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

[Jiggy_12]

There is almost certainly a puzzle piece missing that has yet to come out, but am sure will trickle out eventually.

Until that happens, it looks really bad on Gaudreau.

Absolutely no need (seemingly) to lead the Flames on and stiff them like this.

This all makes very little sense from the outside looking in.

[Yoho]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1547695238679891969

[Azure]

lol. good luck with that. You went there because you don't care about winning, and prioritized something else over that.

Which is fine, but don't try to play it that way.

What a loser.

[GirlySports]

Whatever the story is, Gaudreau cost himself an 8th year by being indecisive. Either with Calgary or someone else. Either he misplayed his hand or changed late.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by stone hands

From his interviews it sounds like he has tons of friends on the blue jackets. He has already gotten the bag and spends half the season travelling for work anyways, which he now gets to do in the eastern conference instead of calgary

I just dont see the problem. He gets to play a sport for money, for which he gets compensated more in one year than multiple generations of average people will see in their lifetimes. His wife gets to work in a place she covets, and they both are a 2 hour flight from family without having to cross a border

Ya it sucks as a flames fan because hes fun to watch every night but it's not that mystifying as to why a human being would make the choice he did

I completely agree with you. I just think those are the reasons he went to the Blue Jackets, not because of Nationwide Children's Hospital.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Yoho

https://twitter.com/user/status/1547695238679891969

in the regular season..... did I do that right?

Never really had the view from the other side before. lol

[guzzy]

I fully support Gaudreau in the fact he earned the right to choose. I don't support the way his agent handled this. They didn't need the Flames offer to drive up the price. Johnny's performance this season set that price and the offers. They knew all season he wasn't coming back. No GM in the league will take Gross seriously again. If the New Jersey - Tkachuk deal on draft day was real, we got ####ed. That's on Gross. #### him.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

As much as I’m pissed off right now I’ve decided that I don’t want our fans to boo him and give him the Tavares treatment. That was embarrassing.

Let’s just accept his decision and move on. There’s plenty of players here willing and wanting to be here. Let’s celebrate them. Not everyone wants to live in Calgary. Unfortunately sometimes those people also happen to be good hockey players.

So let’s not boo him. Let’s not be babies about it. Let’s just move on. He’s already tanked his legacy here. It’s over. That’s enough for me.

I really don't think he'll get the Tavares treatment. I think it'll be a smattering of boos and cheers, which overall on a broadcast feed will probably just sound like tepid clapping and an uninspired crowd reaction. Which seems like the perfect reaction for him.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Yoho

https://twitter.com/user/status/1547695238679891969

Its columbus... are there views?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Its columbus... are there views?

Maybe they too have a stunning river valley.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Yoho

https://twitter.com/user/status/1547695238679891969

I find this funny, he just say I come here to win hockey games not I came here to win the Cup.

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

That’s for the poor people

12 Weeks maternity leave is it my dude. pathetic to be honest

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by guzzy

I fully support Gaudreau in the fact he earned the right to choose. I don't support the way his agent handled this. They didn't need the Flames offer to drive up the price.

I think a large part of the surprise around the deal is that this definitely isn't a driven up price.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

At the end of the day, John (Not Johnny) its definitely you and not us.


You had the tiger by the tail here. You could have become one of the top paid players in the league. Played for a contending, really good team. Had the adoration of the city, had the respect of your team mates. You were a poster boy. You, John, coulda been a contenda.


Now . . . . you're nothing. You're John Gaudreau, hockey player for the Columbus Blue Jacket. The guy who pissed away millions, and literally it feels like, told Calgary that you didn't want us.


Yeah, man, its definitely you, not us.


I don't know if I'd be all that inclined to join in on a salute on Dome ice for him next year. I won't boo the guy, but I'm not over the moon happy about the circumstances around you're departure.


At the end of the day, all I can come up with is this.



The Calgary Flames reached an agreement that allows John Gaudreau to leave for Columbus. We wish John good luck in his future endeavors.



End of message.

The comma per word ratio in this post is wild.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

It's been a difficult 48 hours. Last night I posted quite a number of things that were way over the top and unnecessary. I've since removed those comments from my posts (though they may still appear quoted in others' posts) and I sincerely apologize for my obnoxiousness.

Whatever Johnny's reason for leaving Calgary, the fact of the matter is the world did not end, the sun came up this morning, and a new era of Calgary Flames hockey has begun. Keeping Johnny at 8x10.5 may have been best for the team in the short term, but would have been risky in the long term. As some have stated, perhaps his departure is a blessing in disguise. This frees up valuable cap space that can be put to good use to improve the team in other ways.

That said, one valuable lesson that I do hope ownership and management take away from all this, is that it's time to cut it out with all the touch-feely stuff when it comes to managing this team's assets.
- If a player doesn't seem extremely committed to staying with the team long term, don't be afraid to listen to offers from other teams.
- If it's felt that a player's level of play is at a high point now and is likely to decline in the near future, don't be afraid to listen to offers from other teams.
- If for whatever reason you feel a player is not the right fit for the team, don't be afraid to listen to offers from other teams.
And if a team is willing to pay a price that is suitable, go ahead and make the trade.

The other thing that I wish management would give some thought to is perhaps putting a bit less emphasis on always trying to win now win now win now at the expense of the team's pool of futures. Going back 20, maybe even 30 years, it feels like this team has been rather fast & loose when it comes to trading away first round picks. The trend, IMO, needs to stop.

Out of thanks. Great post. Don't worry, somebody would have to be a real sadist to read through this entire thread.


Completely agree on the organizational issues. I'm a BT apologist, but don't like the idea of him being at all surprised of rattled by this outcome (TBF I haven't watched his presser and am going on 2nd hand reactions). I would have much rather heard something like:

"This is disappointing. We would have loved to keep pushing forward with Johnny, but we always knew this was always a possibility. We are excited to take the next steps towards building a contender."

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

You had the tiger by the tail here. You could have become one of the top paid players in the league. Played for a contending, really good team. Had the adoration of the city, had the respect of your team mates. You were a poster boy. You, John, coulda been a contenda.

All I want is a clip of Ewan McGregor shouting "YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE, JOHNNY!" and I'll be happy.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Dion

He sold the Flames community a line and everyone bought it.

Not everyone. Most.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by guzzy

I fully support Gaudreau in the fact he earned the right to choose. I don't support the way his agent handled this. They didn't need the Flames offer to drive up the price. Johnny's performance this season set that price and the offers. They knew all season he wasn't coming back. No GM in the league will take Gross seriously again. If the New Jersey - Tkachuk deal on draft day was real, we got ####ed. That's on Gross. #### him.

regardless of Johnny's decision, I'm sure the Flames are still focused on keeping Tkachuk. Might have cost us a chance to move Gaudreau's UFA rights or something

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Not everyone. Most.

A small but incredibly useless correction

[GS Skier]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I really don't think he'll get the Tavares treatment. I think it'll be a smattering of boos and cheers, which overall on a broadcast feed will probably just sound like tepid clapping and an uninspired crowd reaction. Which seems like the perfect reaction for him.

Exactly why would he not get the Tavares treatment? I think the seat paying fans who are unhappy with this should display the same loyalty to Johnny mommas boy as he has to his former fans and the city.

When the "Tribute" goes on fans can choose to turn their backs on him the same way he did us. I expect lots of Boos because people love a villian, they love to boo Fox and everyone likes to boo Bettman.

He made his bed he can sleep in it. He owes us nothing we owe him nothing either.