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

[Hack&Lube]

I keep clicking on this thread and expecting some videos or news about actual hockey in Columbus but it's the same old debate about him leaving and bitter break-up feelings.

I for one still like him as a player and I look forward to seeing if he can sustain the same level of performance in Columbus and what their fans think of him.

[Hack&Lube]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1574214164985225216?s=20&t=O980oHx7GY1vpj09tDIJXA

Johnny Gaudreau said the cannon got him twice tonight — after the first goal and then the postgame blast as the team was celebrating the win. He didn’t know that one was coming.

James Neal scored.

[JohnnyB]

Three-point night for Johnny in his first game with them.

[dissentowner]

Glad I could gather all the trolls in one place.

[jayswin]

Not to "both sides, many sides" the discussion, but I do think people are taking it too seriously on both sides.

I see staunch defence of being polite and understanding and I see weird, at times obsessive and misogynist anger towards the player. For me it comes down to the fact that sports are entertainment and heroes and heels makes it more entertaining.

I've hated players for their last names or the way they look before. I don't lend any rational thought or reason to watching sports, because the very idea of watching and cheering on athletes is kind of absurd, but it's fun as an escape.

I'll boo Gaudreau not because I don't understand the position he was in or the decision he made, but because he's a millionaire athlete playing a game that I watch for fun and through his responses after the signing, made a heel turn. It's awesome and hilarious and I think others should put less thought into it and just do whatever makes you laugh while watching people younger than us live out their dreams for a fortune.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

You are dead wrong on all of this. I am not going to divulge the conversations between the Gaudreaus, but I will say I have enough knowledge of the situation to know this is not what happened. If it was entirely up to her, he would have retired a Flame.

And I have enough knowledge to know you are 100% full of something brown and smelly. You know nothing John Snow.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

And I have enough knowledge to know you are 100% full of something brown and smelly. You know nothing John Snow.

Nope, Squiggs is actually connected on a huge level to a few teams. It's also what I had heard back around that time as well, basically the opposite of what a lot of Flames fans assumed.

His wife loved it here and wanted to stay in Calgary to do their own thing, Johnny had settled on Philly/New Jersey getting back to his friends. They settled on Columbus as a bit of a comprise (the market obviously played a role as well) to be closer to Johnny's friend and family circle but not too close. A place to start their own little life.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Nope, Squiggs is actually connected on a huge level to a few teams. It's also what I had heard back around that time as well, basically the opposite of what a lot fo Flames fans assumed.

His wife loved it here and wanted Calgary to do their own thing, Johnny had settled on Philly/New Jersey getting back to his friends. They settled on Columbus as a bit of a comprise (the market obviously played a role as well) to be closer to Johnny's friend circle but not too close. A place to start their own little life.

Prove it, show me squiggs has any sources. Where did you here this from? What I heard came from someone about as close to the situation as can be without naming names.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Prove it, show me squiggs has any sources. Where did you here this from? What I heard came from someone about as close to the situation as can be without naming names.

I appreciate the "as close to the situation as you can be without naming names" but..... "You guys name your sources!!!". I know his sources and he's actually impressively connected, but no I'm not naming them on a public forum for the same reason you're not naming yours publicly, lol.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I appreciate the "as close to the situation without naming names" but "You guys name your sources!!!".

Fine, don't name your sources, I sure as hell am not naming anyone on a hockey message board. So you are saying despite saying he wanted to be here, despite almost doing a deal on the last day with the Flames, he was planning to go back to the Philly area all along to he close to family. Except that didn't happen. NJ made an offer, rumoured better than CBJ, much closer to home, that didn't happen either. Seems to be a lot of holes there don't you think? I am extremely confident I have it right, it doesn't matter anyhow, guy is gone.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Fine, don't name your sources, I sure as hell am not naming anyone on a hockey message board. So you are saying despite saying he wanted to be here, despite almost doing a deal on the last day with the Flames, he was planning to go back to the Philly area all along to he close to family. Except that didn't happen. NJ made an offer, rumoured better than CBJ, much closer to home, that didn't happen either. Seems to be a lot of holes there don't you think? I am extremely confident I have it right, it doesn't matter anyhow, guy is gone.

No, you're overthinking it as it was a fluid situation where things changed based on life circumstances and likely a lot of family discussion, combined with what was available and being offered by teams around free agency. Those aren't holes, they're a husband and wife making a major life decision on a clock with an agent and NHL teams involved with offers.

- Wife doesn't want to be too close to his partying friends, wants to start their own little life together, liked her time in Calgary alone with Johnny, probably made lots of friends here.

- Johnny's leaning towards getting back to all his friends and family in the Philly area, but open to staying in Calgary, but assumes him and his wife will have a pick of where to go among 3-5 eastern markets.

- Market is soft, offers aren't flying in at $10mil+ AAV as anticipated.

- They get an offer from Jersey for a little more, but as a family they decide on Columbus to be in their own little space together but still close enough to travel "home" for Johnny during breaks.

[jayswin]

Also, I'm not really worried about whether you believe it or not, I'm pushing no narrative, I don't care. I'm happy with the team right now and I'm so glad the offseason went exactly as it did.

And with all due respect and no desire to start an argument you seem to push knowing things a lot on here and yet the last thing you "knew" was that Johnny was signing here for certain. Then when he left you turned kind of "jilted lover"-ish and started going after his wife as being the reason he must have changed his mind.

Just kind of funny after hearing more from the inside. And also weird to be shooting down other people's sources so vehemently while pushing your own as correct, again.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Also, I'm not really worried about whether you believe it or not, I'm pushing no narrative, I don't care. I'm happy with the team right now and I'm so glad the offseason went exactly as it did.

And with all due respect and no desire to start an argument you seem to push knowing things a lot on here and yet the last thing you "knew" was that Johnny was signing here for certain. Then when he left you turned kind of "jilted lover"-ish and started going after his wife as being the reason he must have changed his mind.

Just kind of funny after hearing more from the inside. And also weird to be shooting down other people's sources so vehemently while pushing your own as correct, again.

I don't care about others sources, in the grand scheme of things it means nothing. It isn't a jilted lover thing and who I have been talking to over the course of a few years was just as shocked as I was he didn't sign. I am also happy with the team as is now, I have said earlier I don't know why this thread keeps getting so much attention now. Time to move on.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I don't care about others sources, in the grand scheme of things it means nothing. It isn't a jilted lover thing and who I have been talking to over the course of a few years was just as shocked as I was he didn't sign. I am also happy with the team as is now, I have said earlier I don't know why this thread keeps getting so much attention now. Time to move on.

Okay, I mean you just asked me to name them a couple posts up, which suggests you don't believe them and do care about them, but I guess I'll take your comment at face value.

The thread will get attention because he's one of the biggest stars this franchise has ever had and he decided to move on after a tense final day as Flames property. It's huge news and personally I watch sports for entertainment and love huge news and discussion. It's fun when there's emotional opinions surrounding an event like this.

I question sometimes why many get so annoyed at threads and discussion they don't like or want to hear, but also participate in the thread with their own opinions. Like "I get to say my piece, but why is everyone else still talking!??!!".

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Three-point night for Johnny in his first game with them.

Impressive until you see the Pens roster last night

I don't doubt he will get his points but I really hope we don't need to bump this everytime he gets a point like the Bennett thread

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What I heard came from someone about as close to the situation as can be without naming names.

No one believes you.

[GS Skier]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Impressive until you see the Pens roster last night

I don't doubt he will get his points but I really hope we don't need to bump this everytime he gets a point like the Bennett thread

Columbus iced pretty much their best. The Pens iced an AHL team with none of their big names.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by GS Skier

Columbus iced pretty much their best. The Pens iced an AHL team with none of their big names.

So now we have to create more posts when Johnny scored against real NHL players

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I don't doubt he will get his points but I really hope we don't need to bump this everytime he gets a point like the Bennett thread

It's super easy to stay out of those threads if you want.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am extremely confident I have it right, it doesn't matter anyhow, guy is gone.

Are you as confident as you were when you guaranteed for over a year that Johnny was coming back?