To Calgary | By Johnny Gaudreau

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The 'wanted to go closer to home but not TOO close' is still ####ing stupid, and more so that it was a decision clearly made on a whim.

8 hour drive. The visits won't be much more frequent at all.

Why would a guy making 9 million year drive?

You want a weekend visit? 2 x 90 minute round trip flights

From Calgary - 7 hours each way plus customs

[Ducay]

I think his excuses and timeline are a bit suspect (wanting to re-sign and move at the same time), but thats already been highlighted and beat to death. But I would say people here are under-estimating the impact of having an international border to deal with in travel to Calgary. Its a PITA, and at best, its a mental block that honestly some people aren't willing to deal with.

He isn't casual driving distance still but he's still a heck of a lot closer than he was, with a heck of a lot more easy travel options between the two.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Why would a guy making 9 million year drive?

You want a weekend visit? 2 x 90 minute round trip flights

From Calgary - 7 hours each way plus customs

JG hates to fly. But even a short flight isn't a pop over, it requires a lot more planning and prep. I just think people had a different idea of his goals as far as being closer

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I think his excuses and timeline are a bit suspect (wanting to re-sign and move at the same time), but thats already been highlighted and beat to death. But I would say people here are under-estimating the impact of having an international border to deal with in travel to Calgary. Its a PITA, and at best, its a mental block that honestly some people aren't willing to deal with.

Anecdote: My family and extended family live in Windsor Ontario. For some time, I lived in Ann Arbor Michigan, the closest I've ever lived to them. Only a 45 minute drive!

Still much too far and too painful considering crossing the border, still only visited them sparingly. I regret that immensely but the border was an enormous mental barricade.

[SuperMatt18]

The part that I find funny in this whole thing is the discussion about loyalty…which is always a one way street in sports conversations (and generally in any corporate environment)

18 months ago some of the same fans critiquing Gaudreau for not being loyal were done with Gaudreau and wanted him traded so we didn’t lose the asset for nothing. Those same fans trash Monahan for being useless and want him moved even though he has been loyal to the team and played through injuries that should have shut him down.

Sports teams (or corporations) are never going to hesitate to move you or cut ties with you when it’s in their best interest. I don’t blame any players for following the same mentality.

Ask Andrew Ference how taking a team friendly contract worked for him when he was a Flame.

I actually wonder how much how Monahan was handled played into the decision of Gaudreau - he seemed agitated at times with how Monahan was being used and then made a comment when he was scratched I believe. If you feel like the org could turn their back on you if your production dips then you maybe don’t want to be loyal back.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

So, wait, this isn't the thing he said he was doing that was "for Calgary", right? Because... that's pathetic.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It makes sense if he thought he was leveraging to get more on Wednesday but it never materialized. Overplayed his hand or misread the room.

He only signed for 9.7 in Columbus because it was the highest left.

Because it's in the Metropolitan and he has a NTC.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

JG hates to fly. But even a short flight isn't a pop over, it requires a lot more planning and prep. I just think people had a different idea of his goals as far as being closer

It does? I just buy a ticket and then go. Either way he can afford to charter.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by memphusk

It does? I just buy a ticket and then go. Either way he can afford to charter.

He can. But it’s still more than I think people envisioned - “Oh, hi Johnny, your mom dropped by for a coffee today”. “Hey dad, we were invited to a charity thing, can you and mom watch the baby for an hour or so?”

Gaudreau’s family still has jobs and everything - you do indeed have to plan a little side trip.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The part that I find funny in this whole thing is the discussion about loyalty…which is always a one way street in sports conversations (and generally in any corporate environment)

18 months ago some of the same fans critiquing Gaudreau for not being loyal were done with Gaudreau and wanted him traded so we didn’t lose the asset for nothing. Those same fans trash Monahan for being useless and want him moved even though he has been loyal to the team and played through injuries that should have shut him down.

Sports teams (or corporations) are never going to hesitate to move you or cut ties with you when it’s in their best interest. I don’t blame any players for following the same mentality.

Ask Andrew Ference how taking a team friendly contract worked for him when he was a Flame.

I actually wonder how much how Monahan was handled played into the decision of Gaudreau - he seemed agitated at times with how Monahan was being used and then made a comment when he was scratched I believe. If you feel like the org could turn their back on you if your production dips then you maybe don’t want to be loyal back.

Except fans aren't critiquing Gaudreau for "not being loyal". That's a strawman and not really what this discussion has been about.

The bulk of the discussion has been about the way the situation was handled. Even if his intentions were pure, it doesn't change the fact that he kept the Flames believing that they were going to re-sign him, right up until the final few hours. That hamstrung the Flames' ability to pivot and better prepare themselves for a future without Gaudreau.

His reasoning about his decision doesn't make a whole lot of sense, even with what he said in this letter. He decided to forgo money, legacy, a team primed to make deep playoff runs, a great city, and the love of an adoring fan base, all to be closer to (but still a 2 hour plane ride/7 hour drive away from) family. If it truly was about being close to family, he would have given the Flyers an enormous discount, to the point where they couldn't have refused. So no, his reasoning doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

When you look at the 11th hour change of heart, and the destination he ultimately went to, it stinks to high heck of a decision that wasn't really made by him. So in the end it's hard to blame the guy if his hands were tied.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

18 months ago some of the same fans critiquing Gaudreau for not being loyal were done with Gaudreau and wanted him traded so we didn’t lose the asset for nothing. Those same fans trash Monahan for being useless and want him moved even though he has been loyal to the team and played through injuries that should have shut him down.

I wanted him traded rather than lose him for nothing, never called him "not loyal" though. Don't recall ever trashing Monahan.

[iamca]

Loyalty does not exist in professional sports.

Modern athletes are way more spoiled than just the salaries they earn and these 2 facts will continue to lead to a lot of grief for fans.

A new arena is needed for the franchise, but it won’t change situations like this one.

I’m not sure what the team is going to look like this fall if Calgary loses both of their top scorers from last season.

Sutter is tremendous head coach, however he is not known for giving young players a long look or multiple chances.

Like it or not, this franchise is at a crossroads now.

I am not trying to be overly optimistic, but Calgary should have more cap space than they’ve had in a decade or more.

As fans it’s not like we have any say or control of what happens next.

As an aside, I haven’t been back to Calgary since I spent 2 weeks there in Palliative Care with my Dad and then back for a week at Hospice all of which was before the pandemic. So many painful memories from the last year plus of his life have been brutal to deal with including how much we both loved and talked Flames hockey all the time.

Family and friends are the most important things in life and it goes by so fast.

Hockey is fun, can be very entertaining and a phenomenal distraction, but it’s not life.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[browna]

His note and comment reaffirms what I think happened. I believe him at his word that he was torn and really could have come back, he's not just trying to placate the fans.

Flyers were his only preferred destination and his agent told him Flyers were in it the past year, weeks, days and hours, until they signed Dangelo.
I think that was a bit of a surprise, both from what his agent had been telling him.

Flames were JGs first fall back option, but legit. His family could and had dealt with him being away and although "messy", he could have made that work again because he does like it here and the team and had a legacy which he could cement

So when the Flyers option went away and tried to revisit and sell the other side of the family back on the Flames, the ship had since sailed for Calgary for his wife and their family; her in the middle of a first pregnancy and that side of the family was pretty firm.

Again, IMO if they already had the child or had it next summer, IMO John would be a Flame for 8y, but she doesn't know how being a mother or support system would be here vs family be while in the middle of the process of being pregnant and that uncertainty forced his hand.

Had to make a tough choice, and he chose his wife's shorter terms needs and wishes over his. Still think he is in Philly by trade deadline 2025.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Except fans aren't critiquing Gaudreau for "not being loyal". That's a strawman and not really what this discussion has been about.

The bulk of the discussion has been about the way the situation was handled. Even if his intentions were pure, it doesn't change the fact that he kept the Flames believing that they were going to re-sign him, right up until the final few hours. That hamstrung the Flames' ability to pivot and better prepare themselves for a future without Gaudreau.

His reasoning about his decision doesn't make a whole lot of sense, even with what he said in this letter. He decided to forgo money, legacy, a team primed to make deep playoff runs, a great city, and the love of an adoring fan base, all to be closer to (but still a 2 hour plane ride/7 hour drive away from) family. If it truly was about being close to family, he would have given the Flyers an enormous discount, to the point where they couldn't have refused. So no, his reasoning doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

When you look at the 11th hour change of heart, and the destination he ultimately went to, it stinks to high heck of a decision that wasn't really made by him. So in the end it's hard to blame the guy if his hands were tied.

It's called compromise. 85% closer to home for 15% less money (after the final accounting it might actually be closer to 90% faster and 10% less).

I'm sure he was contented enough with CGY (or else there would have been no decision at all), but I suspect the only real reason for considering CGY so long was $$$. Which is fair enough, and also why I think he needed to know the final number before making a final decision.

[AC]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

So, wait, this isn't the thing he said he was doing that was "for Calgary", right? Because... that's pathetic.

He also donated this:


Stolen from r/calgaryflames

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

It's called compromise. 85% closer to home for 15% less money (after the final accounting it might actually be closer to 90% faster and 10% less).

Nah, sorry, not buying it. He's set for life either way, so taking another financial hit to be a Flyer and as close as possible to home, is what he would have done if this was truly about family.

If this was truly about comprimise, as you say, he would still be a Flame.

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I'm sure he was contented enough with CGY (or else there would have been no decision at all), but I suspect the only real reason for considering CGY so long was $$$. Which is fair enough, and also why I think he needed to know the final number before making a final decision.

Come on now. For a long time, he knew the ballpark of where the final number would be.

[djsFlames]

A couple hoola hoops?

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Why would a guy making 9 million year drive?

You want a weekend visit? 2 x 90 minute round trip flights

From Calgary - 7 hours each way plus customs

Every European NHLer ever breaks out into a rendition of Cry Me A River.

[AC]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

A couple hoola hoops?

You're not familiar with the infamous $470,000 Blue Ring?

[Newton]

Originally Posted by chummer

"We wanted to re-sign last summer."

Ok Brad, why didn't that happen?

I'm guessing because before the 115 point season 10.5 million seemed a bit steep.