[Rumour] McKenzie: Gaudreau & Flames are closing gap, but it's still a considerable gap.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by New Era

I'm a massive Johnny Hockey fan. Have been since his first year at BC. Own two jerseys with his name and number on them, including the ugliest jersey in Flames history. Having said that, I'd be investigating trade opportunities. No player is bigger than the team and I'd be more than willing to send a possible malcontent out of town for a couple of players that can help now and down the line. I hope this gets solved in the next 24-48 hours, and everyone walks away feeling they did well. But if it drags out more than that, trade him away. The success of the Calgary Flames is more important to me than that of Johnny Gaudreau.

This has been a growing mindset for me over the past couple of weeks as well.
As special of a player Johnny is, I just don't see his demands as any sort of positive for the team. If the Flames are being "cheap" with him there's a darned good reason. It's because Gaudreau and his agents asking price doesn't fit in the big picture.

I want Gaudreau to stay but not at the expense of keeping other great young players.

[nfotiu]

I hope the Flames have a 1 year/3.5 on the table as. The default fall back vs sitting out. The cba fails this type of free agent negotiation. It would be a good faith move by the Flames to give that as an option and let it play out over the next year.

[Looch City]

I agree, they need a deadline for this stuff.

This entire thing is stupid. Puts a bad taste in everyone's mouth and just feeds the negative rumour mill.

[MarkGio]

Yup, I knew it wouldn't take long until fans turned on him.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by New Era

. No player is bigger than the team

No, but a player who can get your team all the way to the promised land is bigger than the alternative, a few spare parts that get you trending towards the mean. You are not likely about to get the next Peter Forsberg back for Gaudreau. I would rather have future cap problems like the Blackhawks, Penguins, and Kings because of expensive stars than penny-pinch on a treadmill like the Senators and Avalanche while trading stars away over what in the long run is the cost of a depth player or two. And in between those two extremes lie the Bruins, who won and then decided Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton, and Johnny Boychuk were not bigger than the team. I would say... they were wrong. Because now they are short half a team.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

I agree, they need a deadline for this stuff.

This entire thing is stupid. Puts a bad taste in everyone's mouth and just feeds the negative rumour mill.

I like how the Isles have a deadline to sign a contract by the start of training camp or else you're sitting for the year. Worked so far...

[Mr.Coffee]

I think trading him would be a mistake. Then again they have to have a solid plan in place to make enough cap room to be a contender. If you trade him, could you get a player of equal calibre? What contracts are coming back? I find it hard to believe they could find a deal that actually makes sense where Calgary is better off. We still need a goalie, we still need Tkachuk and we still need Bennett, all of which are going to get paid.

I wouldn't trade him though. Making him sit out is probably the best move. If he wants to start sacrificing real dollars by sitting out vs. what's offered then that's fine, but eventually he will sign and all will be well.

[polak]

Disagree. Trading Gaudreau is something this franchise will regret, without doubt.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Yup, I knew it wouldn't take long until fans turned on him.

I don't think anyone is "turning on him", it's just that a lot of people understand that the Flames are trying to put together a team with balance and this delay seems to indicate that Johnny is pricing himself outside of this thinking. It doesn't show a lot of regard for the plan, and that's his perogative, but most people here are Flames first.

[Huntingwhale]

Dat Gap

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by polak

Disagree. Trading Gaudreau is something this franchise will regret, without doubt.

A Gaudreau is a Gaudreau. But a trade could be for anything. Even a Gaudreau!

[Strange Brew]

Before getting too down on one side or the other, it would be nice to know what their current offers are. And I don't think we'll ever really know that.

I still believe there is a short term deal that both sides will live with if they can't get a LT deal done by start of season.

[FBI]

Yeah gaudreau is my current favorite player and this is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Wish I could be like Conroy and Tre and say it's just business, but it's pissing me off.

[Puddy27]

As somebody who used to be so into anything Flames....I can't belive how my view of this stuff has changed. This is a game. Plain and simple. I don't care about the revenue generated or all of the bull#### that goes along with it. It's still a game in the end.

I love Johnny Hockey. He is great. I don't tend to understand how all.of the big business works as I'm just a counselor for the poorest of the poor. Johnny may be (and seems like) a decent human being with a good family. If you can't play for millions of dollars a year anywhere then you need to reassess your reality.

I'm not saying it's not tough being away from family and whatnot but honestly as a fan it's starting to make him look like a greedy little ####. Do I think he is worth a lot...yup. Should he dictate terms at this point in his career....nope. You haven't even hit 80 pts yet kid.

Sign a deal.and get on with it or.go.collect your cash and gtfo so we can use that money on a player willing to sacrifice himself for the organization.

Ps....I love Johnny and hope.he signs. I'm also tanked after the Blue Jays killed Texas lol

[StrykerSteve]

I've been Johnny's biggest fan since the first moment I saw him play at his first dev camp. But he isn't bigger than the team. As much as I want him to be paid a bazillion dollars, this is a cap world and every penny you commit affects every other move you can make.

A guy like Stamkos just took millions less than expected because he wants to play in Tampa. Johnny's made it clear whenever he's had a chance, to say he wants to play here. Time for him to step up and put his money where his mouth is.

[Mr.Coffee]

I don't get why this is rubbing people the wrong way. It's a kid negotiating the deal of his life and both sides are grinding. It really is nothing personal, even if he sits out. This is business and this is how deals go sometimes, it's not a big deal.

He will sign eventually because sitting out a year makes zero sense for him. I wouldn't stress about it.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Yup, I knew it wouldn't take long until fans turned on him.

I think people are more angry at his agent. Gross seems like a real stubborn SOB and it appears he promised his client the moon and is unable to get it, so just to be a dick he's gonna hold out until the 11th hour. I really hope they can get this done in the next 6 days. If Gaudreau sits out for any length of time, this team is in trouble.

[Aarongavey]

I guess everyone thinks he is like Iginla.

[442scotty]

And if the flames decide to give up trying to sign him he better sit until we get equal value in exchange ..e.g. McKinnon etc

[Azure]

I hope he is signed soon before everyone has a meltdown.