Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

[Yoho]

I’ve heard from someone who went golfing with a Flames team staff member that Jonny’s wife is pregnant and both sides of the family want them closer to home (East) and that it’s a done deal he is leaving which would make a ton of sense. I wasn’t there and I can’t confirm anything other than the person telling me would have no motive to lie.

[Mr.Coffee]

Well sounds like there’s a new baby I can hate.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Well sounds like there’s a new baby I can hate.

Ahhhhahahahaha!

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by keenan87

For those giving Treliving a pass if Gaudreau leaves - give me a break. This is not new - he has had a few years to figure out whether Gaudreau wants to re-sign or not. This is a player that people have always been iffy about in terms of re-signing - this isn't hometown hero if let's say Cale Makar played for the Flames.

A sign of good leadership is to know when to make difficult decisions. If he wasn't 100% confident that he would be able to sign Gaudreau, a trade should have been made last off-season.

Instead, he took a gamble and now will potentially lose a superstar for absolute zero return. That is a sign of a GM who fell in love with his players too much and couldn't make the hard calls.

If he is able to re-sign him, then great.

I'm sure the Tre critics would have been totally satisfied with a modest trade return if Johnny exploded for 115 pts on his new team.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Yoho

I’ve heard from someone who went golfing with a Flames team staff member that Jonny’s wife is pregnant and both sides of the family want them closer to home (East) and that it’s a done deal he is leaving which would make a ton of sense. I wasn’t there and I can’t confirm anything other than the person telling me would have no motive to lie.

Unless that Flames staff member was BT or maybe Conroy I highly doubt they would know this.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Unless that Flames staff member was BT or maybe Conroy I highly doubt they would know this.

Or whoever runs the twitter account

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by keenan87

For those giving Treliving a pass if Gaudreau leaves - give me a break. This is not new - he has had a few years to figure out whether Gaudreau wants to re-sign or not. This is a player that people have always been iffy about in terms of re-signing - this isn't hometown hero if let's say Cale Makar played for the Flames.

A sign of good leadership is to know when to make difficult decisions. If he wasn't 100% confident that he would be able to sign Gaudreau, a trade should have been made last off-season.

Instead, he took a gamble and now will potentially lose a superstar for absolute zero return. That is a sign of a GM who fell in love with his players too much and couldn't make the hard calls.

If he is able to re-sign him, then great.

What does a Gaudreau trade look like in the off season? Mid to late first and Ben Hinowsky? Sorry, pass all day long even with the benefit of hindsight.

I actually think trading him was the easy way out for BT. He decided to take the heat of being under the microscope and betting on himself, the team and Gaudreau to make a deal happen. Now it's his time. Let's see if the gamble pays off. If not, I do not mind not having some crap pick and nothing prospect in return for the season Gaudreau and the flames gave us. I'm good.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Yoho

I’ve heard from someone who went golfing with a Flames team staff member that Jonny’s wife is pregnant and both sides of the family want them closer to home (East) and that it’s a done deal he is leaving which would make a ton of sense. I wasn’t there and I can’t confirm anything other than the person telling me would have no motive to lie.

And logically that would make sense.

Of course your family wants you close, on both sides. It would be odd if they didn't.

It's a huge decision for both of them. New/first child for the parents, he would be travelling for 3 months of baby's 1st year. Having grandparents around for that is a pretty big plus.

So unless money is the major consideration for JG and wife, the ability to be back near home is kind of a large lure. Considering he is going to get paid no matter where he signs, it really does seem likely he could leave just based on geography and family ties.

That is not to say he doesn't love Calgary and his situation here and with the team, but ALL factors have to be given the same weight simply because we do not know what he thinks is most important to him.

Im sure its time for the "youre a troll" stuff to come my way because im not waving pom poms with Flames red colored glasses on, but really it only makes sense.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Yoho

I’ve heard from someone who went golfing with a Flames team staff member that Jonny’s wife is pregnant and both sides of the family want them closer to home (East) and that it’s a done deal he is leaving which would make a ton of sense. I wasn’t there and I can’t confirm anything other than the person telling me would have no motive to lie.

I’m not sure why some random flames staff member would be throwing that kind of info to somebody unless they were very close. As for the grandparents info , all grandparents want their grandchildren leaving close by . That is not news .

[FanIn80]

In the immortal words of Albert Einstein... "why react to sh** that hasn't even happened yet?"

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im sure its time for the "youre a troll" stuff to come my way because im not waving pom poms with Flames red colored glasses on, but really it only makes sense.

It's made sense for a while. Selfishly I want him to stay a Flame but I personally think it's the right move for Johnny to go back east.

[JohnnyB]

Given all he has said about wanting to be in Calgary, if Treliving makes a great offer and Johnny just walks away I will find it hard to still be a fan of his.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Given all he has said about wanting to be in Calgary, if Treliving makes a great offer and Johnny just walks away I will find it hard to still be a fan of his.

I don’t get this line of thinking ? It’s not all about money.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Major Major

What does a Gaudreau trade look like in the off season? Mid to late first and Ben Hinowsky? Sorry, pass all day long even with the benefit of hindsight.

I actually think trading him was the easy way out for BT. He decided to take the heat of being under the microscope and betting on himself, the team and Gaudreau to make a deal happen. Now it's his time. Let's see if the gamble pays off. If not, I do not mind not having some crap pick and nothing prospect in return for the season Gaudreau and the flames gave us. I'm good.

Yup. People now conveniently forget the inherent difficulties of making a good trade in the last 2 years - including the cap crunch and ED.

I think they went into the season thinking that they would trade him if they were on the bubble and didn't have a deal done. I don't actually think there would have been a significant differential in trade return between the off-season and TDL, despite Johnny's MNTC. Which is to say the return would have been modest either way.

We didn't get nothing - we got to enjoy a full great season and an exciting but frustrating playoff run.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I don’t get this line of thinking ? It’s not all about money.

What don't you understand about a fan being sore about a star player saying he wants to stay over and over and all these reasons why and then leaving? Maybe that star player should have been more silent.

[dammage79]

It'll be an amazing thing to watch unfold as to how they'll attempt to replace Johnnys production. It'll be as moneyballers say, in the aggregate.

Because as far as things go positional, losing a LW isn't the worst thing in the world. Flames have players at RW that can move up to take Chuckys spot on RW and he reverts back to LW. Mangi has LW 2 locked up unless he goes super nutty on this next contract. And the Flames have more close to NHL ready LW than they do anything else on the farm. IMO, the reality is that if Johnny leaves they're losing a top line forward. I think they can find one out there, just can be a center or RW now as well.

IMO, sign/acquire a top 6 center and dump your dollars into Val Nichushkin.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What don't you understand about a fan being sore about a star player saying he wants to stay over and over and all these reasons why and then leaving? Maybe that star player should have been more silent.

Cue the video of that NYI fan going off on Tavares: You coulda told us John!! You shoulda told us!!!

Guess I’m the fool who renewed my tix thinking Gaudreau would re-sign.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What don't you understand about a fan being sore about a star player saying he wants to stay over and over and all these reasons why and then leaving? Maybe that star player should have been more silent.

Or perhaps.... realize it's pro sports and most players say all the nicest things they can about their fanbase and still leave.

It's more rare to find a brutally honest player openly saying they're leaving than it is to hear platitudes about staying.

Johnnys staying, or he's going. And absolutely nobody on CP can say unequivocally they know anything about the outcome.

Best anyone can is guess.


It's gonna suck for you if Johnny leaves. It's going to suck a lot.

Personally, I hope you choose to take a looooong break if he leaves. Because it's gonna be hell here for you after what you've put others through here for years about this specific topic.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What don't you understand about a fan being sore about a star player saying he wants to stay over and over and all these reasons why and then leaving? Maybe that star player should have been more silent.

If and that’s “big if” he is leaving it’s not because he didn’t like calgary. Don’t think it’s lip service that Johnny would have wanted to stay. Him and his wife having their first child is now a somewhat new development. Have to think his mind set has changed a bit over the last couple months with news of upcoming child. As a family man I would never bare a grudge on anybody who picks family first. Granted that’s just me .

[Manhattanboy]

I want proof she’s having a little Johnny.