NY Times Gaudreau article. Update: response from Johnny

[SuperMatt18]

Especially if he goes out and wins the Hobey Baker and National Championship in what is pretty much his home town in Philly.

How do you top that season? What more do you have to go back for?

[codynw]

I think he'll sign after Frozen Four is done. This whole situation is being blown way out of proportion, and it's kind of embarrassing.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by kirant

I love CP's optimism right now. 100% currently believe he'll be pro after this.

I didn't vote because of optimism, my vote was because it would probably be the wrong thing for Johnny's development to go back to college, pro hockey is like getting to the top floor of a highrise, if you get off the elevator on the wrong floor you might have to take the stairs the rest of the way. his advisors will warn him and his mother of potential professional suicide and will have examples.

Plus this kid lives and breathes hockey and could care less about a degree that he can finish anytime.

[Bingo]

this almost always happen ... people that are worried voice it. So you get a discussion driven from a very tense minority.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by fotze

I don't think people are thinking that it is likely he won't sign, I was curious at the varying degrees of apprehension people are feeling. Poll should have been from 0 to 100% with increments of 10% to gauge where the prevailing though it at. Would have figured most are above 50%.

Exactly. I think most think he'll sign but you'd be a liar if him not signing wasn't at the back of your head. It's human nature.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by fotze

I don't think people are thinking that it is likely he won't sign, I was curious at the varying degrees of apprehension people are feeling. Poll should have been from 0 to 100% with increments of 10% to gauge where the prevailing though it at. Would have figured most are above 50%.

Yeah this would have been a good way to go as well. there's about 5 other threads all with the same theme going on so we can probably get another one going haha.

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Exactly. I think most think he'll sign but you'd be a liar if him not signing wasn't at the back of your head. It's human nature.

I must not be a natural human.

Maybe I have super powers.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by fotze

I don't think people are thinking that it is likely he won't sign, I was curious at the varying degrees of apprehension people are feeling. Poll should have been from 0 to 100% with increments of 10% to gauge where the prevailing though it at. Would have figured most are above 50%.

Yeah, I agree.

About 3 weeks ago, I was like 95% sure. Now I am like 75% sure he will sign. I am not as confident as I was, but I am still fairly confident.

Everything that Gaudreau has said indicates that he wants to play for Calgary. His parents are just emphasizing that it is still a big decision.

Like his dad said, from a hockey career position, it is in his best interests to sign now than wait. He was just a little concerned that Burke isn't as big on him as Feaster was. Now that it's out there, I expect Burke will sort it out with the Gaudreau's.

I would also be OK if the Flames did make some assurances to them, like that they would guarantee at least 20 NHL games to him next season, or something like that. I know people don't like making those types of promises, but I think under certain circumstances, it is fine.

[djsFlames]

Interesting new article and interview, including quotes from Johnny's dad:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/sto...-four/7236109/

"This year, fortunately I got the chance to do both at the same time at one Frozen Four," Gaudreau said in a phone interview Wednesday. "That's what I was kind of hoping for throughout the whole year was to make sure I got my team to the Frozen Four and not just get myself there."

"My wife and I, we've argued about it quite a few times," Guy Gaudreau said. "As a father, and her as a mother, we'd love for him to go back for his senior year and get a degree. As a hockey person that knows the game, it would be better for him if he wanted to eventually make the NHL to go sign with Calgary."

Of course, if he does, he'll stop his quest for a communications degree a year early. He will only have played with his younger brother Matthew, a freshman on B.C.'s roster, for one season.

"It's made it very, very fun this year getting to be around him the whole year and be on the ice with him every single day," Johnny Gaudreau said. "It's gonna be tough to make a decision whether to stay or leave. I came to B.C. with my brother, and we always wanted to play with each other, and I got to do that this year."

If he were to go pro, Gaudreau would start a new chapter in his hockey career. Like most others, it will probably start with talk about him being too small.

"If the management they had there before was there, like (former general manager Jay) Feaster, the ones that drafted him, I'd be really comfortable letting him go," Guy Gaudreau said. "I know that (Calgary president of hockey operations) Brian Burke likes big boys, big hockey players. My son is not a big hockey player. He's made it clear that he likes him or whatever, but I don't think he's sold on him. That's been John all his life, wherever he tried out. It's always been, 'He's got to prove himself, prove himself, prove himself.' He's done that over and over and over."

"I never thought I would get the chance to do something like this growing up," Johnny Gaudreau said. "I was just playing AAA hockey and high school hockey for my school and everything kind of escalated from there. "

Sounds like Burke needs to come out and make it clear to them that he'll be offered every chance to make the team. Family doesn't sound entirely sold on Burke, though.

Despite these quotes, I'm still not worried. It is still Johnny's decision.

[nik-]

haha

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Interesting new article and interview, including quotes from Johnny's dad:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/sto...-four/7236109/







Sounds like Burke needs to come out and make it clear to them that he'll be offered every chance to make the team. Family doesn't sound entirely sold on Burke, though.

Despite these quotes, I'm still not worried. It is still Johnny's decision.

We. Are. Doomed.

[868904]

You can bet Glen Sather has people in Gaudreau's ears about playing his senior year and becoming a UFA and signing closer to home.

[Locke]

Holy crap, since when did hockey players all become mama's boys? You'd think hed want to play hockey and live his life as far away from his mother as humanly possible.

Buffer-zone people. Buffer-zone. We cant all have Ukraine between us and our mothers but we can all wish for it.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by fotze

That's been posted twice today already. That's the article that has increased the paranoia.

Quote the article three times and Johnny appears

[djsFlames]

Sounds like his parents had a good relationship with Feaster and Weisbrod, as they were the ones who drafted him and saw his potential despite his size. I guess they're worried that Burke doesn't see him with the same optimism as the previous management.

Regardless of who's in charge, though, Gaudreau would have to prove himself at the top level in order to make it. That doesn't change the physical challenge he would face in being a pro player. I'm confident Burke will be fair with Johnny and give him his opportunity. He might have to spend time in Abby first, but he'll still have every chance to make it. From everything we've heard out of Burke, he's as high on this kid as the rest of us. He may have cracked jokes about the size factor, but I think he was just trying to state the obvious, not trying to be hard on the kid or anything.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by fotze

This Gaudreau-mania has even made Locke ######ed.

There are mitigating circumstances, but yes. I just cant believe how many times I have read conspiracy theories on people thinking the Rangers are going to convince him to hold out and then sign with them so he can play 'closer to home.'

I just dont get it.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by 868904

You can bet Glen Sather has people in Gaudreau's ears about playing his senior year and becoming a UFA and signing closer to home.

You could, I suppose, but it would be a pretty stupid bet, IMO.

[djsFlames]

Also, I'm not on here 24/7 so apologies if I missed the original posting and the subsequent paranoia. Figures that Sureloss would have it up here 5 minutes before the writer published it himself.

[TherapyforGlencross]

Originally Posted by 868904

You can bet Glen Sather has people in Gaudreau's ears about playing his senior year and becoming a UFA and signing closer to home.

No, that would be tampering.

[sun]

Originally Posted by TherapyforGlencross

No, that would be tampering.

Yes, and?

[T@T]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Interesting new article and interview, including quotes from Johnny's dad:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/sto...-four/7236109/







Sounds like Burke needs to come out and make it clear to them that he'll be offered every chance to make the team. Family doesn't sound entirely sold on Burke, though.

Despite these quotes, I'm still not worried. It is still Johnny's decision.

Sounds like Big Mouth Burke isn't trusted...shocking!

He better start sucking some ass, if he screws this up I'll rent a bold sign and slam him from sunnyside to forest lawn!