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

[MRCboicgy]

July 26, folks. Got a lot of time until training camp...

[Roger]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I had a job offer to work out of north Carolina for more money, lower taxes and way lower cost of living. During the interview process I told the potential employer I had a few obligations I needed to fulfill here first before taking the position.

I had 2 more interviews (including a short trip to Durham and the office). When the potential employer wanted me to leave prior to finishing my work here, I declined the offer. So, yes, I do expect other professionals to act professional.

Well that's nice that your life is so easily decided well in advance. I mean, JG played here for 8 years, but grew up on the other side of the continent for 20+. Maybe he felt obligation to stay, but also felt like going home. Maybe it was a tougher decision than some forklift operator job in Durham. Maybe he's one of the biggest stars in a professional sports league, staring down the biggest and longest contract of his life. But I'm sure it's the same thing, and JG should have been just like you. And judging by how puckluck's ban went from lifetime to sin bin, he'll be here to help you tell me why I'm wrong soon enough.

[PepsiFree]

I think a key learning from this is that it's important to relate being a professional hockey player making millions of dollars per year to situations in our own lives, especially in ways that show we're better than them.

I mean gosh darn it, some of us might be poorer than they are, or older, or less accomplished, or uglier, or even less educated, or heck, all of the above! But we're more professional than they are. We handle our business, like professional men do. And, at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

At least... I... well... maybe not all that matters, but it probably counts for something! Yeah. Being more professional: when nothing else is going your way, at least it counts for something.

[Sofa GM]

It is what it is, Johnny is gone time to get over it. We can all have different opinions on how he should have handled it, and the truth is each of us would have handled it differently (better and worse in some opinions) than he did. It’s hard to sometimes remember it’s business. Do you go and tell your boss 2 months ahead of time that you are probably going to look for and take another job? Maybe in some cases, but for the majority no. We get blinded by the millions of dollars in the exchange but really it is just a different scale.

I am unhappy that Johnny left, but to be honest I don’t think an 8 x $10.5MM with him was going to age well. But of course that is just my opinion.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Somebody page Squiggy and the Dink. They'll figure out the poster he previously was.

puckluck

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think a key learning from this is that it's important to relate being a professional hockey player making millions of dollars per year to situations in our own lives, especially in ways that show we're better than them.

I mean gosh darn it, some of us might be poorer than they are, or older, or less accomplished, or uglier, or even less educated, or heck, all of the above! But we're more professional than they are. We handle our business, like professional men do. And, at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

At least... I... well... maybe not all that matters, but it probably counts for something! Yeah. Being more professional: when nothing else is going your way, at least it counts for something.

Look, I know you're making a joke, but professionalism does matter. People remember how you handle things, and opportunities are extended to those who handle things professionally far more often than those who do not.

The Flames organization often looks for "character" in their players. Professionalisms is a key aspect of that character. It's in short supply these days.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Look, I know you're making a joke, but professionalism does matter. People remember how you handle things, and opportunities are extended to those who handle things professionally far more often than those who do not.

The Flames organization often looks for "character" in their players. Professionalisms is a key aspect of that character. It's in short supply these days.

Ok, but why was it professional of the Flames to give their best offer a few days before FA? If they wanted an answer in advance, why didn't they present 10.5x8 a few weeks earlier? Why is this solely on JG?

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think a key learning from this is that it's important to relate being a professional hockey player making millions of dollars per year to situations in our own lives, especially in ways that show we're better than them.

I mean gosh darn it, some of us might be poorer than they are, or older, or less accomplished, or uglier, or even less educated, or heck, all of the above! But we're more professional than they are. We handle our business, like professional men do. And, at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

At least... I... well... maybe not all that matters, but it probably counts for something! Yeah. Being more professional: when nothing else is going your way, at least it counts for something.

I never would have pictured you as the poster child for capitalism. Bold choice you mustard tiger! But really trying to draw comparisons between similar situations should not be allowed on this board. Well, good news, a well glazed cheeseburger walrus like you will probably never face the difficulty of a difficult decision like that. Hows your OF gut pics doing these days?

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think a key learning from this is that it's important to relate being a professional hockey player making millions of dollars per year to situations in our own lives, especially in ways that show we're better than them.

I mean gosh darn it, some of us might be poorer than they are, or older, or less accomplished, or uglier, or even less educated, or heck, all of the above! But we're more professional than they are. We handle our business, like professional men do. And, at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

At least... I... well... maybe not all that matters, but it probably counts for something! Yeah. Being more professional: when nothing else is going your way, at least it counts for something.

Yeah. Being professional is super duper overrated. People are much better off spending their time taking a condescending, passive-aggressive tone toward fellow posters on an internet board. It's what awesome people do.

[butterfly]

Some people would cheer for the Canucks or Oilers against CLS for a Cup over this. And still claim to be Flame fans.

[PuckDemon]

Maybe Johnny was unprofessional, but it can't have been that bad. I mean, the Flames did circle back and offer him a 7-year deal on UFA day didn't they?

[Roger]

I guess nobody has a good answer for me about why it's ok for the Flames to wait until a few days before FA to present final best offer, but JG is supposed to have gone back in time and pre-determined whether he'd take it?

If the Flames wanted an answer, they should have presented before their internal deadline. They did not. It's not JG's fault that he had a few days to think it over. But you do you. Go ahead and hate the guy that could have left years ago because our management plays the game the same way agents and players play it. Nobody is wrong here, except the whining fans that think that JG did us dirty.

[Mephisto]

Originally Posted by PuckDemon

Maybe Johnny was unprofessional, but it can't have been that bad. I mean, the Flames did circle back and offer him a 7-year deal on UFA day didn't they?

Did they do this? I thought Edwards got pissed off the night before and ended it when Johnny's camp wanted to continue to use Flames as leverage next day.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Roger

I guess nobody has a good answer for me about why it's ok for the Flames to wait until a few days before FA to present final best offer, but JG is supposed to have gone back in time and pre-determined whether he'd take it?

If the Flames wanted an answer, they should have presented before their internal deadline. They did not. It's not JG's fault that he had a few days to think it over. But you do you. Go ahead and hate the guy that could have left years ago because our management plays the game the same way agents and players play it. Nobody is wrong here, except the whining fans that think that JG did us dirty.

I get your point, but at the end of the day money was not the reason why he left. 10x8 would have got him signed if the Gaudreaus really wanted to stay instead of wanting to move to the eastern US.

[The Yen Man]

Always did like Columbus as a hockey team, I always cheered for them cuz they seemed to get the raw end of the deal all the time. This is a good reason now to add a Johnny Columbus jersey to my collection in the future.

[midniteowl]

Pardon me if I remember it incorrectly, but wasn't it the Flames started the negotiation by offering in the $9.x millions range and Gaudreau camp came back with $11 million. Then it's back and forth and the Gaudreau camp came back on the last day before UFA with a ultimatum $10.5M x 8? When the Flames said ok and they went radio silence? Then on the final hours they just told the Flames he is going UFA?

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Roger

I guess nobody has a good answer for me about why it's ok for the Flames to wait until a few days before FA to present final best offer, but JG is supposed to have gone back in time and pre-determined whether he'd take it?

If the Flames wanted an answer, they should have presented before their internal deadline. They did not. It's not JG's fault that he had a few days to think it over. But you do you. Go ahead and hate the guy that could have left years ago because our management plays the game the same way agents and players play it. Nobody is wrong here, except the whining fans that think that JG did us dirty.

That's what negotiation is all about, isn't it? Gaudreau gave the ultimatum, saying $10.5M or I'm walking. I think people calling him unprofessional, well as least that's my reason, he gave the ultimatum and then back out of it.

[Strange Brew]

Geez maybe time to let this go. Yeah I don’t think Gaudreau handled the final negotiations too well when the Flames met his ask. It was incredibly disappointing at the time.
But it was the Flames decision to play the brinksmanship game and not make their best offer until the last second and have their superstar on an expiring contract. Gaudreau’s indecisiveness at the last second changes nothing about where we are today.

Damn right character is important. But we know precious little about the character of these players so no sense pretending otherwise.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by Roger

Basically, it's not always about the money.

Originally Posted by Mathgod

I get your point, but at the end of the day money was not the reason why he left. 10x8 would have got him signed if the Gaudreaus really wanted to stay instead of wanting to move to the eastern US.

Yeah, I already said that. Really what I'm getting down to here is that he could have taken money, but he chose life. Perhaps if the Flames offered the big contract earlier, he may have bit. Instead, it played out into another grind, and that gave JG enough time to remember that being close(er) to home was a factor, thus nullifying the extra money. He's already worth tens of millions, with another 70 mil coming in. Who cares if it's 70 or 84 when he's an hour flight from Guy's next heart attack.

I think some fans really overthink the money.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

That's what negotiation is all about, isn't it? Gaudreau gave the ultimatum, saying $10.5M or I'm walking. I think people calling him unprofessional, well as least that's my reason, he gave the ultimatum and then back out of it.

I can see why you say that, but maybe it was just a little too late? He's already been around the block with Treliving. Maybe he thinks the Flames were unprofessional? Lots of ways to twist this.