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

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by dino7c

how about training camp with where Tkachuk, Lindholm, Coleman was a line and was the plan for game one until Coleman was suspended

I would say Pat Steinberg is pretty connected and he has said on multiple occasions that management was wanting to make Gaudreau more of a complementary player after the Canadian Div season.

At the time about 90% of this site would have agreed it wasn't really a radical though that Gaudreau wasn't the guy that was going to lead them to victory. Other media members have talked about hearing similar.

Also, maybe the biggest piece of evidence if they thought Gaudreau was the guy to build their team around they would have given him that 8 or 9M deal, they obviously had reservations.

That just sounds like what FLA did by shifting Huberdeau to a sheltered 2nd line

[Enoch Root]

Exactly - are the Flames making Huberdeau a secondary player?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

No disagreement that they weren't willing to pay his asking price a year ago, but IMO that does not equal a plan to make him a secondary piece. Wouldn't that involve getting new "primary players"? I don't think that was Blake Coleman.

It was more making Tkachuk/Lindholm the focus

You guys can disagree all you want, it's been reported by multiple media members close to the team though in those exact words. I believe they are correct...maybe you don't.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Exactly - are the Flames making Huberdeau a secondary player?

The plan certainly wasn't for Huberdeau to play on the third line...he was moved for a bit to get his game going but is back on line one hopefully to stay.

[midniteowl]

I hope the JET line can takes off. The DNA line regain their form like at the beginning of the season. And the Royal Bank line can chip in while shut other team down. And the 4th line play no more than 7 minutes a game.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I hope the JET line can takes off. The DNA line regain their form like at the beginning of the season. And the Royal Bank line can chip in while shut other team down. And the 4th line play no more than 7 minutes a game.

[tony-soprano]

Do we have an HSBC line now? As Royal Bank just bought them.

[Manhattanboy]

My understanding is JG's agent put out that self-serving tweet (to the effect that the Flames did everything they could) late in the day before free agency to save face with other GMs/agents.

The story goes that the Flames met Johnny's demands earlier in the day and wanted to put out a press release but then JG's agent went radio silent for hours. You could see how frazzled Treliving was that night thinking they had a deal to only be advised at the 11ith hour that JG was going to test free agency.

The story goes further that on the next day when the offers were not rolling in JG's agent went back to the Flames but Murray lost his temper and told him to screw off.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

My understanding is JG's agent put out that self-serving tweet (to the effect that the Flames did everything they could) late in the day before free agency to save face with other GMs/agents.

The story goes that the Flames met Johnny's demands earlier in the day and wanted to put out a press release but then JG's agent went radio silent for hours. You could see how frazzled Treliving was that night thinking they had a deal to only be advised at the 11ith hour that JG was going to test free agency.

The story goes further that on the next day when the offers were not rolling in JG's agent went back to the Flames but Murray lost his temper and told him to screw off.

Really, so it circles back to Murray effed up by losing his temper?

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

Really, so it circles back to Murray effed up by losing his temper?

Well maybe too dramatic but I had heard that Murray and management were not happy at all with how things went down. Did JG really want to come back to the Flames the next day? Who knows? And when? Before or after Columbus called? Were the Flames being strung along? Sounds like it.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

My understanding is JG's agent put out that self-serving tweet (to the effect that the Flames did everything they could) late in the day before free agency to save face with other GMs/agents.

The story goes that the Flames met Johnny's demands earlier in the day and wanted to put out a press release but then JG's agent went radio silent for hours. You could see how frazzled Treliving was that night thinking they had a deal to only be advised at the 11ith hour that JG was going to test free agency.

The story goes further that on the next day when the offers were not rolling in JG's agent went back to the Flames but Murray lost his temper and told him to screw off.

Wasn't it reported that the Flames in fact made an offer after free agency started? I don't think the bolded is true.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Well maybe too dramatic but I had heard that Murray and management were not happy at all with how things went down. Did JG really want to come back to the Flames the next day? Who knows? And when? Before or after Columbus called? Were the Flames being strung along? Sounds like it.

And here I thought we had an owner that didn't meddle in hockey decisions? Silly me.

[Ashasx]

I have it on good authority, pretty sure Steinberg said it too on 960, that the Flames made an offer for JG on day 1 of free agency, so the rumour of Murry Edwards telling him to screw off is not true.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by chedder

And here I thought we had an owner that didn't meddle in hockey decisions? Silly me.

10.5 by 8M contract would involve the owner on any team...doesn't mean the lost his temper thing is true...all evidence seems to be its not true

[the-rasta-masta]

From what I heard, Murray got upset the day prior to free agency, when Johnny told the Flames he was leaving despite having the ask met earlier in the day. That's when he blew up.

[Mr.Coffee]

I think somebody really needs to make a Murray’s Emotion chart with fluctuating anger over time to really get this nailed down.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by dino7c

10.5 by 8M contract would involve the owner on any team...doesn't mean the lost his temper thing is true...all evidence seems to be its not true

For sure on okaying the dollars and term. Not in directing the gm to not sign a player because he made him angry. Hopefully it's not true but not a good sign if it is.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

From what I heard, Murray got upset the day prior to free agency, when Johnny told the Flames he was leaving despite having the ask met earlier in the day. That's when he blew up.

Yup I'm 99% sure the angry phone call rumour emerged the night Johnny said no.

Steinberg contradicts the final day 'radio silence' story...he describes that day as a 'grind' to get to a final deal (which also contradicts the ultimatum readily accepted story).

I think it's most likely that it played out that way with a grind, but the Flames made a false assumption and/or were misled by Gross about the final process for the decision. Johnny couldn't make a yay/nay without actually knowing the deal in front of him - I suspect there were a couple of hours of radio silence at that point.

People can poo-poo that all they want, but it's a totally reasonable process for someone making a life changing decision. The Flames could have put their final offer on the table earlier if they wanted certainty earlier.

Players pay their agents to help them navigate these situations - I think it was as simple as a communication breakdown between Johnny/Gross and/or Gross/Tre

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Yup I'm 99% sure the angry phone call rumour emerged the night Johnny said no.

Steinberg contradicts the final day 'radio silence' story...he describes that day as a 'grind' to get to a final deal (which also contradicts the ultimatum readily accepted story).

I think it's most likely that it played out that way with a grind, but the Flames made a false assumption and/or were misled by Gross about the final process for the decision. Johnny couldn't make a yay/nay without actually knowing the deal in front of him - I suspect there were a couple of hours of radio silence at that point.

People can poo-poo that all they want, but it's a totally reasonable process for someone making a life changing decision. The Flames could have put their final offer on the table earlier if they wanted certainty earlier.

Players pay their agents to help them navigate these situations - I think it was as simple as a communication breakdown between Johnny/Gross and/or Gross/Tre

You focus on what you can control. The bolded is the part of this that the Flames were able to influence if they wanted to avoid the scenario that played out.

[Johnny Makarov]

has lewis gross picked up any new clients since free agency?

and has anyone left him?