Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

You proved my point by naming 5 stars for Tampa. Not an entire top 4 on Defense.

And while TB is a model NHL franchise they are far from the only one. If I'm running the Flames, I'm not committed to my core the way TB should be committed to theirs.

The strength of the Bolts is their offense.

The strength of the Flames is their defense.

You dont blow up your strength and expect to get better somehow, you supplement your weaknesses. Which is what TB has done too. Trading Drouin for Sergachev, trading for Savard to bolster the d last year, along with adding sandpaper/defensive awareness up front in Goodrow and Coleman the previous year.

Maybe you dont believe the Flames D is all that good, I dont know. What the numbers say though is that this club is the elite defensive group in the entire NHL.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by transplant99

The strength of the Bolts is their offense.

The strength of the Flames is their defense.

You dont blow up your strength and expect to get better somehow, you supplement your weaknesses. Which is what TB has done too. Trading Drouin for Sergachev, trading for Savard to bolster the d last year, along with adding sandpaper/defensive awareness up front in Goodrow and Coleman the previous year.

Maybe you dont believe the Flames D is all that good, I dont know. What the numbers say though is that this club is the elite defensive group in the entire NHL.

Did I say the bolded? Maybe you meant to argue with someone else.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I was with someone today who’s very close to the organization, but not as close to this negotiation as Conroy, who said he thinks we’re going to lose Gaudreau. I then sent him a text with a screenshot of Conroy’s comment. Waiting to hear back…. Lol.

Did that someone look like Eric Francis? I know Johnny has said that he would like to stay and his sister was quite annoyed at Eric Francis. This is a strong group of guys having success, I can't see them wanting to be apart, It is going to be hard to get that elsewhere.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by transplant99

The strength of the Bolts is their offense.

The strength of the Flames is their defense.

You dont blow up your strength and expect to get better somehow, you supplement your weaknesses. Which is what TB has done too. Trading Drouin for Sergachev, trading for Savard to bolster the d last year, along with adding sandpaper/defensive awareness up front in Goodrow and Coleman the previous year.

Maybe you dont believe the Flames D is all that good, I dont know. What the numbers say though is that this club is the elite defensive group in the entire NHL.

I’d argue the biggest difference in the defensive game for the Flames this year has been the forward support. And the Bolts are undeniably strong offensively but they certainly shut things down defensively too. It’s a 5 man unit, defensive play is not exclusively dictated by defensemen

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

I’d argue the biggest difference in the defensive game for the Flames this year has been the forward support. And the Bolts are undeniably strong offensively but they certainly shut things down defensively too. It’s a 5 man unit, defensive play is not exclusively dictated by defensemen

I agree.

And guys like Hedman and Vasilevskiy (and McDonagh to an extent) are evidence that Tampa not building that team focusing only on offense. Arguably best two way defenseman an best goalie in the league.

After watching the Flames for the past eight years, I'd argue the strength of this team that is "untouchable" starts with the guy behind the bench.

[CroFlames]

Are there teams that are contenders right now that have the room to take on a 7 year Johnny contract? Because I doubt Johnny wants to get paid an extra few million over 8 years to play for a basement dweller. My my opinion.

Flames are soaring. Is "being close to home" really that important to him?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Are there teams that are contenders right now that have the room to take on a 7 year Johnny contract? Because I doubt Johnny wants to get paid an extra few million over 8 years to play for a basement dweller. My my opinion.

Flames are soaring. Is "being close to home" really that important to him?

Doesn't necessarily need to be going back to the Philly/NY area but there are definitely lifestyle changes that come with playing in the US, especially in warmer, wealthier cities. I don't know how important that is to him.

Last we heard, he was recently married and his wife was working in nursing here in Calgary?

I agree that he would want to go to a winner.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

I remember when Gaudreau for Konecny 1-for-1 was seriously being considered. My, how their outlooks have changed.


Given how dominant Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk have been this year at both ends of the ice, I would do everything possible to keep all three of them. Model the team's build similar to Boston's perfection line. Trade draft picks, gut the defense; keep that line together and the team will continue to thrive.

Look at my avatar. There were these knobs in here wanting to drive little Johnny to the airport on a daily basis. We didn't deserve him!

Good thing almost every one smartened up and realized if there is no Johnny there is no Flames. He is prob the most crucial single player in Flames hisotry since Kipper.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Look at my avatar. There were these knobs in here wanting to drive little Johnny to the airport on a daily basis. We didn't deserve him!

Good thing almost every one smartened up and realized if there is no Johnny there is no Flames. He is prob the most crucial single player in Flames hisotry since Kipper.

Players are widgets. As long as you can manage your widgets so you maximize their efficiency, no player is irreplaceable. Losing Gaudreau would be a blow, but if you replace him with three pieces that provided a greater lift, you are likely better off.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Players are widgets. As long as you can manage your widgets so you maximize their efficiency, no player is irreplaceable. Losing Gaudreau would be a blow, but if you replace him with three pieces that provided a greater lift, you are likely better off.

He is a top 5 player in the league. Replace him with 3 $3.5mil players? Guessing it's prob not going to work..

[Roof-Daddy]

Johnny is a top 5 player in this league......THIS year.

I think he's great, I hope he stays. He's really bought into what Sutter is selling, and has become a dynamic two way player. But he's also had a history of being inconsistent.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Johnny is a top 5 player in this league......THIS year.

I think he's great, I hope he stays. He's really bought into what Sutter is selling, and has become a dynamic two way player. But he's also had a history of being inconsistent.

He is the best passer in the league. and his hockey IQ is off the charts! This will continue.

By the end of their careers I can't see how McDavid will have more points than Gaudreau.

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Did that someone look like Eric Francis? I know Johnny has said that he would like to stay and his sister was quite annoyed at Eric Francis. This is a strong group of guys having success, I can't see them wanting to be apart, It is going to be hard to get that elsewhere.

God no. I would never hang out with Eric Francis. I’m highly offended and deserve an apology.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

God no. I would never hang out with Eric Francis. I’m highly offended and deserve an apology.

My apologies, sometimes a little bit of sarcasm doesn't show.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Johnny is a top 5 player in this league......THIS year.

I think he's great, I hope he stays. He's really bought into what Sutter is selling, and has become a dynamic two way player. But he's also had a history of being inconsistent.

He seems to be pretty consistent as long as his linemates are up to par as for the longest time it was Monahan and "insert winger of the day" which was good enough when Monahan was playing at the level of a 1st line center. This is probably the first time (Hudler I guess in 2014) he's played with two linemates that belong on a 1st line. I think the reality of a small forward with elite talent is that he needs to play with skilled players to get the best out of him.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

He is the best passer in the league. and his hockey IQ is off the charts! This will continue.

By the end of their careers I can't see how McDavid will have more points than Gaudreau.

Not to derail...but this is absurd barring major injuries.

McDavid has 90 more than JG right now and has played 120 fewer games.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not to derail...but this is absurd barring major injuries.

McDavid has 90 more than JG right now and has played 120 fewer games.

For sure. With Mcspeedy Gonazalez zipping around out there, he will be clocked and it will be catastrophic.

Gaudreau's played in 569 games in the NHL and the hardest hit he has taken was by his own teammate 2 games ago.

Johnny will play in more games and get more points than Mcbrokenleg before their careers are done.

It's like a carbon fibre Corvette, with no ABS, no airbags VS a Tesla Model S with full lane change sensors, forward collision warning, traction control and auto pilot.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

I’d argue the biggest difference in the defensive game for the Flames this year has been the forward support.

No question about it. But dont underestimate how Gudbranson and Zadorov are far more reliable than what was the 3rd pairing last year and with the added buy-in from all forwards, it makes the D stronger.

And the Bolts are undeniably strong offensively but they certainly shut things down defensively too. It’s a 5 man unit, defensive play is not exclusively dictated by defensemen

They are....after bringing in guys like Coleman and Goodrow instead of relying on scoring their ways to wins. They were swept in round 1 the year before the defensive conscience was brought in and all forwards understood how to win.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Johnny is a top 5 player in this league......THIS year.

I think he's great, I hope he stays. He's really bought into what Sutter is selling, and has become a dynamic two way player. But he's also had a history of being inconsistent.

Get out of here with that. History of being inconsistent?

He has 557 points in 568 games since he joined the league full time in 2014-2015. That’s good for 7th in the league sandwiched between Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares. Ahead of guys like Nathan Mackinnon, Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, Claude Giroux, Mark Schiefele, Anze Kopitar, Johnathan Huberdeau, Steven Stamkos, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Barkov, etc.

What more do you want of the guy? If he was anymore consistent he would be the best player in the world.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by bax

Get out of here with that. History of being inconsistent?

He has 557 points in 568 games since he joined the league full time in 2014-2015. That’s good for 7th in the league sandwiched between Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares. Ahead of guys like Nathan Mackinnon, Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, Claude Giroux, Mark Schiefele, Anze Kopitar, Johnathan Huberdeau, Steven Stamkos, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Barkov, etc.

What more do you want of the guy? If he was anymore consistent he would be the best player in the world.

Yes, I was responding to the poster that said Johnny was a top 5 player in this league.

This year he is. In 2018/19, he was.

The last two years? Not even close to being top 5.

So yeah, inconsistent.