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

[browna]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

The thing I'm left wondering is this: The Flyers are a really bad and rudderless team. During the next two or three years, they are likely to be torn down to the studs for a complete rebuild. Why are they going to want to give up assets to acquire a 31-year-old winger with an enormous contract, instead of saving the money and the assets for players who will fit their window?

At this point, I think it's an unrequited love on Gaudreau's paart.

Any number of reasons, but when the change is made in Philly in a few years the new GM and or coach, post current regime, will tell the owners what they need to say to get hired... and that is "do the opposite" of Fletcher and Torts. Thus, will pitch that they need more proven skill players and players who want to be Flyers, and JG will be at the top of the list in both categories even if he has average years in CBJ.

It's the same strategy our previous fraud of a GM attempted, both in undermining Sutter at executive and ownership level when he was AGM, and then trying to pass off his random and shot in the dark strategy to build a team, by telling fans and media he will just basically do the opposite of Sutter; get small skilled guys, turn the music on in the dressing room etc etc...and people lapped it up because it was the opposite from Darryl and opposite must mean opposite results than what the Flames had.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

Then why limit himself to the northeast US? If it was just about leaving Canada, then why not entertain offers from a wider set of teams?

JG signed with a team in Ohio.

That is in the Midwest.

He did not , apparently, limit himself to the northeast.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Even describing it as getting dumped is lame hyperbole. The flames didn’t get dumped. There was no relationship. Johnny was single, a free agent, and he chose his partner. It just wasn’t us. Lots of other guys will choose another team and lots of other teams will get left out when there’s only one player and 32 teams.

The Flames absolutely got dumped.

More importantly, the city got dumped.

These teams make money by getting fans to, cheesy as it sounds, fall in love with players. When people emotionally invest in these teams as much as they do, they’re going to react with visceral emotion when they feel they’ve been done wrong.

This fan base supported this player for 11 years, after drafting him as a 140 lb child in the 4th round. We watched him tear up college hockey; we defended him against all the doubters who said he was too small etc. We watched him become a top-10 offensive talent in the game. We gave his dad standing ovations when he was on the jumbotron. We treated his family with the utmost respect.

Sure, he wasn’t “ours” just like any athlete or partner isn’t really “ours”.

But he kinda was “ours”, until he wasn’t.

After everything the city and organization did for him, he owed them better. He owed them the courtesy of a graceful exit.

Instead, he made this city into a laughingstock by turning down an extra $15M to go play for a team that most people forget even exists. And he absolutely did that. Go check the responses from other fanbases - they are laughing at us.

There’s no sense being bitter about it forever, but in the weeks after it happens?

Yeah. We’re not friends anymore.

But you know the old expression - ‘the quickest way to get over Gaudreau is to give Tkachuk 8x$9.76M.’

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well he left ~$15M on the table so it obviously 'wasnt about the money.'

On Tuesday night he probably thought he was leaving $8-12M on the table, but knew it could also end up anywhere from $0-20M.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It's not irrational at all. He put himself in a no win situation.

I doubt he feels that way. He got to a slightly better place [for him] for a little less money than he hoped.

Originally Posted by timbit

Did JG and his rep negotiate in bad faith? It certainly appears so by most reports.

Did they, reportedly, agree with the Flames to 10.5 mil per annum over 8 years and then reneg, with no communication over 10 hours to the Flames management/owner that this was happening ?

No, probably not. Simple miscommunication seems most likely here. I doubt JG said if you get to 10.5 I'll sign. Each side just filled in the blank as seemed natural to them (if we give them this number then they'll sign vs. if they give us that number then we'll make a final decision)

[soulchoice]

I may be in the minority, but as much as I am curious to know the reasons why JG chose Columbus, it does not affect how I view him.

For the last 8 years, I enjoyed watching him play, as he was an exciting player. Sure, he had warts in his game, but this past year, it was amazing to watch.

For me, the reality is, I don’t care if he never wanted to be a forever Flame, furthermore, I could not care less if he did or did not like the city. If he did, great, if he didn’t that is ok too. We will never know the truth, nor does it matter.

Yes, he may have said some endearing things about wanting to re-sign in the city the last two years, but there is absolutely no reason for him to say anything to the contrary. It would be in his best interest to say the most glowing things about a city and organization publicly at that time, especially when negotiating is taking place. I never take anything any player says about such a topic seriously, its all just PR.

As far as the aspect of waiting till the last minute to let the Flames know about his intentions, I look at it this way. Sure, he could have let them know, so that they can make alternative strategic moves/signings or get some compensation. However, maybe he just doesn’t feel the need to help any team other than the one he is about to sign with. The less chance he gives another competitor to strengthen their roster, the better it is for his own team to have a chance to win. I have no issues with that. If he used the Flames to leverage a higher deal with another team, then that’s alright too, its business. At least he learned this time, it will not always work in your favour, as he took less.

Lastly, even if he does not thank the city, org or the fans, it does not matter to me either. In my humble opinion, it wont change my overall mindset. He owes nothing to no one at this point, not even as a role model. Sports is a business. Not everyone is as sincere and classy as Iginla, which is fine.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Instead, he made this city into a laughingstock by turning down an extra $15M to go play for a team that most people forget even exists. And he absolutely did that. Go check the responses from other fanbases - they are laughing at us.

Except he didn't do that. He [reportedly] turned down $84M to take a risk in search of certain rewards.

$84M ceased to exist when he made his final decision. He reportedly turned down around $5M to come back, though if the reports are true of Murray getting butthurt over another man making a decision he didn't like [and/or in a way he didn't like] then it's not hard to see why.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

On Tuesday night he probably thought he was leaving $8-12M on the table, but knew it could also end up anywhere from $0-20M.





I doubt he feels that way. He got to a slightly better place [for him] for a little less money than he hoped.



No, probably not. Simple miscommunication seems most likely here. I doubt JG said if you get to 10.5 I'll sign. Each side just filled in the blank as seemed natural to them (if we give them this number then they'll sign vs. if they give us that number then we'll make a final decision)

These are sophisticated negotiators, it's highly unlikely at the last minute there was such a large miscommunication. When you are down to the wire like that you speak in absolutes. I fully believe the story that the Flames agreed to Gaudreau's number and he then backed away.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

The Flames absolutely got dumped.

More importantly, the city got dumped.

These teams make money by getting fans to, cheesy as it sounds, fall in love with players. When people emotionally invest in these teams as much as they do, they’re going to react with visceral emotion when they feel they’ve been done wrong.

This fan base supported this player for 11 years, after drafting him as a 140 lb child in the 4th round. We watched him tear up college hockey; we defended him against all the doubters who said he was too small etc. We watched him become a top-10 offensive talent in the game. We gave his dad standing ovations when he was on the jumbotron. We treated his family with the utmost respect.

Sure, he wasn’t “ours” just like any athlete or partner isn’t really “ours”.

But he kinda was “ours”, until he wasn’t.

This reads like those situations in movies where some guy falls in love with an escort, thinking they were in a relationship when, at the end of the day, it was always business.

Johnny was “ours” as long as we paid him to be ours. That’s it. His job was to compete, entertain, and participate in the community. That was his job, and while he might have wanted to do it too, he was still paid to do it first and foremost.

He fulfilled every single obligation he had to the Flames and the city. Every one. He came here after college, as promised. He never asked for a trade. He took no shortcuts getting to UFA. All the while, he made the team better. When every obligation he had to Calgary was fulfilled, he moved on to what worked better for him.

Business is business. Fans treat others players like it’s just business all the time, but when a star player treats us that way? Oh, suddenly it was love. Come on now.

[WesternCanadaKing]

Originally Posted by timbit

JG signed with a team in Ohio.

That is in the Midwest.

He did not , apparently, limit himself to the northeast.

Technically correct, but if you look at a map of the United States you'll find Ohio to be in the upper right hand area. That is the north east for anyone who doesn't feel the need to be pedantic about it.

Your response would make a little more sense if I was talking about Chicago, but Ohio literally borders Pennsylvania.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

Then why limit himself to the northeast US? If it was just about leaving Canada, then why not entertain offers from a wider set of teams?

It looks like he originally limited himself to Philly and the teams closest to it. When Philly bowed out, he was forced to look at deals from other places, but the only place that stepped up with an offer was Columbus.

I do not for a moment believe his story that Columbus is where he actually wants to be. As many people in the media and elsewhere have pointed out, at his presser he couldn't even name one of the centres he might be playing with there. It wasn't Plan A or B or even C; it was just where his parachute landed.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by timbit

JG signed with a team in Ohio.

That is in the Midwest.

He did not , apparently, limit himself to the northeast.

Columbus is directly south of Windsor, Ontario.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

Your response would make a little more sense if I was talking about Chicago, but Ohio literally borders Pennsylvania.

Ohio does not border New Jersey or come anywhere near it, which is the real issue.

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Columbus is directly south of Windsor, Ontario.

New Jersey is directly south of a point between Ottawa and Montreal. Are those places ‘close to home’ if you're from Windsor?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

though if the reports are true of Murray getting butthurt over another man making a decision he didn't like [and/or in a way he didn't like]

When someone says, ‘My price is X,’ and you offer him X, and he then wastes your time and costs you other alternatives before saying ‘No deal,’ it is not butthurt to be steamed about it.

But hey, if you want to make Edwards the bad guy, and if the only way to do that is to describe his actions with derogatory adjectives, I guess you'll do what you gotta do.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

When someone says, ‘My price is X,’ and you offer him X, and he then wastes your time and costs you other alternatives before saying ‘No deal,’ it is not butthurt to be steamed about it.

But hey, if you want to make Edwards the bad guy, and if the only way to do that is to describe his actions with derogatory adjectives, I guess you'll do what you gotta do.

… wtf I didn’t write that.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

… wtf I didn’t write that.

You wrote that Edwards was ‘butthurt’ in an effort to make it look like he was being childish and petulant and therefore to blame.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Ohio does not border New Jersey or come anywhere near it, which is the real issue.



New Jersey is directly south of a point between Ottawa and Montreal. Are those places ‘close to home’ if you're from Windsor?

… yes. Quite.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You wrote that Edwards was ‘butthurt’ in an effort to make it look like he was being childish and petulant and therefore to blame.

I have never used the term butthurt in my life.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

… yes. Quite.

TIL that the 899-km distance from Montreal to Windsor is ‘quite close’.

More things I could never have found out except from the Internet.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I have never used the term butthurt in my life.

Looks like he changed powerjunkie's quote to yours somehow:

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Except he didn't do that. He [reportedly] turned down $84M to take a risk in search of certain rewards.

$84M ceased to exist when he made his final decision. He reportedly turned down around $5M to come back, though if the reports are true of Murray getting butthurt over another man making a decision he didn't like [and/or in a way he didn't like] then it's not hard to see why.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I have never used the term butthurt in my life.

I'm sorry, that was powderjunkie. For some reason the quote function glitched and cited the wrong post.

My bad for not noticing.