NY Times Gaudreau article. Update: response from Johnny

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

I don't really want to see him in the pros until next year. Aside from the hockey geeks on this board and a few others, JG is completely unknown to the casual hockey fan around the league. I want to see the priceless WTF...where did they get this guy?!!! reaction around the league when Johnny Hockey gets unleashed on the NHL, whenever that will be.

He's had big articles written about him in the New York Times and Boston Globe in the last two days... he's pretty well known for a non-NHL hockey player.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by 868904

I dot know about that. I was listening to NHL.com radio yesterday (first time ever) and the host was interviewing some other guy and constantly brought up Johnny hockey. Al Morganti has also been on the fan regularly and talks about him in a way of college celebrity.

College sports in the US is big, bigger than the NHL. I would think the casual sports fan in the US probably knows more of Johnny Hockey than any top Canadian prospect playing in the CHL.

I mean he's "Johnny Hockey", he's the hockey equivalent of "Johnny Football", the most talked about college football prospect in the past few years. The NY Times has interviewed his mom, that's pretty big.

Anybody who follows NCAA hockey or even the WJHC knows him.
Be the equivalent of following the NHL and not knowing about Crosby.

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

No idea what you are referring to but no I meant Burke has always stated he likes his prospects to get time in the AHL and with Gaudreau I imagine Burke would not throw him to the fire and have us have unrealistic expectations like we had with Baertschi.

Went to a luncheon with Brian Burke speaking on Thursday and he mentioned two things:

If the right things happen he'll burn a year on Gaudreau's ELC and have him play at least one game with the Flames before the season is done (even the last against Vancouver after everything is over).

Also he'd love to do the same with Bill Arnold.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by 868904

I dot know about that. I was listening to NHL.com radio yesterday (first time ever) and the host was interviewing some other guy and constantly brought up Johnny hockey. Al Morganti has also been on the fan regularly and talks about him in a way of college celebrity.

College sports in the US is big, bigger than the NHL. I would think the casual sports fan in the US probably knows more of Johnny Hockey than any top Canadian prospect playing in the CHL.

I mean he's "Johnny Hockey", he's the hockey equivalent of "Johnny Football", the most talked about college football prospect in the past few years. The NY Times has interviewed his mom, that's pretty big.

Well sure, college hockey is big in the American NE. I'm talking about the casual fan, especially the Canadian casual fan. They tend to ignore US collegiate hockey, especially US players. I know a lot of people like this, fans of other Canadian teams, and aside from a few who noticed him lighting us up in the World Juniors 15 months ago, JG is off the radar. Until people see him in NHL silks killing their home team, he just isn't relevant to them. I'm not trying to downplay his importance to the future of the Flames, just emphasizing the difference between CP hockey fanatics and the majority of other folks who just watch their team's games and Sportscenter highlights.

[PeteMoss]

Being able to burn that year (even if they go right to the championship) is a good way to speed up his decision at signing this year.

[Scoutski]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Being able to burn that year (even if they go right to the championship) is a good way to speed up his decision at signing this year.

Yeah, I feel like that'd be a pretty sweet deal for him, does this mean that his ELC would be over at the end of the 14-15 season or 15-16 season? I can't remember how that 3-year/2-year ELC thing works with college players.

It'll be hard to be patient if he decides to stay another year, but I still think he's inherently a good person who will sign with the team that drafted him, well here's to hoping anyway.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

Well sure, college hockey is big in the American NE. I'm talking about the casual fan, especially the Canadian casual fan. They tend to ignore US collegiate hockey, especially US players. I know a lot of people like this, fans of other Canadian teams, and aside from a few who noticed him lighting us up in the World Juniors 15 months ago, JG is off the radar. Until people see him in NHL silks killing their home team, he just isn't relevant to them. I'm not trying to downplay his importance to the future of the Flames, just emphasizing the difference between CP hockey fanatics and the majority of other folks who just watch their team's games and Sportscenter highlights.

Yeah i hear you, my Canuck fan friends also have no idea who Johnny Gaudreau is. Up here in Canada, i doubt Oiler, Canuck, Leaf fans have any idea who he is. But I bet you the average Bruins, Ranger, Devils, Flyers fan know more about Johnny than they do about Bo Horvat or Darnell Nurse.

Gonna be great if/when this nobody kid torches the Canucks and Oilers for the first time shocking their fans. Hopefully, it'll be the whole "Joe who" thing all over again.

[Tinordi]

Would be fun to see Gaudreau play the last game even though he'd probably on get about 7-8 mins of ice time.

[Fuzzy14]

I hope that if Johnny decides to go to the pros this year, that he takes the safe route and signs an ATO and an ELC kicking in next year.

For a guy of that size, I'd hate for him to jump into the NHL too soon. Take the rest of the season in the AHL, get some games in at a lower level and get acclimated to the pros. Get a good off-season of training in and then come to camp next year ready to earn a spot.

He'll be getting paid for his time in the AHL and be ready to cash in when his ELC kicks in this off-season while benefiting from a potentially long playoff run with the Heat.

[djsFlames]

The "perfect" debut after a championship (which he has already won) training and camp is overrated! I hope they get eliminated in the first two games, Burke dangles a contract too good to refuse, he plays next week and lights up the leafs, undressing phaneuf with a filthy Johnny goal. Why pretend otherwise, you all know that's what you want.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm of the other mind where they are better getting a taste of NHL speed and size (strength) and then using that knowledge to prepare during the summer.

I'll admit though, the guys that did the best after the deadline last year are largely struggling this season so maybe I'm dead wrong (Baertschi/Cundari)

Cundari never did that great. Because he scored a few goals in his early games fans overreacted as his play started dropping off the more he played as it does with most career AHL players. Baertschi did pick up points down the stretch but they were mostly assists and IMO he wasn't standing out with great play more than just being a piece on a line that was getting a few points at the end of the season.

[dfsflamesfan]

Originally Posted by fotze

This was just retweeted by Johnny's sister.

John Boruk ‏@JohnBorukCSN 2h
I sat down with @johngaudreau03 his mom and his dad and if I was a betting man, I'd bet the farm on going pro after the season #johnnyhockey

But now the question is: which team will he go pro with?

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by MattyC

"No real set decision yet of what I'm going to do."

I dunno. I think we should continue to panic.

Nope. It refers to turning pro this year or not.

Anyways, said it before and say it again. He should be proud he was selected by an NHL team when other teams including the Flames passed on him several times. Offer him a contract if he wants to play here great! come and prove yourself if not? oh well.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Nope. It refers to turning pro this year or not.

Anyways, said it before and say it again. He should be proud he was selected by an NHL team when other teams including the Flames passed on him several times. Offer him a contract if he wants to play here great! come and prove yourself if not? oh well.

I was joking based on people taking quotes from Johnny (and his mother) completely out of context and freaking out about them.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by fotze

I'm more confident than ever that he will sign almost immediately after BC loses their next game.

Or, as likely, when they win their last game.

[jg13]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/20...O0K/story.html

If he leaves BC after this season, said Gaudreau, he’ll be sure to finish his degree by returning during the summer. He already is a couple of courses ahead of schedule, having studied while working out at The Heights during the summers of 2012 and ’13.

Goes to show that he's already ahead in his studies so needing another full year in college is completely unnecessary as far as his education goes.

[Poe969]

Awesome! I don't want to see him lose in this tournament but the sooner he signs the better.

It's just dumb that he has to make a choice, he should be able to commit to the Flames and then finish his schooling and then go tear up the world of hockey from there for the Flames!

[codynw]

Yup, I'm convinced he'll sign a contract as soon as BC wins / is eliminated.

[Bingo]

Northeast Regional, March 29-30


DCU Center, Worcester, Mass.
March 29, 4 p.m. ET, ESPNU/WatchESPN
No. 1 Boston College (26-7-4) vs. No. 4 Denver (20-15-6)


March 29, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3/WatchESPN
No. 2 Massachusetts-Lowell (25-10-4) vs. No. 3 Minnesota State-Mankato (26-13-1)


March 30, 5 p.m. ET, ESPNU/WatchESPN
Northeast Regional Championship

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by jg13

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/20...O0K/story.html



Goes to show that he's already ahead in his studies so needing another full year in college is completely unnecessary as far as his education goes.

Kind of shows his state of mind was to get ahead so he wouldn't have to go back as a senior.

I think all signs point to him signing as soon as BC is done and play that last game. I wonder what Hockey US is thinking in terms of the WC this spring. If the Heat aren't a possibility then maybe that could be the plan if they want him to play some higher caliber hockey. Anyone know if Burke is still involved in the Hockey US WC team?