drops off. Not playing for a contract and doesn’t have tkachuk’s creativity to feed off. I’m betting he’ll come in slightly less than PPG


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[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

All you're good at these days is pointing fingers, Jiri.

Doesn't really add anything.

Let's just not derail this thread with semantics arguments. And morality nonsense. Keep it about Johnny.

Then stop saying stupid sh**

And then dismissing it as "semantics".

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Signing bonuses are absolutely subject to escrow.

I thought they weren't now.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/...p1a8v24yvggd3v

Per the MOU, signing bonuses and player performance bonuses are not included when calculating escrow which is presently set at 20 percent of a player's salary before taxes for the upcoming season.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Unless your name is Crosby or McDavid, they are virtually inconsequential.

Breaking through: Inside hockey's growing player endorsement space

Ovechkin is set to make $5 million in endorsements during the 2019-20 season. That haul leads all NHLers, with Crosby and Connor McDavid a peg below at $4.5 million. Other top earners include Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews ($2.3M), Mitch Marner ($2M), and John Tavares ($1.7M).

The Canadian market is pretty much tied up


When everyone who is at all interested in hockey knows immediately who you are talking about when you say Johnny Hockey

Even if he takes over 20% of the Ovechkin endorsements that is an extra million a year.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Breaking through: Inside hockey's growing player endorsement space



The Canadian market is pretty much tied up


When everyone who is at all interested in hockey knows immediately who you are talking about when you say Johnny Hockey

Even if he takes over 20% of the Ovechkin endorsements that is an extra million a year.

If we see Gaudreau as a big Nationwide sponsor in the next 12 months then you probably have your answer

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Did he actually hold the Flames hostage? It took how long for Brad Treliving to give Johnny his “A” offer. Treliving should’ve been more assertive the first time, or better yet, finalize the deal prior to the season. It was close allegedly, but for whatever reason it fell through.

and like I said earlier, no matter what team he was going to, the money was going to be less than what the Flames offered. So money was never the primary reason. Also, all the teams vying for Gaudreau missed the playoffs last season, they were all in the same boat as far as I’m concerned. Lastly, Columbus plays in eastern time zone, so they’re definitely a lot closed to Philly than Calgary is. I remember hearing that Johnny’s mom would have to stay up past her bed time to watch Johnny play. Now, that won’t be the case.

For me, I just don’t understand why going to Columbus has triggered everybody. Like Nassau County is also a pretty far drive for the Gaudreau clan, would we be pissed if he went to the Islanders? I doubt it.

I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. But I was just very indifferent on where he ended up. Columbus, Carolina, Washington, whatever man, thanks for the memories Johnny. I won’t be booing.

I don’t mean this rudely, but this comment suggests to me you haven’t done a lot of high level negotiation.

[Playfair]

I think so often the shock to the fans is no surprise to management. We don’t know fully what was happening behind closed doors. Truth is any one of us had an opportunity to do what is best for our family we wouldn’t hesitate outside the public eye of professional sports

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

That's just wrong. You can be a man in many ways. He said it was about his family. Well maybe he's happy to take more than enough money to provide, but also not be in the spotlight so much and have extra time off in the spring to spend with his family, not having to worry about the playoffs and all. Taking care of your family is a #1 goal as far as "being a man" is concerned. Now, you can say he isn't a "#1 Alpha Male" becuase he isn't pursuing a hockey goal, which is fair enough, but I'd argue that's probably a good thing.

He doesn't owe us anything, he can do whatever he chooses. Fans are so toxic it's sad.

I agree with you on the "being a man" stuff, and taking care of his family etc..


However, I keep seeing that he doesn't owe the fans anything. Well the fans don't owe him anything either. He handled this poorly and the fans can call it like it is. It doesn't matter if this was a hard decision for him, he handled this situation very poorly and fans have as much right to criticize him and be annoyed by it, as he does to go play wherever he likes. They also have the right to boo him when he comes back, and that doesn't make them toxic.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Playfair

I think so often the shock to the fans is no surprise to management. We don’t know fully what was happening behind closed doors. Truth is any one of us had an opportunity to do what is best for our family we wouldn’t hesitate outside the public eye of professional sports

I don't hold it against Johnny that he tried to go the direction of doing what he felt was best for family. That's totally fine. I do think it seems like the process of getting there was really poorly handled, both in terms of how it affected the relationship with the Flames and his fan base and in terms of the results he ultimately got on his contract.

[DinnerDog]

Originally Posted by Playfair

I think so often the shock to the fans is no surprise to management. We don’t know fully what was happening behind closed doors. Truth is any one of us had an opportunity to do what is best for our family we wouldn’t hesitate outside the public eye of professional sports

Maybe I'm misinterpreting your point, but I think what the fanbase is struggling with is seeing how this is the best thing for his family, leaving money on the table and not being directly, or as close as possible to 'home'.