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

[dino7c]

Columbus might be better for him because nobody really cares about hockey and they have never been good anyway...probably happy to choke in round one

Kinda a loser mentality though

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Gaudreau doesn’t want to play in a stressful environment where he is criticized for lacklustre performances. Truthfully he is an amazing player who can obviously be one of the best in the league but his dedication is lacking. The way he has handled leaving Calgary also makes me question his maturity level. Being open and upfront with management but also teammates. There haven’t been any statements made from any teammates though about how they wish him luck or anything like that (at least not that I have seen).

Ultimately I do think this contract will look okay for a few years and a massive burden afterwards.

[Playfair]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Either way it’s his choice.

The flames will find some other guy to take their money trying to shoot a puck in a net.

First world problem. The sun will come up tomorrow.

Agree fully. We aren’t in the Ukraine.

[tvp2003]

One last post re: Gudbranson — they spent Christmas together at the Fairmont in Banff (with the Coleman’s) and it was also reported that they went out for dinner to celebrate Erik’s birthday (which was the same day as Johnny’s wife’s birthday). Don’t know how much of a factor that was but take it for what you will.

[CGY12]

The uncle isn't wrong though lol. I mean many people who are absolutely ripping him for leaving (fans and media) are now claiming betrayal. Listen I get it, emotional times, players should brush off critism, but unfortunately in the social media times we live now, its virtually impossible.

After hearing Johnny's comments today, I suspect he made the decision to leave Calgary earlier than what he claimed (early this week). You don't wake up some random day and decide its time to go and then say what he did today, the move seemed well thought out and calculated. For that you would hope he would be more upfront with the organization, so for that he does hold some culpability. I still however think BT should feel the brunt of the criticism.

Are we really surprised it played out like that from Johnny? He is a great hockey player but plays a style of game that is timid at times, I assume he is the submissive one in the relationship and he probably didn't have the balls to be clear and direct with the organization till the final hour.

I really wish BT read between the lines.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by AC

Calgary is probably the least critical Canadian market I would wager.

And yeah, can you imagine the negativity from Philly fans if Johnny had a bad stretch or a poor playoffs? They'd throw batteries at him and his family.

Yeah, Calgary isn't critical at all compared to most markets. Flames fans even love Lucic and he more overpaid than anyone.

The Flames media throws nothing but soft balls at the players for the most part. Saying a player is "too small" is nothing. It just happens to be true most of the time. It may have been wrong this time, but that doesn't mean it is malicious. I am sure Flames fans and media were not the only ones to ever say it.

And yeah, his playoff performances were underwhelming. Stating a fact isn't being mean.

[Jiggy_12]

This all feels like an old WWE heel turn

[mile]

Calgary isn't that critical compared to other Canadian markets. But still, I thought he was very defensive whenever he was asked the standard questions about whether he needed to step up or his role in leading a team or if he was happy with the way he played.

I don't think he'll have any problems with that at all in Columbus. Good for him I guess

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

This all feels like an old WWE heel turn

Johnny Hockey just superkicked Marty Jannetty (Ie the Flames) through the glass at Brutus’ barber shop, haha. The Rockers were no more

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CGY12

The uncle isn't wrong though lol. I mean many people who are absolutely ripping him for leaving (fans and media) are now claiming betrayal. Listen I get it, emotional times, players should brush off critism, but unfortunately in the social media times we live now, its virtually impossible.

After hearing Johnny's comments today, I suspect he made the decision to leave Calgary earlier than what he claimed (early this week). You don't wake up some random day and decide its time to go and then say what he did today, the move seemed well thought out and calculated. For that you would hope he would be more upfront with the organization, so for that he does hold some culpability. I still however think BT should feel the brunt of the criticism.

Are we really surprised it played out like that from Johnny? He is a great hockey player but plays a style of game that is timid at times, I assume he is the submissive one in the relationship and he probably didn't have the balls to be clear and direct with the organization till the final hour.

I really wish BT read between the lines.

I totally agree. People need to relax a little bit about the betrayal stuff. Even if he gave more notice, I am sure some people would have still acted out. Some people would have been mad no matter what.

And you're right. This is 100% on management. Even a lot of fans could see he had one foot out the door for a while. Management either couldn't see it, or they thought they could change it. There were many warning signs that he was looking past the Flames one day, and obviously that day was going to be when his contract was up. Johnny played out his contract to the best of his abilities and never complained. That is all you can really ask. Yeah, I don't like how the final negotiations went, but Brad should have pulled the plug way before. Trying to convince a player to stay whose heart wasn't in it, likely just prolonged the process longer than it needed to be.

Treliving should have sat down with Johnny at the beginning of the season when his camp said they weren't interested in extending yet, and asked him to be totally honest. I don't know, maybe he did. I just doubt it because he seemed happy to ignore so many warning signs, he probably didn't want to face the big question.

My take is that Gaudreau was leaving no matter what and Brad made it harder than it needed to be for him to make that decision. It's like trying to break off a relationship and the other person is crying, and saying I can't live with out you, so you put off the break up until later. It's not the best thing to do, but it's hard not to when you actually do care about the person. I suspect the psychological aspect is the negotiations for the past few weeks was similar.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

This is 100% on management. Even a lot of fans could see he had one foot out the door for a while. Management either couldn't see it, or they thought they could change it. There were many warning signs that he was looking past the Flames one day, and obviously that day was going to be when his contract was up.

If that were the case, he would not have wasted his time, his agent's time, and the team's time by pretending to negotiate a new deal.

So it's not 100% on management. Either Gaudreau misled the team by bargaining in bad faith, or (more likely) he did not, in fact, make up his mind until late in the process that he was leaving.

My take is that Gaudreau was leaving no matter what and Brad made it harder than it needed to be for him to make that decision. It's like trying to break off a relationship and the other person is crying, and saying I can't live with out you, so you put off the break up until later.

Treliving was crying and saying he couldn't live without Johnny? No, he was negotiating a deal with an agent, because he thought there was a deal to be made and that the agent was not simply there to waste time.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

This all feels like an old WWE heel turn

John The Snake Roberts

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sorry, was agreeing with you and adding on. I find a lot of the simping, yes-men, man up, fit your wife around your career, etc talk to be pretty cringe. I don’t know a happy individual in an even half way decent relationship that talks like that, though, so I’m kind of just writing it off as coming from guys whose opinions about relationships and women probably have pretty questionable reference points.

Truthfully, I don’t know why you bothered responding to them lol.

I'm out of thanks, so



I don't know why I'm responding to them, normally I'm able to just brush it aside or put them on my ignore list. I guess the death anniversary of my girl friend is coming up and my tolerance level has dropped drastically. Again, thanks.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

Forget motivations, why, leaving $ on the table and etc.

I just dislike how this went down and the position he put the team in by not being completely upfront and candid about his position.

Best case we could have traded his rights, worst case we could have prioritized Chucky and others.

I'm kind of surprised at some reactions saying this was a totally forseen eventuality. If that's so then he obviously didn't make that known to Flames brass and waited until the 11th hour to totally paralyze and handcuff them, full stop.

He's not the enemy because or why he left, it's how he left.

Yes, this!!

[Igottago]

Everyone has been shook by the Columbus choice, but why is that any different from Philly from a Flames perspective? In either case the result is exactly the same. Johnny had a timeline to make a decision, he used that entire timeline, perhaps wavered back and forth, and in the end left the Flames at the alter. The Flames (should) know that they had little leverage at this point, and they should know how free agency works. I agree that the Flames current situation is on them. As an organization you make decisions knowing the risks, you figure out contingencies for that risk and you deal with it if that risk comes to fruition. Gaudreau's dumb decision has no bearing on that. He was never accountable to tell the team his decision before the clock struck 12.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Everyone has been shook by the Columbus choice, but why is that any different from Philly from a Flames perspective?

In practical terms, it's no different. In fan terms, it's like someone cutting your heart out with a spoon instead of an axe.



Or if you like your movie references older and a bit more highbrow:

‘Why Johnny, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world. But for Columbus?’

Philadelphia would have been understandable. Columbus is just dada.

[Manhattanboy]

This is still shocking.

I really feel bad for Gaudreau. Watch his post game pressers and other interviews with the Flames over the years compared to today.

He looked lost. Like shell-shocked. I bet he can’t name more than five players on the Jackets.

For a guy who just inked a once in a lifetime contract that will make him very wealthy I suspect the last 48 hours have been the worst of his life.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

This is still shocking.

I really feel bad for Gaudreau. Watch his post game pressers and other interviews with the Flames over the years compared to today.

He looked lost. Like shell-shocked. I bet he can’t name more than five players on the Jackets.

For a guy who just inked a once in a lifetime contract that will make him very wealthy I suspect the last 48 hours have been the worst of his life.

Eh. Good.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Gaudreau doesn’t want to play in a stressful environment where he is criticized for lacklustre performances. Truthfully he is an amazing player who can obviously be one of the best in the league but his dedication is lacking. The way he has handled leaving Calgary also makes me question his maturity level. Being open and upfront with management but also teammates. There haven’t been any statements made from any teammates though about how they wish him luck or anything like that (at least not that I have seen).

Ultimately I do think this contract will look okay for a few years and a massive burden afterwards.

So basically he wants to replicate his college experience.

Party hard get the accolades for a win when they are there but overall people won't care
..... seems lazy to me . Wish I could have that in my career.

[GullFoss]

Are there any direct flights from Philly to Calgary? She's the one looking after the newborn baby. Calgary is a city where she's probably close to nobody except johnny. No friends or family close by. And the connecting flight to get home to Philly with a newborn, all alone is probably daunting. And with Johnny on the road for much of the year, flying home alone with the baby is probably something she envisions doing quite a bit. That and her family coming to visit.

This is less about Johnny. And more about the wife and newborn child.

The non-stop flight from Columbus to Philly is 90 mins. The connecting flight to Philly from Calgary is 7 hours + customs.

Once you start to view Columbus as a family decision rather than a Johnny decision, it probably makes more a lot sense. Johnny staying in Calgary was great for Johnny. It was bad for the wife and baby. The $15m was great for both of them. It probably was an agonizing decision.

But when youre a dad, your kids and wife probably take precedence over $15m? Unlike Harmonic sitting out the playoffs, this actually makes sense on some level if you think about it. Depression among new moms is a big risk. Mental health is huge.