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

[flylock shox]

It seems like Johnny may have really screwed himself as well as the Flames by not announcing his intention to go to UFA much sooner. If he had, Philly likely could have got their cap situation in order for him, or lined up a trade with Calgary to clear some cap. Waiting til the last minute threw a wrench into everyone's plans.

One of the only silver linings to this is that at least we don't have a bunch of I Told You So stuff after all the debate leading up to the UFA deadline. Even if you were right about him leaving Calgary, nobody predicted this...

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I'm a bit suspicious of that story when the source is BlueJackets.com.

But a number of sources indicate that NJ was in on Johnny, and actually offered more money.

So, the fact that he always considered Columbus as a destination is consistent with that, as Columbus wasn't simply his last resort.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not sure why people are so upset. It sounds like Columbus for whatever reason was one of his primary destinations. As crazy as it sounds to us and everyone else, it only has to make sense for Johnny and his family to be a good decision for them.

He still could have informed Flame management long before he did which would have allowed them to pivot to a different course of action at/before the draft and into UFA day.

There was zero reason to draw this out as he did when it was clear he was moving on as is his right.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I think it has become obvious that Gaudreau wanted out of the spotlight that was following him around away from the game. This is the hardest thing for many athletes to handle as the opportunities for privacy are limited. I remember back in the day being at a movie theatre for the first day of a big summer blockbuster and Lanny McDonald was in line with his wife to see the movie as well. This was the summer we lost to Canadiens so the city was still drunk on the trip to the finals. People were non-stop asking for autographs and shaking his hand. Thank god this was before cellphones and selfies. Lanny was gracious and took most of it in stride until the crowd started chanting his name. This went on for about five minutes until he had had enough. He snapped and yelled for everyone to STFU and give him and his wife space, they just wanted to see the movie like regular people. It really let me know how different life is for the people. So I can understand when a shy introverted kid who wants to start a family has a desire to blend in with the wood work away from the game. I will not hold that against him.

What I will hold against him, and the management team of the Flames, is not figuring this out well ahead of the deadline. This isn't rocket science and should have been a well known for years. I get trying to work past this, but if this was something that Gaudreau was always dealing with, the club should have identified this as issue and addressed it accordingly. The appropriate way was to get him some counseling to deal with this anxiety and if they were not making headway then prepare for the probability of not having that player. The stress of the spot light is tough on some people and they deal with it the best ways they can. For some it is running away from it. This appears to be the case here. The team should have been prepared for this outcome. Both parties should have worked together to find a resolution to the problem before it came to a head and both were hurt by the outcome (Flames more than the player).

[Heavy Jack]

Columbust. What a friggen joke, to throw 8 years of goodwill with an organization to the curb is mind blowing to me… if he wanted to go to Columbus and Treliving was made aware I’m sure something could have worked out for everyone but Johnny decided to shock the hockey world including the team he ended up signing with. What a bewildering series of events.

[BigJim]

Originally Posted by Igottago

This is the dumbest use of the best possible UFA position I think I've ever seen. He got really bad advice.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not sure why people are so upset. It sounds like Columbus for whatever reason was one of his primary destinations. As crazy as it sounds to us and everyone else, it only has to make sense for Johnny and his family to be a good decision for them.

Fans (and likely the Flames) are upset that he apparently was negotiating with the Flames until the 11th hour which makes the statement that Columbus was one of his primary destinations not credible. The report was that the exchange between the two sides was emotional which I'm guessing was somewhat heated. He strung the Flames along and then ran out of suiters when Philly couldn't clear cap space and the deal with NJD couldn't be finalized. That statement from Columbus is ridiculous, especially considering the money difference. Just an astounding situation.

[Sutter4Mayor]

Johnny Gaudriddance.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

I think it has become obvious that Gaudreau wanted out of the spotlight that was following him around away from the game. This is the hardest thing for many athletes to handle as the opportunities for privacy are limited. I remember back in the day being at a movie theatre for the first day of a big summer blockbuster and Lanny McDonald was in line with his wife to see the movie as well. This was the summer we lost to Canadiens so the city was still drunk on the trip to the finals. People were non-stop asking for autographs and shaking his hand. Thank god this was before cellphones and selfies. Lanny was gracious and took most of it in stride until the crowd started chanting his name. This went on for about five minutes until he had had enough. He snapped and yelled for everyone to STFU and give him and his wife space, they just wanted to see the movie like regular people. It really let me know how different life is for the people. So I can understand when a shy introverted kid who wants to start a family has a desire to blend in with the wood work away from the game. I will not hold that against him.

What I will hold against him, and the management team of the Flames, is not figuring this out well ahead of the deadline. This isn't rocket science and should have been a well known for years. I get trying to work past this, but if this was something that Gaudreau was always dealing with, the club should have identified this as issue and addressed it accordingly. The appropriate was was to get him some counseling to deal with this anxiety and if they were not making headway then prepare for the probability of not having that player. The stress of the spot light is tough on some people and they deal with it the best ways they can. For some it is running away from it. This appears to be the case here. The team should have been prepared for this outcome. Both parties should have worked together to find a resolution to the problem before it came to a head and both were hurt by the outcome (Flames more than the player).

Agree completely with all of this. Assuming he was anxious about the spotlight the blame is also on Treliving and management for not realizing this and realizing it may not go well even if he signs. I’m starting to come around to the idea there was piss poor communication and EQ from all three parties involved.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

He still could have informed Flame management long before he did which would have allowed them to pivot to a different course of action at/before the draft and into UFA day.

There was zero reason to draw this out as he did when it was clear he was moving on as is his right.

He could have but what if he was truly torn about leaving Calgary? The only people that know the truth aren't on this forum and aren't likely to disclose the details. This is all on Treliving as he had to know this was always a possibility as no deal is ever done until it's done. He seemed almost defiant at the draft that it was still going to get done and he was wrong. That's on him, not Johnny Gaudreau or his agent. If you don't want to be handcuffed by a player, don't lose all your leverage and let things get to the point where you have to call him and his agent on a daily basis grovelling and begging him to sign with you. Draw a line in the sand rather than stand at the altar hoping and praying. Make no mistake this is an embarrassment for the Flames organization. Not what Johnny did to them but what the organization allowed him to do to them.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

.

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.

Yeah, the Flames braintrust had to know the odds Gaudreau would re-sign in Calgary were slim. I understand their disappointment. But the last thing they should feel is surprised.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yeah, the Flames braintrust had to know the odds Gaudreau would re-sign in Calgary were slim. I understand their disappointment. But the last thing they should feel is surprised.

The thing is that he was surprised in the end. It appears he simply read the room wrong and thought it was going to happen and was just a matter of getting the numbers to work. I feel any anger should be directed at the man that miscalculated not the player that did what all players in his situation do which is do what's best for them.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Disagree, they would be very wise to take unprotected 1st(s) from a team facing a lot of uncertainty. Laine is a mercurial asset and it's hard to pin down his contract value or trade value, anyways.

Johnny to Laine one-timers? He’s gonna blow up again next season.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The thing is that he was surprised in the end. It appears he simply read the room wrong and thought it was going to happen and was just a matter of getting the numbers to work. I feel any anger should be directed at the man that miscalculated not the player that did what all players in his situation do which is do what's best for them.

I'm not going to defend Tre, but it does appear to me that Gaudreau was stringing them along and, despite engaging in week-long negotiations, never had any intentions of staying in Calgary. There's plenty of blame to go around and the Flames better learn from this, but heaping all of the blame on Tre is not fair either. Gaudreau and his camp simply did not negotiate in good faith if he was happy to give up $15m without even going home.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

But his decision is a slap in the face to us, because he led us on all year about how much he loved the city and his teammates.

One thing I’ve learned in all of this is there are fans who actually believe the vapid cliches that professional athletes are coached to say to the media. I thought everyone knew it was all bull####.

Originally Posted by Mathgod

The Flames are suddenly in an awkward spot. It didn't have to be this way.

There’s nothing at all sudden about what happened. Gaudreau leaving was the most likely scenario since last summer.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The thing is that he was surprised in the end. It appears he simply read the room wrong and thought it was going to happen and was just a matter of getting the numbers to work. I feel any anger should be directed at the man that miscalculated not the player that did what all players in his situation do which is do what's best for them.

So you assume he was possibly truly torn on leaving Calgary, but we dont know for sure...correct?

Yet we also do not know what JG/Gross said to the club leading them to believe he would stay but we dont know for sure....also correct?

But you have declared management at fault and all anger should be directed at them?

Sorry, whether or not you think BT is a good GM or not, one thing he is not...is dumb. He was not just hoping on a wish and a prayer that things would get done, there was clearly information that led him to believe that.

With the final destination and value of the contract decided upon, I think that validates it completely. JG was not returning at any price and there was no way that decision was reached 48 hours ago. That should have been relayed to the Flames long before July 12.

[Royle9]

This is the most bizarre ####.
Now they say Johnny went to Columbus because he wanted out of Calgary???
So he lied to the flames all along?
Overplayed his hand?
Too many theories I’m so confused now.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

His parents can fly to Columbus in 90 minutes

I live in Regina, and our parents live in Calgary. 7hr drive, not including stops. 1hr and change flight.

My sister lives in Toronto.

My mom and her parents makes equal flights to either of us, and happily do so. Regardless of how far we are, it still a day commitment to get to either of us.

I do buy that he wanted to be close to home. But I stated before, I don't believe he had the emotional maturity to fully realize how poorly he handled this process, and being in Calgary and convincing his wife and in-laws, wasn't as bad as he might have thought, if travel and distance were his biggest issues.

My dad put it very easily for me when I moved to Regina. When he immigrated across the world at 18, he did so alone, with minimal money, and $2 / min in phone calls. Today we have free video chat.

My 8 year old has a phenomenal relationship with all his grandparents, and videochat is the primary reason for that.

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by devo22

I'm not going to defend Tre, but it does appear to me that Gaudreau was stringing them along and, despite engaging in week-long negotiations, never had any intentions of staying in Calgary. There's plenty of blame to go around and the Flames better learn from this, but heaping all of the blame on Tre is not fair either. Gaudreau and his camp simply did not negotiate in good faith if he was happy to give up $15m without even going home.

Gaudreau didn't owe the Flames anything. He fulfilled his obligations to the team and gave the Flames years of high quality play. I see no reason that he would purposely negotiate in bad faith here. If Johnny told his agent that he is still considering the Flames then the agent is going to try to sting things along as long as possible to get the best offer. That's probably all it boils down to but if you want to put on a tinfoil hat and conclude that he did this on purpose to screw Treliving or the Flames then good for you.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Yeah it’s so weird to not defend the player who left your team and blame the people still employed by the team you cheer for. So strange… sooooooo strange. Inconceivable even.

[SuperMatt18]

It really does sound like Johnny was truly torn by this decision, also sounds like the family was as surprised as the rest of us that it’s Columbus in the end. (Not going to name names specifically but found myself in a random conversation with somebody close to the family last night)

I really think this came down to Johnny really wanting Philly, and when that didn’t work out he just took the best offer that was in the East and closer to home, where he’s had some friends play and really like it.

In the end it wasn’t like he left for money, he was still true to what he said that it was a family decision to test free agency, and if he felt Columbus was the best fit for him then that’s good for him.

The real issue here was that Gross and Treliving should have probably both handled this differently. My gut is still that Johnny Gaudreau is disappointed he’s not a Philadelphia Flyer this morning, and if his agent and Treliving had worked this differently there is probably a scenario where he’s there and a piece (Konency, Provorov, JVR+2nd) was back to Calgary on the cheap to help them clear the cap.