To Calgary | By Johnny Gaudreau

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Some people are bought off by cheap words . This al rings hollow and just trying to save face.

Other people are riled up by an unsubstantiated rumour (which some innuendo supports and other reports contradict).

To each their own.


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[Cole436]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I believe someone else wrote it because it doesn't sound like him at all. There are phrases that you can't imagine coming out of him. The only time I ever saw anything written or said by him that was similar was... the last Players Tribune article he had.

I’m sure he had a ghost writer to help him with the feel of the piece, however I have no doubt the original copy was from him.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I really think the main source of negativity about the decision is the scenario where he says "here's what I'll take to re-sign", the team says "ok here you go, here's what you asked for" and he says "Oh wow I didn't think you'd actually... nah, you know what, I'm still out".

Pretty reasonable to respond to that series of events negatively. You can sign where you want but don't jerk the organization around.

Yup.

A normal person might make that mistake. But NHL players have professional representation for a reason. Shouldn't be rocket science to make a decision on where you want to play without creating a mess like he has.

[topfiverecords]

I think less of a share of Flames fans after this whole situation than I do of Johnny.

[Jason14h]

Thanks Covid and travel issues is how i read this

[Elkyiv]

I'm a bit confused. He wanted to sign last summer, during the height of the pandemic, but not this summer, when the travel restrictions were relaxed?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think this is likely a pretty genuine summary of why he made the decision
And I don’t fault him at all for what he decided
The only issue I have is if he indeed walked away from a deal after basically verbally agreeing to it

I’m okay with him walking away from a verbal agreement. Happens in the NFL as there’s a reason the contract isn’t final until the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed. I want him to do what’s best for himself and his family and if living in Calgary was going to be a problem for their family then backing out was the right decision. Clearly Johnny’s never going to make for a good poker but this isn’t a game. It’s his life and it’s best he pulled out at the last minute if it was going to be an issue that popped up during the contract. Clearly the Flames had no plan B as it was sign Gaudreau and Tkachuk or bust so his last minute decision had no bearing on where we are today with the Flames.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Azure

I don't.

I think he's completely full of #### and is trying to do damage control over a situation that him and his agent completely bungled.

Why? Because like you said, he agreed, then recanted.

UFAs have the right to do what they want, but within reason you can choose to make that decision without completely screwing over the team who drafted, developed and turned you into a super star who is making more money than 99.99% of the world's population.

Boo him when he comes back. But don't throw jersey's on the ice.

In the end I'm not sure he really screwed the Flames by waiting until the last day. Whether he told them on July 5th or on July 12th...not sure how much difference that week makes.

He couldn't legally sign anywhere until July 13th - that's not his fault. And it legitimately sounds like he was still thinking of signing here, so I don't think it was at all just for leverage (that he threw out the window on the 12th anyways by saying he left for family reasons).

If the Flames wanted to make plans for life without Gaudreau at the draft - then it's up to them to try to push Gaudreau for an answer sooner. Not like the Flames made a big push on July 6th to get him signed and increased their offer.

The Flames organization was playing the "wait until the last couple days" negotiation game just as much as Gaudreau's camp was.

I think as a fanbase we are all assuming that things would have been way different if Gaudreau said he's gone prior to the draft...but I don't think it would have been that much different.

Likely nothing still would have happened at the draft, Gaudreau still signs in the East on July 13th, and we are all still discussing Tkachuk trade rumors this week.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I’m okay with him walking away from a verbal agreement. Happens in the NFL as there’s a reason the contract isn’t final until the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed. I want him to do what’s best for himself and his family and if living in Calgary was going to be a problem for their family then backing out was the right decision. Clearly Johnny’s never going to make for a good poker but this isn’t a game. It’s his life and it’s best he pulled out at the last minute if it was going to be an issue that popped up during the contract. Clearly the Flames had no plan B as it was sign Gaudreau and Tkachuk or bust so his last minute decision had no bearing on where we are today with the Flames.

Yup.

Better to walk now than underperform on your new deal because you regret re-signing, end up needing to get traded, and the Flames just have to retain on the trade because the salary doesn't look good any more.

[RobotTalk]

Count me in the group that thinks he wrote this and that it was genuine - I've been in a similar position work and life wise (good career in the East but longing to return home and be closer to family) so I fully appreciate the desire to pick a location that's closer for his family to come visit. Leaving Calgary at the end of his contract was his right; the issue I have, and continue to have, is the way he delayed his decision, which in retrospect seems inevitable, such that it really screwed over the team going forward.

If he had come out pre-draft and said he wanted to test the market, fair play, then the Flames could have implemented contingency plans and tried to maximize their return for Tkachuk. Unfortunately, as it is now, with other GMs knowing the position Calgary is in vis a vis Tkachuk, I fear that the return we get for him will be underwhelming.

Instead of contending for 3-5 years if Gaudreau had stayed, we're going to be stuck in mediocrity over that time period with a team that's too good to tank but too weak to contend.

Good luck in life and bad luck on the rink Johnny, thanks for the memories but that chapter is now closed.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It actually sounds like the NJ might have been slightly higher or very close.

I think in the end his family preferred Columbus over NJ for whatever reason.

I remember reading that NJ, regardless of the amount, didn't include any form of no trade clause.

[TBone290]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Some people are bought off by cheap words . This al rings hollow and just trying to save face.

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Other people are riled up by an unsubstantiated rumour (which some innuendo supports and other reports contradict).

To each their own.


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Or they are riled by a combustible fuel of cynicism that burns deeps.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by chummer

"We wanted to re-sign last summer."

Ok Brad, why didn't that happen?

In a word? Ownership.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cole436

I’m sure he had a ghost writer to help him with the feel of the piece, however I have no doubt the original copy was from him.

I doubt even that. I think maybe he sat and talked with the writer. A Kirstie Maclellan deal.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I will be giving him my #13 jersey back when he returns to the dome.

He personally gave you a jersey???
Otherwise why would a grown adult care that another grown adult (that he has never met) doesn't like him anymore? Or liked him in the first place?
I think he'll get over your grand gesture.

[TBone290]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

I'm a bit confused. He wanted to sign last summer, during the height of the pandemic, but not this summer, when the travel restrictions were relaxed?

No kid on the way yet?

[Lonestar]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I really think the main source of negativity about the decision is the scenario where he says "here's what I'll take to re-sign", the team says "ok here you go, here's what you asked for" and he says "Oh wow I didn't think you'd actually... nah, you know what, I'm still out".

Pretty reasonable to respond to that series of events negatively. You can sign where you want but don't jerk the organization around.

Absolutely agreed. I think for a guy that seems fairly unassuming and quiet this was one of those giant life decisions that didn't have a perfect answer and like a lot of people would with 100 different voices in their ears, he waffled for too long and might've even panicked a bit. He said himself yesterday on Chiclets that he didn't enjoy any of the process and doesn't want to do free agency again.

[Makarov]

The article sounded sincere to me. I'm at peace with his decision now. I wish Johnny the best.

At this point, the Flames organization (and, I think, its fans) needs to focus on surviving the sh*t-storm that his decision has brought.

[Flamesfan05]

I understand. No problem with you Johnny. It’s Treliving that mishandled the deadlines and the risks. You gave it all and it’s your right.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I doubt even that. I think maybe he sat and talked with the writer. A Kirstie Maclellan deal.

Alright now this is just unsubstantiated garbage.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

I'm a bit confused. He wanted to sign last summer, during the height of the pandemic, but not this summer, when the travel restrictions were relaxed?

He said the other day restrictions weren't a big factor. Just travel in general.