[Signing] Gaudreau to Columbus (7 x $9.75 million)

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yeah, hockey players are grown men. Mostly with barely high school educations and in Gaudreau’s case a little more but who knows what he did in 3 years of jock college. Agents wield a lot of influence. As does family.

Johnny finished his degree in the off-season.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Locke

Even they both took a significant financial hit to move to Ohio.

Nobody pays to move to Ohio.

And nobody pays $18M to move to Ohio.

Generally I would agree but Columbus is actually a nice city (probably the only in the state). The guy is also already rich, its not the first time we've seen a player take less to move.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by manwiches

Unless you're LeBron.... Right?!?? Right?!?!

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Who?

Did we sign him today?

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1547396043662397447

Doesn’t make sense if it was Gaudreaus Agent that called up Columbus.

For 18 million dollars I’d follow my wife anywhere, and I feel like somehow I’d be able to make it work without a single complaint.

[Samonadreau]

Maybe Gaudreau just wanted out of the spotlight. Go play somewhere where easy.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Makes you wonder. Johnny seems like a very loyal person and to leave all his friends his team for an unknown seems odd. This especially since he did not arrive closer to home. It is quite posible this situation is not one that Johnny wanted. Heck he and Mony are close buddies so this is confusing.

I 100% agree.

You hear him talk so warmly and naturally about the team here, and then in his post season presser. I truly still believe he wanted to stay, but outer influences pulled harder. Doesn't make it easier, but as I noted, I think he was confused and torn, and given poor advice or too much, on how to handle.

Then that drivel on YouTube and the athletic. I think he knows he effed up, but he knows he's made his bed and has to acknowledge now.

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[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Because it wasn’t his fault. Tell me how he avoids it without being a mind reader when Johnny (a) misled him a year ago or (b) told the truth a year ago but changed his mind in the interim. Make sure you tell us all how Treliving does in a rental trade for a guy who has a 5 team NMC that probably only has one team he wants to go to, which also can’t afford him, and 4 which are no gos in a trade.

Keeping Johnny to go for it is fine. That was the right thing to do.

Brad allowed himself to be misled. Set a deadline at the exit interview.

Make your best offer, whatever it is.

If Gaudreau hasn’t signed by whatever deadline you’ve set, he isn’t signing.

We’re not Tampa, we’re not Colorado. We’re a small market Canadian team.

Gaudreau knew when he said “it’d be cool to play in Philly one day at the end of my career” that he wasn’t coming back.

Francis knew. For years, Eric Francis has had a better read on the Calgary Flames’ franchise player than the GM.

And yet the muppet keeps his job.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by CGY12

Generally I would agree but Columbus is actually a nice city (probably the only in the state). The guy is also already rich, its not the first time we've seen a player take less to move.

Is he going to buy in Columbus? He rented a condo and lived in basically a hotel his whole time in Calgary. I don’t see that changing much for him.

[tvp2003]

So I’ve scrolled through all 18 pages hoping there would be some new information, some explanation for what transpired.

Nope, the only thing I’ve seen so far is the Aaron Portzline article which has some quotes from Johnny that don’t actually make a lot of sense:

“I’d never been to Columbus before until I made it to the NHL, so when I started playing there I didn’t know what I was walking into, and I was just … ‘Wow!'” Gaudreau told The Athletic by phone late Wednesday. “They’ve always had great crowds, really into the game. I said to myself then, ‘This looks like a really fun place to play.’

“But it was more than that. I played in the (world championships) with Zach Werenski. I’ve known Eric Robinson for like 15-20 years. And some former guys, like Cam Atkinson and Dalton Prout … those guys were just like, ‘You’re going to absolutely love the place.'”

You’re friends with a guy on the team, played with another guy at a tournament, and got the thumbs up from Atkinson and Dalton ****ing Prout? Really?

This quote is kind of a gut punch though:

Gaudreau said he was blissfully unaware of the hockey world’s response to his signing. He hadn’t been on Twitter all day, he said.

“It’s all outside noise to me,” Gaudreau said. “I’m super excited about where I’m at. I think it was a great decision for me and my wife and we’re just over the moon right now. Super excited.”

Probably a good thing you didn’t read anything on Twitter today Johnny. But part of that “noise” was some of your devoted fan base that treated you and your family like royalty for the past 8 years. No thanks, no statement, no video, no nothing. Must have been a tough decision indeed.

I’ll reserve judgment until more information comes out because I have to believe there is more to the story. Not going to blame the agent or anyone else until then. But if NJ was ready to sign him, what was the problem? Did he like Columbus that much? I refuse to believe he didn’t sign with the Devils because he didn’t “like” them as a kid growing up near Philly. And why did the door slam on returning to Calgary — did something irreparable happen during the negotiation that tipped it from “I’m going to test the market” to “I’m not coming back”? So many questions.

Personally I think the one thing I maybe overestimated was the hockey side and his desire to compete and win, particularly in the playoffs. It was almost like the spotlight this year — on one of the top teams in a Canadian market, the first round against Dallas and then the meltdown in the Battle of Alberta — was more than he wanted at this stage of his life and career. Because Columbus makes little sense from a hockey perspective (IMO), and the quotes from Johnny don’t suggest otherwise.

[flylock shox]

Sorry if I missed it - has Johnny given any media quotes or statements about leaving Calgary yet?




Edit: I see tvp2003's quotes from Johnny. Maybe I'm underestimating the city, but for me it's hard to imagine anyone being "super excited" about a weekend getaway to Columbus, much less 7 years there. But hey, different strokes I guess...

[flamesfever]

In a way I'm happy we didn't go crazy to keep him. As I look at it, we experienced the joy of watching him during his best years, and somehow feel that our team would suffer in the long run by paying such a large amount for such a long period of time.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Is he going to buy in Columbus? He rented a condo and lived in basically a hotel his whole time in Calgary. I don’t see that changing much for him.

That was smart on Johnny's part. For more info watch this great Herm Edwards speech to guys drafted to NFL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux3G...playerinsiders

[Mr.Coffee]

This entire thing is so Flames.

Also kind of hilarious in a depressing kind of way.

Maybe Gaudreau was like well ####, since the NHL jobs the Flames every playoffs they'll never win no matter what anyway. At least this would be intellectually honest however I think the words honest and Gaudreau are like mixing oil and water.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by manwiches

I 100% agree.

You hear him talk so warmly and naturally about the team here, and then in his post season presser. I truly still believe he wanted to stay, but outer influences pulled harder. Doesn't make it easier, but as I noted, I think he was confused and torn, and given poor advice or too much, on how to handle.

Then that drivel on YouTube and the athletic. I think he knows he effed up, but he knows he's made his bed and has to acknowledge now.

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I am with you, my observation, maybe he reacted to the Flames being taken back on the 11m counter? Then as you suggested other influences came into play that derailed his initial intentions. Even grown woman and men sometimes don't act as they should when there is a strong group influence.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by skudr248

What the hell was that

Can anyone make out what he's saying here? He's excited or some crap? Can be a leader if needed or something?

CLB is not going to make the playoffs. So, he'll have more offseason to drive to Cleveland with the fam I guess which will be soooo sweet.

[Singularity]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1547396043662397447

Does she make enough to even come close to the discount he took? No
She could've worked at the Alberta Children's Hospital.

My hot take is, with the distraction between family, kids, and new team mates. Next year, he doesn't repeat close to what he's done this season.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Keeping Johnny to go for it is fine. That was the right thing to do.

Brad allowed himself to be misled. Set a deadline at the exit interview.

Make your best offer, whatever it is.

If Gaudreau hasn’t signed by whatever deadline you’ve set, he isn’t signing.

We’re not Tampa, we’re not Colorado. We’re a small market Canadian team.

Gaudreau knew when he said “it’d be cool to play in Philly one day at the end of my career” that he wasn’t coming back.

Francis knew. For years, Eric Francis has had a better read on the Calgary Flames’ franchise player than the GM.

And yet the muppet keeps his job.

BULL-F###in-Plop

No he didnt.

This is like insane 'Fake News' nonsense.

"Johnny wants to go home! Play for his childhood team!"

That is like a bad gimmick from a sidewalk magician.

He didnt 'go home.'

He is marginally closer to his family. Really, all he's done is eliminate a border.

And he lost $18M to do it.

Johnny goofed.

All Gaudreau did was move marginally closer to the East Coast. I sincerely doubt that 8 years ago Eric Francis predicted that he'd leave as a UFA to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

You are giving Francis way, WAY too much credit. Johnny isnt suiting up in Philly. Its Columbus.

Did anyone see Gaudreau going to Columbus?

Look...I am as critical, if not more, of Treliving...but he got thrown a goddamned curveball here. Yeah...if anything I'll blame Treliving for not having traded him last year. Thats his mistake. The rest? This is madness.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Singularity

Does she make enough to even come close to the discount he took? No
She could've worked at the Alberta Children's Hospital.

I am sure this is a stretch. She will be on mat leave pretty shortly here.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Is he going to buy in Columbus? He rented a condo and lived in basically a hotel his whole time in Calgary. I don’t see that changing much for him.

7 year deal with a kid on the way, i'd assume they are buying.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Nothing in the article suggests he strung the team along or that he knew long ago. I don’t even see any details in the article about the way it went down that we didn’t already know.

The only mention is that he knew “early on”. Early on what? In free agency? the summer? Off season? His entire contract?

So ultimately it could have been last year or last week and still be “early on”.

I also find it hard to believe anyone would think the flames were blindsided. The minute he didn’t sign last off season, or this season, or as soon as the season ended, it should have been apparent. And I’m guessing it was obvious to Tre but even knowing it was a lame duck situation he had to keep trying to the sake of the media, fans and his own job security.

Did you read the article? Seemed to me like quite a lot of new info in there.