Thoughts: A second stint for Gaudreau in Calgary?

[FanIn80]

So Tree lowballed Gaudreau instead of locking him up, and screwed around with bridging Tkachuck instead of getting rid of Frolik and locking him up.

The whole time, I'm like... we have the best GM ever. Buuuut nope.


Just get rid of Huberdeau and bring this guy back so we can get on with playing some hockey that's worth watching again.

[Roof-Daddy]

I always love when fans bitch in hindsight about a GM not locking a young core player up long term. That is double edged sword.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I always love when fans bitch in hindsight about a GM not locking a young core player up long term. That is double edged sword.

Its pretty simple and I am not sure why most gm's don't do it.

Just select a player you want click x on them and keep pumping up the numbers and they will just sign. Easy.

But lets bring back Johnny and let the good times roll.

He always had us in the top half of the draft, I would rather pick in the top 14 than outside.

[FanIn80]

Man, you guys.

You're right. You're absolutely right. Why would you want to lock up your young superstars? That's just silly, when you can let them walk for nothing. Another option instead of locking them up, is to wait for them to want to leave and then trade them for players that are good elsewhere, and then lock those players up before you know if they're also good here. All wayyyy better options than just simply committing to the young superstars you're fortunate enough to draft.

Also, it's been mentioned countless times already that Johnny is cheaper and his contract is over two full seasons before Huberdeau's is. He's also more entertaining to watch and has prior-established chemistry with some of our players. Flipping Huberdeau for Gaudreau is like flipping a 10.5M-with-7-years-left pylon for a 9.75M-with-5-years-left guy who at least plays hockey.

(not to mention Johnny's obviously unhappy playing for CBJ, and that has a pretty bing impact on performance)

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Man, you guys.

You're right. You're absolutely right. Why would you want to lock up your young superstars? That's just silly, when you can let them walk for nothing. Another option instead of locking them up, is to wait for them to want to leave and then trade them for players that are good elsewhere, and then lock those players up before you know if they're also good here. All wayyyy better options than just simply committing to the young superstars you're fortunate enough to draft.

Also, it's been mentioned countless times already that Johnny is cheaper and his contract is over two full seasons before Huberdeau's is. He's also more entertaining to watch and has prior-established chemistry with some of our players. Flipping Huberdeau for Gaudreau is like flipping a 10.5M-with-7-years-left pylon for a 9.75M-with-5-years-left guy who at least plays hockey.

(not to mention Johnny's obviously unhappy playing for CBJ, and that has a pretty bing impact on performance)

Gaudreau was not a "superstar" at the time of the discussions (2021 offseason). He was a good winger who had scored at a 70 point rate for two seasons in a row. And you probably couldn't have locked up both Tkachuk and Gaudreau long term at the time, even if you turfed Frolik. Not at the amounts they wanted. So Treliving made an offer to Gaudreau that was supposedly "embarrassing" (I suspect between $7.5-8) and signed Tkachuk to a guaranteed 4 year term (3 years at the highest pay of any Flame plus a pricey 4th year with a $9M QO and the resulting arbitration).

So the timing would have been - sign Tkachuk for 6 years at, say, $9M in 2019 (and trade Frolik's last season to dump salary - you'd maybe net 3M after replacing him with a lower salary guy). You still couldn't afford Gaudreau's $8.5-9M ask. But if you do, and he turns out another 70 poin t season, you are kinda screwed.

[Vinny01]

I heard Pat talking about Treliving’s tenure with the Flames on his podcast and mentioned that it was so close to a deal coming together in September 2021 before talks broke off. Huge fumble to not close that deal and decide to try again when Johnny was weeks away from testing the market.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I heard Pat talking about Treliving’s tenure with the Flames on his podcast and mentioned that it was so close to a deal coming together in September 2021 before talks broke off. Huge fumble to not close that deal and decide to try again when Johnny was weeks away from testing the market.

Yep, and that was the time to make an actual decision.

Get the deal signed, or make a trade. Full stop. No excuses. Make a hard decision.

He didn't make a hard decision, and let things play out. Gigantic mistake.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Gaudreau was not a "superstar" at the time of the discussions (2021 offseason). He was a good winger who had scored at a 70 point rate for two seasons in a row. And you probably couldn't have locked up both Tkachuk and Gaudreau long term at the time, even if you turfed Frolik. Not at the amounts they wanted. So Treliving made an offer to Gaudreau that was supposedly "embarrassing" (I suspect between $7.5-8) and signed Tkachuk to a guaranteed 4 year term (3 years at the highest pay of any Flame plus a pricey 4th year with a $9M QO and the resulting arbitration).

So the timing would have been - sign Tkachuk for 6 years at, say, $9M in 2019 (and trade Frolik's last season to dump salary - you'd maybe net 3M after replacing him with a lower salary guy). You still couldn't afford Gaudreau's $8.5-9M ask. But if you do, and he turns out another 70 poin t season, you are kinda screwed.

We couldn't have done anything about Gaudreau's contract anyways(don't mean you) as you can only sign that extension in 2021.

Imagine the uproar Tkachuk put up the following 2 seasons if we had locked him up to a 6 years 9.5-10 million deal lol.

People felt unsure about that 9 million option after his deal ran out. People are living off 1 year and think we should have based 2019 and 2016 based of what they did in 21/22.

Also you are spot on Johnny was not a superstar, he was a good winger when consistent was in the upper echelon but he was not a consistent player thus the "embarrassing" offer.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Yep, and that was the time to make an actual decision.

Get the deal signed, or make a trade. Full stop. No excuses. Make a hard decision.

He didn't make a hard decision, and let things play out. Gigantic mistake.

So you would have been okay with a waiver wire defenceman, a prospect and probably a 2nd round pick for Johnny?

He wasn't worth much in the trade market, and again it was hard to make trades during the covid seasons.

[Jason14h]

It’s almost like the GM gets paid millions to make these hard decisions and it’s their …. Job?

Of course strategical decisions get judged in hindsight . That’s called RESULTS and it’s what (almost) everyone on this planet is judged on

I don’t care what fans would have thought in any scenario . That’s why you pay an expert to make these decisions

BTs tenure in Calgary was an utter failure

[Tkachukwagon]

Johnny just cooking today against Detroit. Zero goals, zero assist, minus 1 with 18:30 ice time. Sitting on a scorching 6 pts in 13 games.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

Johnny just cooking today against Detroit. Zero goals, zero assist, minus 1 with 18:30 ice time. Sitting on a scorching 6 pts in 13 games.

It makes the Huberdeau swap somewhat realistic with how bad Johnny has been

[getbak]

It has to happen right now to make sense.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

Johnny just cooking today against Detroit. Zero goals, zero assist, minus 1 with 18:30 ice time. Sitting on a scorching 6 pts in 13 games.

If Gaudreau were on a 120pt pace there wouldn't be a thread. They are both beyond terrible right now.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

If Gaudreau were on a 120pt pace there wouldn't be a thread. They are both beyond terrible right now.

uh, there would be a big thread lol

different topic to be fair

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by dino7c

uh, there would be a big thread lol

different topic to be fair

Fair enough lol

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by getbak

It has to happen right now to make sense.

Guess it doesn't make sense anymore.

[Naitix]

I honestly think this swap is becoming more realistic every day. According to jackets fans Johnny has been really brutal, might even be playing worse than Huby. I would do it.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I really think Johnny’s mostly focused on being a family man now and hockey is secondary. Which I can respect. Nothing wrong with prioritizing family first. But it definitely sucks for the Jackets who are desperately trying to turn things around

[flamingred89]

Huberdeau + Zadorov for Gaudreau + Gudbrandson. Money is the same. #### it. Would be a heck of a story.