Flames stars Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau stick together

[thymebalm]

I'm sure the main issue holding up these deals is how much of the contracts are loaded into the signing bonus.

In regards to offer sheets, I have a question. Does the league inform the team when an offer sheet is extended? Or is this a exchange between the offering team and player directly that the team finds out about only after it is signed? I'm just thinking about the negotiation ramifications..

[Robbob]

I think they know as people in the industry talk. The agent probably lets everyone know so he can leverage teams against each other. Feaster mentioned that a number of teams were in the ROR offer sheet before he signed with Calgary.

I think the gms typically see it as an idle threat from an agent as they know if one is signed they still have the right to match. Even more so if the team has plenty of cap space.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"Rendering [for] his client the best possible contract" is not entirely a matter of dollar-value and term. It IS in both Monahan's and Gaudreau's best interest to play together, and they can only do so with the Flames.

I tend to think—like sureloss mentioned—that any offer-sheet extended by another team would follow from a lot of preliminary leg-work. In Monahan's case, the reason he likely has not signed an offer sheet is because he has not received one. The reason he has not received one is likely because other teams have been informed that his top priority is to remain in Calgary, and to continue playing with Gaudreau. Again, I think it is likely that both players and their agents see it in their best interests to remain together, which also means that they are probably more inclined to be flexible in their negotiations with the Flames.

I have used " hypothetical offer sheet" and " considerably better offer" to describe a possible but not very likely scenario and consequent decision that Monahan would have to make.

By no means do I think it is likely to happen.

However if it did, would he be flexible relating to his loyalty and healthy relationship on and off the ice with the Flames and Gaudreau ?

Of course.

How flexible, relating to dollars, is the argument I have tried to present.

I believe there is a limit.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I'm sure the main issue holding up these deals is how much of the contracts are loaded into the signing bonus.

In regards to offer sheets, I have a question. Does the league inform the team when an offer sheet is extended? Or is this a exchange between the offering team and player directly that the team finds out about only after it is signed? I'm just thinking about the negotiation ramifications..

The player is required to inform his club if he signed an offer sheet with another team, per the CBA.

He is not required to inform them about any offers from another team he has decided not to accept.

[DionTheDman]

Steinberg's recent take as posted on Reddit:

As for Gaudreau/Monahan, the biggest holdup for is term as I understand it. Flames are looking longer, the players are perhaps looking for a little less than a max term.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Steinberg's recent take as posted on Reddit:

I get that impression as well. 6 year deals would be brutal especially with Johnny who has 5 years of RFA time left. Go the full 8 or bridge them

[jayswin]

I'm just as weary of bridge contracts as a slightly shorter term that brings them at or just past free agent eligibility.

Without using specific numbers, let's say you avoid 6 year deals because their contract after will cost so much or they'll bolt to another team after this contract - sure that sucks, but bridging isn't some magical thing to prolong paying them a similar 8 year deal in two years.

It could very easily end up being like PK Subban where both players take even bigger steps than they've already taken, two years go by, and now you're looking at two $8.5-$9.5mil AAV players that you can't fit into our cap. All of a sudden, bam, what's been an incredible rebuild turns on it's ass because we didn't want to screw ourselves 6 years down the road.

You've got to think long term, I get that, but the time in between matters as well, and we should be contending in two to three years, what a horrible time to have your two stars likely lighting up the league, but requiring a new contract.

You think this contract hesitation has the fan base in a tizzy, the end of a two year bridge deal for these guys would be this times a million.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I'm just as weary of bridge contracts as a slightly shorter term that brings them at or just past free agent eligibility.

Without using specific numbers, let's say you avoid 6 year deals because they're contract after will cost so much or they'll bolt to another team after this contract - sure that sucks, but bridging isn't some magical thing to prolong paying them a similar 8 year deal in two years.

It could very easily end up being like PK Subban where both players take even bigger steps than they've already taken, two years go by, and now you're looking at two $8.5-$9.5mil AAV players that you can't fit into our cap. All of a sudden, bam, what's been an incredible rebuild turns on it's ass because we didn't want to screw ourselves 6 years down the road.

You've got to think long term, I get that, but the time in between matters as well, and we should be contending in two to three years, what a horrible time to have your two stars likely lighting up the league, but requiring a new contract.

You think this contract hesitation has the fan base in a tizzy, the end of a two year bridge deal for these guys would be this times a million.

Obviously a bridge deal isn't ideal. The Subban deal is an example of a team shooting themselves in the foot. But I think it's way overblown the impact it might have if they sign for less term such as 5 or 6. I'd like Monahan and Gaudreau to sign on for 8 years as much as the next guy. But the Flames have never had a contract for longer then 6 years in franchise history. Where was all this talk of UFA bolting when Hamilton signed for 6 years at age 22? Or Brodie for 5 years at age 24? Even the greatest player in franchise history in Iginla never signed for longer then 5. Coming out of the '05 lockout he only signed a 3 year contract. Where was the uproar then?

I get the sense that some people will view Monahan or Gaudreau signing for anything less then 7-8 years as a disappointment. So much can happen in between then.

[Strange Brew]

I am in the camp of wanting a max term contract and will be disappointed if it's not. On the bright side, a 6 year deal should carry less AAV giving the Flames a little more wiggle room.

Of course the players may be looking for the same AAV the Flames are offering, but on a shorter tem deal. In which case, it is really both $'s and term they are still haggling over.

Neither side has given any indication they are not close so hopefully happens soon.

[Macho0978]

I'm not as concerned with a bridge deal as others are. Lots of talk that if you bridge you could have a Subban situation. For me the only way that happens is if Monahan and Gaudreau step it up significantly. If Gaudreau is worth 7.5 for him to get 9 2 years from now he would need to push 90 points. If Monahan went from 6 to 8 he would need to step up to 40 goals and 80 points. I'm ok with that. We would be a very good team if this happens

Then throw on top give them 9 for 8 years and you have them for 10 and you still can make a case that the 2nd deal for 8 years could eventually become a steal too barring a lockout

Only way I'm happy with 6 years is if the AAV is combined around 13. If higher I think it needs to be 7 or 8

[CroFlames]

Is there any hint of a timeline yet on when the deals will be done?

Are Johnny and Mony going to fly to Calgary to do a presser when they sign?

[JBR]

With all the chatter about them wanting play together etc. my feeling is that both deals won't be announced at the same time. Just a hunch, nothing else.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I'm not as concerned with a bridge deal as others are. Lots of talk that if you bridge you could have a Subban situation. For me the only way that happens is if Monahan and Gaudreau step it up significantly.

An increase to the salary cap is another way for that situation to happen. Even if their production doesn't increase, you might be paying them an extra $2M per year if the cap jumps in the next few years.

[taco.vidal]

This would be incentive for the player to want a bridge deal and sign the long term deal later. Salaries and contract values are continually going up in excess of inflation so unless you had a breakout season that you think is unrepeatable, it makes sense as a player to delay signing your longterm contract a ciuple of years.

Originally Posted by burnitdown

An increase to the salary cap is another way for that situation to happen. Even if their production doesn't increase, you might be paying them an extra $2M per year if the cap jumps in the next few years.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by JBR

With all the chatter about them wanting play together etc. my feeling is that both deals won't be announced at the same time. Just a hunch, nothing else.

I'm hoping both are announced at different times because now there isn't much hockey talk and once they are announced we'll have something to talk about. Both announced separately makes even more hockey talk during the summer days.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I'm hoping both are announced at different times because now there isn't much hockey talk and once they are announced we'll have something to talk about. Both announced separately makes even more hockey talk during the summer days.

The problem is, if they're announced separately, then the hand-wringing freak-out around here about why the second player hasn't signed yet will get amped up to 11.

[CroFlames]

I would wring my hands. Probably gnash my teeth too.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I would wring my hands. Probably gnash my teeth too.

As long as you're not wringing your teeth and gnashing your hands, you should be fine.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by getbak

The problem is, if they're announced separately, then the hand-wringing freak-out around here about why the second player hasn't signed yet will get amped up to 11.

That's fine. Gives us even more to talk about.

[polak]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Steinberg's recent take as posted on Reddit:

You mean hockey players don't just forgo all hopes and dreams and personal agendas regarding their careers just cause the team that drafted them wants them to? Shocker.

Sign them for the max they will take and do everything in your power to win in that time. 6 or 7 years is a long time, completely within normal cycles to regress after that long if we start being competitive this season.