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

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Within like an hour of the news breaking that Gaudreau was going to free agency he sent out this tweet through Friedman.

"The Flames did everything they could. This came down to a family decision."

Which was weird at the time because I’ve never seen an agent do that, and it actually potentially hurt his own clients negotiating power.

He did indeed do that. That isn't the issue.

The issue is that, as an agent, he ended up bargaining in bad faith knowing full well that his client was undecided on location without making that crystal clear to the party with whom he was bargaining. (We know this because he and Brad continued to crunch numbers.) And John failed to man up and call Brad - at any time before or during negotiations, and only after they were down to the wire did he actually call and say "Uh...Meredith says no."

Gross, having completely botched this is now trying to get JG to paper it over with a smile saying "We're super happy here, after giving up $16M to play in Columbus, where I'll be the non-leader, never win a Cup...but I'll be rich, rich, rich!! Just like the (of course) American dream. And yah, I missed the opportunity to be in either PHI or NJ."

The whole thing stinks of bad faith and a complete lack of professionalism. I expected more from John and I'm pretty sure Mom and Pops G aren't super thrilled with the way things fell. Johnny knew a LONG time ago that he didn't want to play in a market where he was "The Guy".

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Also I wonder if that presser that Tre did abruptly was a calculated move to almost sink Johnny's allure to other teams.

Brad looked like a broken man in that presser.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It’s not that simple and they were already in 10th place last year.

Nineteen points back of 8th. They could improve a long way and still finish 10th.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The Flames were never going to get assets for his rights even if he told them he was leaving right after the playoffs.

Flames need to be better. We do seem to hang on to some players too long and then choose not to cash in because we need them on the ice for another run. Good teams know when to trade before the past due date and gain some assets with potential.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Also I wonder if that presser that Tre did abruptly was a calculated move to almost sink Johnny's allure to other teams.

It seemed to me at the time that it was at least likely in part to make sure Gross didn't have the opportunity to use the Flames offer to drive up competing bids against it.

[NOISIA]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Flames need to be better. We do seem to hang on to some players too long and then choose not to cash in because we need them on the ice for another run. Good teams know when to trade before the past due date and gain some assets with potential.

Examples of teams leading their division and trading top players at the deadline?

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

It seemed to me at the time that it was at least likely in part to make sure Gross didn't have the opportunity to use the Flames offer to drive up competing bids against it.

If that's the case, good job Brad!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Jesus Christ people. This isn’t rocket surgery. Decisions in a marriage aren’t binary. It isn’t her choice or his choice. It’s their choice.

If one of them were dead set against the decision, then they probably wouldn’t be married in the first place.

Also, what the #### kind of marriage do some of you guys think they have where this wasn’t discussed in advance? You think she just found out he’s a UFA last week? They’ve been married for like a year. I think she knew his contract status the whole time. I’m guessing they had probably discussed options before Tuesday.

[sss1]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

Well it seems to be true, doesn't it? And thinking back to that article where the agent's rank the Flames as a team to avoid...it kind of aligns.

Between axing the arena deal and this sort of meddling #### that I keep hearing about, there's little to be hopeful for.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

He did indeed do that. That isn't the issue.

The issue is that, as an agent, he ended up bargaining in bad faith knowing full well that his client was undecided on location without making that crystal clear to the party with whom he was bargaining. (We know this because he and Brad continued to crunch numbers.) And John failed to man up and call Brad - at any time before or during negotiations, and only after they were down to the wire did he actually call and say "Uh...Meredith says no."

Gross, having completely botched this is now trying to get JG to paper it over with a smile saying "We're super happy here, after giving up $16M to play in Columbus, where I'll be the non-leader, never win a Cup...but I'll be rich, rich, rich!! Just like the (of course) American dream. And yah, I missed the opportunity to be in either PHI or NJ."

The whole thing stinks of bad faith and a complete lack of professionalism. I expected more from John and I'm pretty sure Mom and Pops G aren't super thrilled with the way things fell. Johnny knew a LONG time ago that he didn't want to play in a market where he was "The Guy".

I don’t think Gross thought this was going to go this way either to be honest.

I think he thought Gaudreau was going to sign the contract if the Flames met the price. I don’t think he makes the counter offer to the Flames unless he believes that.

Also it was clear that Gaudreau was undecided throughout this process, that was out in the media the entire time so I’m sure the Flames knew too.

The problem is if Gross and the Flames thought they had a deal on Tuesday if the Flames hit a certain price, and then Gaudreau went back on his word.

I’m not sure how Gross is supposed to anticipate that. If what that one poster had is the true situation then that’s on Gaudreau and not Gross.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

A good man would support his wife and if you don't care about that, I feel sorry for your wife.

Originally Posted by NOISIA

It goes both ways. But you’re the yes-man.

Okay...lets dial it back a little.

A good man does support his wife. Absolutely. But its a partnership.

Look, I think for the most part we're all regular people here. We're not making Multi-Million dollar decisions that could effect our families for generations.

Whats that saying?

"A Professional Sports job isnt a career, its an opportunity. Maximize it."

It is a very limited, short-term opportunity that is very lucrative.

We can 'not feel bad' for guys making this kind of money for playing a game, but there are sacrifices that they have to make too.

Frankly, I'd be inclined to make the sacrifices that squeeze every ounce out of it.

Gaudreau is going to be able to retire at 35 with a 6 or 7 year-old kid at that point and ~$100M in career earnings. The world is his Oyster at that point.

If you didnt get everything you ever wanted along the way? That seems like a small price to pay.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by sss1

Well it seems to be true, doesn't it?

It seems so to you, evidently. As long as you fixate on the players who leave town and never notice those who come here voluntarily, it will continue to seem that way.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Flames need to be better. We do seem to hang on to some players too long and then choose not to cash in because we need them on the ice for another run. Good teams know when to trade before the past due date and gain some assets with potential.

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Jesus Christ people. This isn’t rocket surgery. Decisions in a marriage aren’t binary. It isn’t her choice or his choice. It’s their choice.

If one of them were dead set against the decision, then they probably wouldn’t be married in the first place.

Also, what the #### kind of marriage do some of you guys think they have where this wasn’t discussed in advance? You think she just found out he’s a UFA last week? They’ve been married for like a year. I think she knew his contract status the whole time. I’m guessing they had probably discussed options before Tuesday.

There's the possiblity that she might have changed her mind at the last minute. I'm not saying that's what happened, but I also don't think it can be completely disregarded as a possibility.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

A good man would support his wife and if you don't care about that, I feel sorry for your wife.

If you have to bend over backwards and do what she says, as the original post you quoted stated, then that's not a good woman. If you want to stay, and she makes the decision no you're not, then that's not a good woman. I have no idea what Gaudreaus wife is like, but you responded like that was normal and okay. But I realize a lot of men are in relationships like that. And yes I feel sorry for you if you think that is normal or okay.

Being a doormat isn't supporting its simping.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Jesus Christ people. This isn’t rocket surgery. Decisions in a marriage aren’t binary. It isn’t her choice or his choice. It’s their choice.

If one of them were dead set against the decision, then they probably wouldn’t be married in the first place.

Also, what the #### kind of marriage do some of you guys think they have where this wasn’t discussed in advance? You think she just found out he’s a UFA last week? They’ve been married for like a year. I think she knew his contract status the whole time. I’m guessing they had probably discussed options before Tuesday.

You can guess away man, but look at the outcome. You're going to tell me that you genuinely think that there werent some personal considerations that threw a wrench in the works?

It may not have been his wife, hell...I hope it wasnt. But there is too much smoke for there not to be any fire.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

A good man would support his wife and if you don't care about that, I feel sorry for your wife.

It’s kind of amazing how many people have such backwards views of long term partnerships.

More excusable from the chronically single crowd because how would they ever know, but I’m with you in just feeling bad for the partners of some of those who aren’t.

I think in any healthy long term relationship, “moving to another city long term” is a decision that’s pretty equal. Of course Johnny’s wife had a huge say in the final decision. I would hope everyone would be in a relationship where the other person has a huge say in major life decisions that are going to impact them just as much.

And that doesn’t mean there’s any blame for his wife. The decision was up to the two of them, but it was 100% Johnny’s responsibility to communicate properly with the Flames and his agent. He didn’t, that’s on him. Even if they needed up until the last minute to decide, you don’t get silly letting your agent make ultimatums.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Flames need to be better. We do seem to hang on to some players too long and then choose not to cash in because we need them on the ice for another run. Good teams know when to trade before the past due date and gain some assets with potential.

Good teams find ways to keep their best players without overpaying, and then add more good players to the core to build a winning roster.

Then they move out secondary players that weren’t actually core pieces that are overvalued because they played with the true good players to recoup assets.

[Otto-matic]

Im just surprised Johnny hasn't said a peep about the Flames yet. Like make a small scratch pad post on your iphone and screen shot it to Twitter.

[fulham]

This level of talk and rumour mongering about a players wife is low rent.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Hackey

If you have to bend over backwards and do what she says, as the original post you quoted stated, then that's not a good woman. If you want to stay, and she makes the decision no you're not, then that's not a good woman. I have no idea what Gaudreaus wife is like, but you responded like that was normal and okay. But I realize a lot of men are in relationships like that. And yes I feel sorry for you if you think that is normal or okay.

Being a doormat isn't supporting its simping.

You have your view what marriage is supposed to be like, and I have mind. Let's just stop here. I don't want to drag this thread into silly bickering.