NY Times Gaudreau article. Update: response from Johnny

[MrMastodonFarm]

Come on guys, really?

Don't be so sensitive. Gaudreau is a Hobey Baker Candidate, not a winner yet. What's the problem here.

[Racki]

I'm not gonna sleep until this kid signs. Every time I start to feel good about it someone/something throws a little doubt into the situation.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by iggysback05

I'm not gonna sleep until this kid signs. Every time I start to feel good about it someone/something throws a little doubt into the situation.

I kind of feel the same way. I know we're supposed to temper our expectations of how good he is but it looks more and more like he could be that good if he is properly developed.

It's exciting to see how far the flames prospect pool has come in just 3 years and it will look even more impressive by the summer especially if gaudreau signs: baertschi, gaudreau, poirier, klimchuk, granlund, Wotherspoon, sieloff, kulak, ferland, Arnold, gillies, jankowski... Plus Monahan and the pick this year. It's impressive.

Not to mention young guys who have been developed into NHLers that are contributing to the team on a nightly basis... Bouma, colbourne, backlund, Brodie, Russell, Byron.

I'm not saying all these guys will be definitely part of the flames when they become a playoff competitor in the future but it's awesome having that many promising young players, lots of competition for roster spots both on the flames and in abbotsford, Troy Ward doing a great job developing the young talent, and the organization showing patience with the young guys.

It gives me chills thinking of a future line up where the flames come at teams in waves... Gaudreau-Monahan-poirier maybe followed up with baertschi-backlund-colborne. Maybe Bouma-granlund-ferland for the third line? Who knows! It's a great time to be a fan of this team though.

[sun]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Come on guys, really?

Don't be so sensitive. Gaudreau is a Hobey Baker Candidate, not a winner yet. What's the problem here.

Oh hater of green text, I guess I needed green text? Just messing around.

He is The Best though.

[direwolf]

I'm nervous about this whole thing. If for some reason he doesn't sign this spring and decides to go back to college, I don't like the Flames' chances whatsoever of actually getting him signed in 2015. No doubt his agent will push for him to sign with someone else once he becomes an unrestricted free agent...likely one of the Eastern teams to be closer to his family, blah, blah, blah. Flames need to sign this kid now or we're gonna lose him. Hopefully they'll fly Conroy out there to turn on the charm, chat him up, and talk up the benefits of playing for the Flames. Offer him some insane signing bonuses that he can't refuse. Whatever it takes.

[BigFlameDog]

I seriously hope no one is literally losing sleep over this

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by direwolf

I'm nervous about this whole thing. If for some reason he doesn't sign this spring and decides to go back to college, I don't like the Flames' chances whatsoever of actually getting him signed in 2015. No doubt his agent will push for him to sign with someone else once he becomes an unrestricted free agent...likely one of the Eastern teams to be closer to his family, blah, blah, blah. Flames need to sign this kid now or we're gonna lose him. Hopefully they'll fly Conroy out there to turn on the charm, chat him up, and talk up the benefits of playing for the Flames. Offer him some insane signing bonuses that he can't refuse. Whatever it takes.

Gaudreau's "family advisor" (college players are prevented by NCAA rules from employing agents) has close ties to Craig Conroy. (I have read this somewhere, but cannot remember where. Can someone confirm?) Gaudreau's contract will be the same term and dollar figure regardless of which team he does end up signing for. (And there won't be any "insane signing bonuses" because the CBA has a hard cap on those). Aside from the chance to play his career close to home, why would his advisor counsel him to play elsewhere?

[albertGQ]

Playing close to home or a more desirable market is a pretty big bargaining chip. You can't just shrug it off. Most players have to play at least 7 years of pro hockey to become a UFA and choose their destination. In John's case he can go straight to UFA in only 16 months and zero pro hockey seasons. So it is pretty attractive. Yes, I know he'll be subject to ELC restrictions wherever he signs.

With that being said, I think he signs with the Flames in less than 2 weeks.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Playing close to home or a more desirable market is a pretty big bargaining chip. You can't just shrug it off. Most players have to play at least 7 years of pro hockey to become a UFA and choose their destination. In John's case he can go straight to UFA in only 16 months and zero pro hockey seasons. So it is pretty attractive. Yes, I know he'll be subject to ELC restrictions wherever he signs.

With that being said, I think he signs with the Flames in less than 2 weeks.

Oh, I understand all of that. But what I was responding to was the expectation that Gaudreau's advisor will "no doubt push for him to sign with someone else once he becomes an unrestricted free agent". My question addresses specifically this: WHY would we presume that this is necessarily the case?

[Brannigans Law]

I don't think it's better than a coin flip at this time if Gaudreau signs here or elsewhere. He seems to love college and his family seems to want him to finish school. If thats the case he can then choose to play for the Rangers, or Devils, or Bruins, or Flyers, or any one of the big american teams on the east coast close to home.

[Coach]

I come into these threads for JG updates. All I get is facepalms. I don't think I'm going to enter another JG thread until he signs after the Frozen Four is done.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Brannigans Law

I don't think it's better than a coin flip at this time if Gaudreau signs here or elsewhere. He seems to love college and his family seems to want him to finish school. If thats the case he can then choose to play for the Rangers, or Devils, or Bruins, or Flyers, or any one of the big american teams on the east coast close to home.

His mother wants him to finish school. Johnny has said in interviews that his dad is leaning the other way.

I think at this point it's much more likely that Gaudreau signs with the Flames at the end of BC's season. There just isn't enough incentive to hold out for free-agency next summer. If he does commit to another year at BC then I think the odds drop down to a coin-flip

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Brannigans Law

I don't think it's better than a coin flip at this time if Gaudreau signs here or elsewhere. He seems to love college and his family seems to want him to finish school. If thats the case he can then choose to play for the Rangers, or Devils, or Bruins, or Flyers, or any one of the big american teams on the east coast close to home.

coin flip? so 50/50? interested in a bet, then?

[EldrickOnIce]

^ what he said. Almost no chance he doesn't sign this spring

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

coin flip? so 50/50? interested in a bet, then?

Payment will be made in the bartering of chickens and cows.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Payment will be made in the bartering of chickens and cows.

Cow and chicken?



Cow and chicken?!?!

[Max Cow Disease]

I'm confident the wee lad will put ink to paper with us. He seems to have thus far expressed appreciation for the organization and doesn't seem like the Trent Erixon type to me. Calgary will be able to offer Johnny a superior opportunity for ice time also, I'd imagine (not to the point of adversely rushing him, I'd hope).

[djsFlames]

If he plays his butt off this fall and outperforms some of the Abby hopefuls, he can crack the NHL roster (especially if there are departures this summer). With a number of other teams, he wouldn't even get a chance to play for another few years at his size.

I'd say by April 15th, you can bet your left nut he'll be signed.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Cow and chicken?







Cow and chicken?!?!

Hahaha!! Glad I wasn't the only one who thought that.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Hahaha!! Glad I wasn't the only one who thought that.

"#### you whale! And-a #### you dorfin!!!"

Easily one of my favorite episodes.