Sign Johnny to a long-term deal, further evaluate Monny on a short bridge

[belsarius]

My worry with bridge contracts is the threat of offer sheets. Sure it would be great to extend the UFA time, but in two years if someone offers Gaudreau 10 Mil/per then the Flames are in a much worse off position. It is really a risk/reward thing. I get why the Oilers locked up Eberle and Hall early, mostly because they are one of the worst offenders for trying to poach RFAs.

I would rather have them locked at 6 or 7 for 8 years then risk paying 5 for 2 and 10 for 8 more. 8 years is a big enough window to make a run.. if this team isn't ready by the time they are 30 then it is time for a rebuild.

[RM14]

The goal is multiple runs for a decade

[calgaryblood]

If the term is 8 years the money has to be under $7 million for both. This is guaranteed money. This is why I think 8 years at $52-54 million works best. Fair for both sides and really if you think you are part of a special team is a few extra million tacked onto $54 million guaranteed a big deal for a player?

I can understand if it's a few million for a tweener who has to live off that for a while but with these huge contracts they're set for life. And I think They'll sign for something fair.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I think both players should get 7 year deals. With the Gio signing setting the bar it's a great time to get term for a decent $ per year. I think the $ amount may not be equal between the 2 but I think term should be equal. I feel a bridge deal on either player could come back to haunt the Flames.

Question is, how much $ do they get??

I agree and disagree.

Now is the time to lock 'em up long-term and get a decent deal on the dollars, I wouldnt bridge either of them, but I think they both get the same contract.

Same dollars, same term.

Offer sheets and whatnot dont worry me, I worry that if you bridge them they're going to out-perform their deals and then we wont be able to afford locking them both up afterwards.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

We all assume these players will get identical deals because Toews and Kane did, Eberle, Hall, Nugent-Hopkins did, Getzlaf and Perry did etc.

But these two players are at different stages in their development. I think Johnny Hockey is a franchise player right now. Sean Monahan put up stats last year but there's a lot of growth in his game to be realized. From what I'm seeing of Monahan this year, he's taken some definite forward strides in his game, but he shouldn't get the same money that Johnny is getting - right now.

Bridging Monahan also buys the team time to pay all four of Monahan, Hudler, Bennett, and Gaudreau.

Thoughts? Is there a "business worry" about offending Monahan by paying Gaudreau long term and bridging him?

what do you plan on giving Monahan on a bridge deal? he is a 30 goal scorer, 60 point player, who is a #1c. you want to give him a 2-3 year deal? it'll cost 20mill. The flames have to give him term to bring down the cap hit. But how many guys can score 30 as a top line C? google logan Coutures contract, and that is likely exactly what monahan will get and deserves.

[Gaudreau]

At one point or another flames need to replace Hudler with somebody bigger in my opinion and I think this should be his last season as a Flame unless he is willing to stay around the 4 mill/yr area which I don't see happening.

[Stay Golden]

The Flames need to secure long term deals for Johnny and Monahan likely 7 years at 6-7 million per year 7 years each. I just hope it doesn't change their play on the ice. But Treliving has to take that gamble and realize offensively this is the current and the future core.
Bennett will grow into that 3rd piece and Frolik is here for another 4 years. Future looks bright.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

If you were going to do this, I don't know why you'd do it that way. The opposite makes more sense.

[Locke]

We need to get them both to sign for 'Klefbom' money, now that would be brilliant!

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Locke

We need to get them both to sign for 'Klefbom' money, now that would be brilliant!

That would be beyond brilliant.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Bridge deals can be dangerous as mentioned above. It's know as a show me contract. What exactly Monahan has to show I'm not sure. But what could happen is he can show us he's actually worth more to lock up long term than he was before the bridge contract. Kind of a gamble.

We know he is a player. He will be in this league for the next decade.

The only question mark I have is if Sean can be the driving force on a line away from Gaudreau and Jiri. I was so giddy every time he scored in his rookie season, I still am when he pots a goal because he is the prospect that changed the franchise in a sense.

However when I think of it more and more most of Sean's goals come from driving the net, establishing inside position, quick accurate release. He is very good at finding space to receive a pass and pivoting to open him self up for a pass, always has his stick on the ice and 99% of the time he receives and fires passes that a lot of player wouldn't expect or be able to control. That's not a knock, those are all fantastic skills.

But what if he is simply that. A top 6 C who has good iq decent skating good face off ability and a great release. What if the rest of it is in someway a result of being better than 9 forwards on our team as a rookie and thus getting great offensive zone starts, line mates like Hudler and in front of gio and Brodie. Playing on the pp. I'm not saying What if Sean isn't good because I know he is good. But what if he isn't excellent. If he's a beneficiary of being drafted to a team with 1-2 top 6 forwards in backlund and Hudler. Thus being given a chance to step into something similar to what mcdavid is stepping into. Top 6 etc

I'm not taking anything away from him. Iirc he had 6 goals in his first 8 NHL games. He looked like a vet as a 18 year old. He earned his chance to play those mins and situations as a rookie by playing better than our bottom 9 forwards.

I'm just curious how many other players could have achieved what he did in his ice time with his opportunities etc. last season he played in front of the best d pairing in the league and had one winger who was top 10 in the NHL in points and another winger who played in the all star game as a rookie and finished 3rd in Roty. parked in front of the net with a power play that reads giordano Brodie Gaudreau Hudler.

I'm against a bridge contract. I'm for splitting up the top line.

For more than one reason. We need to use those top 3 forwards to get the rest of our lineup scoring. Especially Hudler and Gaudreau can boost offense on different lines.

Also if I'm the gm of the flames I'm very curious to see if Monahan can drive a line. We saw Gaudreau succeeding with granlund and Byron in his first few games in the NHL. Throw Monahan with colborne and frolik and see what happens.


Gaudreau Bennett jones
colborne Monahan frolik
Granlund Backlund Hudler.

In my opinion we don't have a chance if we can't get depth scoring. The 1st line and specifically Gaudreau can't be asked to carry us all year. I bet Gaudreau has points on 80% of our goals.

Split the 1st line up, get the other forwards going and asses your top 3 forwards as individuals.

Eventually Monahan and Gaudreau will need to play apart. Injuries match ups etc. we have to see that before any contracts are offered imo. I'm very curious. I will guess Monahan still performs well but gets less goals and more assists.

[Heavy Jack]

I say these two guys both deserve 6 per for 6-7 years. Lock em up Brad!!

[Coach]

They will sign identical deals. Same cap hit as Gio, full eight years.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

That would be beyond brilliant.

Someone get Brad his wizard hat and wand!

[powderjunkie]

8x6.5, 7x6.25 or 6x6 seem fair to me.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Monahan was 5th in the NHL in goal scoring among centers. At 20 years old.

Bridge contract?

Lol.

[Bs&Cs]

Monahan scored more points, plays a more important, more difficult position and has another year of developement under his belt. Yet one is aready franchise player and the other needs evaluating? Okay then.

While neither should go anywhere, Sean Monahan is perhaps the single most valuable player on the entire Flames roster.

edit: The point is, you have a better indication of what Monahan is at this point, though I figure its probably safe to lock them both up now.

[Vinny01]

I hope we go the full 8 even if Brad has to pay a premium. I am not interested in 6 year deals that take Monahan to UFA at 27 and Johnny at 28 I think these 2 our the biggest pieces for the future and we need to get them signed for the longest term possible under the CBA

[Enoch Root]

yeah, 6 years makes no sense at all to me.

2 year bridge deals (unlikely) or go 8 years

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

We all assume these players will get identical deals because Toews and Kane did, Eberle, Hall, Nugent-Hopkins did, Getzlaf and Perry did etc.

But these two players are at different stages in their development. I think Johnny Hockey is a franchise player right now. Sean Monahan put up stats last year but there's a lot of growth in his game to be realized. From what I'm seeing of Monahan this year, he's taken some definite forward strides in his game, but he shouldn't get the same money that Johnny is getting - right now.

Bridging Monahan also buys the team time to pay all four of Monahan, Hudler, Bennett, and Gaudreau.

Thoughts? Is there a "business worry" about offending Monahan by paying Gaudreau long term and bridging him?

Monahan is a Centre. The hardest and most sought after position in the game. He will be paid.