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

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I think tkachuk is just as likely to be coming back. Johnny agonized over the decision and probably would have chosen Calgary if not for his wife. I don't think this speaks poorly about the flames or the organization.

I apologize I’ve not been able to follow the whole thread, is “probably would have chosen Calgary if not for his wife” jilted fans speculation or is that a reported fact?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I apologize I’ve not been able to follow the whole thread, is “probably would have chosen Calgary if not for his wife” jilted fans speculation or is that a reported fact?

Speculation. It seems very clear it was a family decision. I think people are trying to justify how Gaudreau could demand a number and then back away from it after it was accepted without it being because he got a spousal veto. But it’s possible he had a change of heart himself.

[powderjunkie]

I think most people are lying to themselves when they say they'd be more accepting of this if Johnny made his decision earlier:

"He strung us along for months and wasn't even willing to wait for CGY's best offer!!!!!"

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I think most people are lying to themselves when they say they'd be more accepting of this if Johnny made his decision earlier:

"He strung us along for months and wasn't even willing to wait for CGY's best offer!!!!!"

Not me.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I think most people are lying to themselves when they say they'd be more accepting of this if Johnny made his decision earlier:

"He strung us along for months and wasn't even willing to wait for CGY's best offer!!!!!"

I dont think so. A trade with Philly last year would have been perfectly fine. That's business and we know he wants to be home and Calgary would get assets. I'd still be a Johnny fan. Like if Tkachuk were to be traded today.

Today, he's dead to me.

[PaperBagger'14]

I just watched the full interview with Gaudreau, and it does nothing to change my thoughts on him. I believe he's a liar and this interview helped re affirm it for 2 reasons.

1) When asked about his comments relating to Calgary the day prior, he never apologized for it. Just said it caught him off guard.

2) When he was asked if there was any reason he had to leave Calgary, he stammered and stuttered like there was way more he wanted to say, but he didn't.

The kid is so full of it his eyes are turning brown, this team is better off without someone of that character.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I think tkachuk is just as likely to be coming back. Johnny agonized over the decision and probably would have chosen Calgary if not for his wife. I don't think this speaks poorly about the flames or the organization.

Since Philly was out, he 100% would've chosen Calgary if he wasn't a married man with in-laws in the east.

This isn't a Calgary as a city/team thing, it's the disadvantage of its geographical location and that's pretty much it.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Anything above 4 years for Kadri would be cray-cray.

There's probably an ocean between his demands and the offers out there.

He will have no problem getting 4, probably more
Gudbranson got 4x4

He is waiting for the Avs

[Matata]

Im honeslty glad johnny left, i think he only has 1-2 elite seasons left (at most) left in him and his contract was mostly going to end up a boat anchor. It wouldve been iginla all over again, convincing fans to cheer for the ghost of team instead of just moving on.

I think johnny being so tight lipped about the particulars just confirms that they are personally embarassing and he just wants to forget about this city and focus on whats next in his life. Theres no good way to say he doesnt like calgary and he badly misplayed his hand, so he wont say anything.

[djsFlames]

The change of core needed to happen last offseason but Sutter's magic has a way of throwing a wrench into that. I like that last season happened and we saw some success, but the bones of the team always needed a change.

In a way, Gaudreau leaving has ripped the bandaid off some inherent issues with the core that we can now address, even if it's painful short term.

In 5 years time? It could be possible that he did us a favor, depending on how management recovers from this.

Think of how much year to year hull-patching would be done if he was extended for 8?

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He will have no problem getting 4, probably more
Gudbranson got 4x4

He is waiting for the Avs

Yeah other than the Avalanches, nobody is going to get him under 4 years or 7-8M

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Matata

Im honeslty glad johnny left, i think he only has 1-2 elite seasons left (at most) left in him and his contract was mostly going to end up a boat anchor. It wouldve been iginla all over again, convincing fans to cheer for the ghost of team instead of just moving on.

I think johnny being so tight lipped about the particulars just confirms that they are personally embarassing and he just wants to forget about this city and focus on whats next in his life. Theres no good way to say he doesnt like calgary and he badly misplayed his hand, so he wont say anything.

It’s probably a bad deal if we signed him but the problem was we lost our best player for nothing.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

He’s being tight lipped likely because he knows people are looking for dirt / details that probably don’t exist.

There’s likely no smoking gun that paints the Flames or the city in a bad light. The org is a class organization, and I don’t doubt he liked the city, probably more than he thought he would.

It’s simply, he wanted to play out east (close to home as possible), he wanted to be in the States. I’m also guessing recent events (his wife and expecting a child) moved that from a preference that maybe could have been overcome by money, legacy, or a better chance win to something that became the only priority.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I dont think so. A trade with Philly last year would have been perfectly fine. That's business and we know he wants to be home and Calgary would get assets. I'd still be a Johnny fan. Like if Tkachuk were to be traded today.

Today, he's dead to me.

I was more talking about if he decided 1 week or 2 weeks or 4 weeks earlier.

But it's totally ridiculous IMO to expect him to have decided a year ago. PHI didn't want him this year for nothing but money...why do you think they would have given up assets a year ago? If that trade wouldn't work...where does that leave him for the rest of the year?

But ya, if he decided to completely give up all of his bargaining power so the Flames could get a paltry return, I'm sure everyone would be singing his praises. And Brad's, because it would have been lots of fun watching him score ~115pts in another jersey.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

It’s probably a bad deal if we signed him but the problem was we lost our best player for nothing.

No, we lost him for a great regular season and a chance at a playoff run. Would you rather have a late 1st and prospect?

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

No, we lost him for a great regular season and a chance at a playoff run. Would you rather have a late 1st and prospect?

Yes, absolutely, without question.

[djsFlames]

He must feel a bit burnt by Philly that their desire to have him there wasn't enough to do the necessary money shifting to make that happen.

Guess they just weren't crazy about the player. Who'd have thought?

You have to imagine between that and the conclusion with Calgary, Gaudreau has to nurse his ego for a bit and digest what's happened.

That he couldn't even say Calgary referring to here a couple of times says a lot.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

No, we lost him for a great regular season and a chance at a playoff run. Would you rather have a late 1st and prospect?

No, when Johnny entered the year without the contact, we already lost him. I agreed we couldn’t trade him at the TDL while being a contender

Anyway, the point is it hurts to lose your best player during his prime no matter what. That’s why people are mad today

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

No, we lost him for a great regular season and a chance at a playoff run. Would you rather have a late 1st and prospect?

Isn’t so interesting. So many always so upset about the lack of success this team has, but also aren’t willing to accept the risk a team needs to take to have that success. When you are trying to win, the odds are things won’t work out, but they’ll never work out if you don’t take the risks in the first place.

Tre new the risk of what just happened and the cap complications that would of occurred if Johnny stayed. Last season was a season to take risks. We can’t hindsight question then now that they didn’t work out.

[dino7c]

Someone told him you look like an idiot please go on TV and say nice things about Calgary...they should have told him sooner.

I still don't get how he was shocked by questions about Calgary, it boggles the mind really.