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

[Locke]

Sorry Johnny....this was not accurate.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

actually he has. He several times spoke to what makes a real MAN.

I know. I’m just trying to point out (maybe, hopefully to him) how his perspective doesn’t have to include gender.

Anyways. Probably futile and taking up precious space here and brain power.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by bluck

Reporter - Why Columbus? You had offers from Calgary and other places.

JG - "I've gotten to play here many times, its a lot of fun to play here, the fans are into it, a lot of buzz in the arena, good young group here, me and my wife thought it was a really good fit for us, this one was the best personally where we are in our life and made the most sense"

Make sense lol

[Jordan!]

This is pretty bizarre. I have zero attachment to Johnny at all but what kind of bizarro world is this that he signed in CBJ??

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sorry Johnny....this was not accurate.

Also that's Cleveland. I assume Cleveland is a better city than Columbus - at least it has Lake Erie.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Inferno

That's debatable. Campbell can be just as streaky as Smith and I've heard multiple times he has confidence issues. The way Oilers fans and media turn on goalies even when it's not their fault it might not be a good situation that he put himself in.

I mean his JFresh numbers are better than Smith's - especially on low % chances (lol) so if he can not let in the classic Mike Smith 'yikes' goals, then it should be a marginal improvement.



The Oilers are probably still there firmly in the 2-3 seed in the Pacific by doing not much.

[CSharp]

LOL, Johnny Fraudreau

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Also that's Cleveland. I assume Cleveland is a better city than Columbus - at least it has Lake Erie.

It is not.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Well, there was that 7 game series that ended in a gentlemen’s sweep. That’s one.

But yes, re-signing Kane and Kulak and now adding Campbell is huge. Their goaltending was the shakiest part of their team and they’ve improved in that area.

The Flames on the other hand were going to lose depth due to our cap situation. We were going to be in worse shape going into 2022-23.

Realistically, the Flames window to contend was 2018-2022 and we didn’t accomplish enough in that time. The Oilers window appears to be now and they’ll be in good shape cap wise until the end of Draisaitl’s contract.

I wasn't directly comparing the two teams but really the Flames minus Tanev and with bad goaltending were not their best. Every game was tied but one in the third. Game 5 was stolen.

Koskinen had a very good record (Skinner? if Cambell goes down which seems likely with that D) Smith had a better save % than Cambell last season. Keith was their #3. JP may have picked his nose but was still one of their better forwards outside of you know who.

I just don't get this media garbage that they drastically improved. They were a shot away from losing to LA in 6.

Flames were significantly better over 82 games

Oilers tires are pumped every single offseason

[Scornfire]

He's got quite the thousand yard stare going on,

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by nik-

It is not.

In that they're both equally terrible places to be or are you saying Columbus is some sort of hidden gem that no one talks about enough?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I wonder if/how much having a dump of an arena plays into this

These players get to play in every arena. Top facilities when you will be playing 280 games plus practices over the next 7 years must play into the decision.

There's a reason companies invest money in on site facilities to try and attract top talent

I think it plays a roll for sure. I recall Iginla gushing over the Pens facility after he was traded. When fans think of arenas, they think of the ice surface, stands, concourse, concessions and bathrooms. For players, it's about the stuff backstage and the amenities that fans never see. The Dome is way behind other facilities at this point.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by bluck

Reporter - Why Columbus? You had offers from Calgary and other places.

JG - "I've gotten to play here many times, its a lot of fun to play here, the fans are into it, a lot of buzz in the arena, good young group here, me and my wife thought it was a really good fit for us, this one was the best personally where we are in our life and made the most sense"

This is the part I think a lot of observers really miss, you’ve got a young person who’s spent the majority of their 20’s visiting/playing in literally every major city in North America, who’s got a decision to make about where to settle down with their family.

I can’t be the only one who visits a new city and always leaves with a sense of “yeah I could/couldn’t live there” afterwards. I’m sure Columbus wasn’t #1 on Gaudreau’s list of teams/cities, but I can’t imagine he hasn’t done his research over the years and kept in the “Yeah I could see playing here” column.

[PaperBagger'14]

Gaudreau:

"Throughout the summer I did research on places I wanted to be..."

Rat

Edit: Also Gaudreau, "I didn't want to talk about Calgary today, but it's a special place and the fans are great".

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Maybe right now but let's see how this contract ages

Gaudreau has had 2 seasons worth 9M+
Playoff stats are meh

He needs to be a 100 point player not ppg. We might be laughing in a few years instead of crying

How many consistent 100 point players are there in the NHL to begin with? Not that many.

Your standards are not realistic. Just look at what $9M gets you these days, Dougie Hamilton. Seth Jones, Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Darnell Nurse. Tavares and Panarin got $11M!

Johnny’s contract would’ve been a great deal by comparison.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Regular_John

This is the part I think a lot of observers really miss, you’ve got a young person who’s spent the majority of their 20’s visiting/playing in literally every major city in North America, who’s got a decision to make about where to settle down with their family.

I can’t be the only one who visits a new city and always leaves with a sense of “yeah I could/couldn’t live there” afterwards. I’m sure Columbus wasn’t #1 on Gaudreau’s list of teams/cities, but I can’t imagine he hasn’t done his research over the years and kept in the “Yeah I could see playing here” column.

They don't do much of anything in the city beyond going to a hotel and then to an arena. Maybe this hit a restaurant or a bar at night. Its not like they are out checking out the school districts on each road trip.

[djsFlames]

Is it possible that he actually liked visits to Columbus that much?

Its the last thing you'd expect but people have become attached to stranger things.

Still think it was a consolation prize after Philly at the end of the day and definitely not his first choice.

The fans comments are just standard lip service.

[OILFAN #81]

Reporter: What led you to Columbus?

Gaudreau: Eliotte Friedman messaged me and said that COL offered 7 x 9.75. I accepted because I thought he meant Colorado.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Gaudreau:

"Throughout the summer I did research on places I wanted to be..."

Rat

This doesn't mean Calgary was never an option or not on the list.

Of course he was going to do the research.

It was Calgary (the incumbent where he's lived for 8 years)

vs

Philly (Home)
New Jersey
Columbus
etc

I don't see why him doing his research and looking at options that might be available if he's going to go to free agency would trigger people.

Of course he was going to have a plan of "Here's what places I'd prefer IF I do decide to leave Calgary"

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Is it possible that he actually liked visits to Columbus that much?

Its the last thing you'd expect but people have become attached to stranger things.

Still think it was a consolation prize after Philly at the end of the day and definitely not his first choice.

The fans comments are just standard lip service.

Well yeah...there isn't much else he can say today except for being very complimentary of the city and the organization.

He can't come out and say "Well I was really hoping to go home to Philly but they didn't even make me an offer. I had already told Calgary I was leaving and burnt that bridge with Murray Edwards. So I just took the highest offer available to me from the teams and cities that I thought I'd be okay with (New Jersey, Columbus, New York)"

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Gaudreau:

"Throughout the summer I did research on places I wanted to be..."

Rat

I mean I'll bash gaudreau for how he went about things here, but doing your due diligence in exploring possibilities seems fine.

That said, #### him!