Speculation: Gaudreau seeking $8M annually on new deal with Flames

[Hunter368]

8 million...nope not in today's NHL. Thus he isn't signed yet. Flames don't pay that

 

[Backlund]

I have caught a lot of flack for the same thought process as this.

It is like people don't understand physics.

No matter how many Flames fans think he is the next Kane, I see someone who has been lucky so far in his career. When he gets caught, there is going to be trouble in Cow Town.

A 64 point rookie who had a 78 point sophmore season is someone who has just been lucky in his career? [mod]

 

[gorangers0525]

People still citing his size make me want to puke

 

[WTFMAN99]

7x7 seems right, if they can do 7 years and less, even better.

 

[McFlyingV]

7x7 seems right, if they can do 7 years and less, even better.

I doubt they can, otherwise he'd be signed by now. If its under 7 I expect the years to be 5 or less.

 

[whlscowt]

People still citing his size make me want to puke

The only rationale I can come up with for that argument is the fact that his head is more aligned with bigger players' shoulders/elbows than the average player which probably makes him more susceptible to concussions which could hurt his long term health. We've seen that happen to smaller players like Gerbe and Ennis who've had their bells rung a few times for just skating through the trees. In terms of skill, and ability to contribute, size issues have been quelled.

 

[Spazkat]

The only rationale I can come up with for that argument is the fact that his head is more aligned with bigger players' shoulders/elbows than the average player which probably makes him more susceptible to concussions which could hurt his long term health. We've seen that happen to smaller players like Gerbe and Ennis who've had their bells rung a few times for just skating through the trees. In terms of skill, and ability to contribute, size issues have been quelled.

That and he's so light when he does get hit he seems to go airborne rather than just going down. Seems like the potential for injury would be a lot higher that way.

 

[Mr Positive]

I doubt they can, otherwise he'd be signed by now. If its under 7 I expect the years to be 5 or less.

I could definitely see the compromise being on term. It makes some sense since there's more risk with wingers. 6 years seems about right, maybe at Gio's 6.75.

 

[me2]

It makes a lot more sense to pay a player big money for the entirety of his prime, than to give a 30 year old 8 million over 8 years and have them never live up to that deal.

Contract tends are changing - older guys getting less money, and younger guys are wanting more earlier on.

If teams want to keep their talent they'll have to pay for it

Ladd Eriksson Backes disagree about getting less money. Younger guys are getting paid earlier though.

 

[me2]

I doubt they can, otherwise he'd be signed by now. If its under 7 I expect the years to be 5 or less.

I've got 8*8 less 0.5m for every year led then 8. 4*6m 6*7m 8*8m.

 

[McVespa99]

Im hoping he signs for 8x8

 

[jacks*]

You don't think the Players Association and Agents discuss contracts previous to sending them to the NHL office? If McDavid were to sign a deal for 1 mill a season he'd be a marked man. Every NHL team would use that salary in their negotiations with their players. It would drive salaries down while owners revenue would go up. It's the exact opposite of what the PA wants, their star players being paid market value.

They wouldn't need to do anything about it, the members would take it out on McDavid. The only players that would commend McDavid for taking a salary less than market value are those players locked into long-term contracts



No, they can't (legally)

Ya like it's never happened before.Players have taken lesser contracts and yes the Players Association wasn't happy but there was nothing they could do about it.

 

[jacks*]

Im hoping he signs for 8x8

So do i.

 

[BruinsBtn]

8m for entertainment value alone

 

[rynryn]

8m for entertainment value alone

yep. that kid is dynamic. fun fun fun to watch.

 

[skyo]

Johnny Gaudreau proving why he's worth the money today, + the past two seasons.

 

[vannuckles]

A 64 point rookie who had a 78 point sophmore season is someone who has just been lucky in his career? [mod]

Lucky not getting hit. I was not talking about his points.

 

[JurassicTunga]

Lucky not getting hit. I was not talking about his points.

Not really. I'd say not putting himself in bad spots to get hit is a big part of his skill set. He has tremendous IQ. He's never been injured as far as I know at any level. The biggest hit he has taken was at the hands of Datsyuk and he had no problems afterwards and continues to go into those dirty areas.

 

[Canadienna]

I realize its easy to say this when it's not my money, but you would think some players would be more keen on taking discount deals so the team can spend cap money elsewhere.

I'm not talking dirt cheap, and Gaudreau is worth 8m imo, but itd be great for the flames if he took 6-6.5.

 

[vannuckles]

Not really. I'd say not putting himself in bad spots to get hit is a big part of his skill set. He has tremendous IQ. He's never been injured as far as I know at any level. The biggest hit he has taken was at the hands of Datsyuk and he had no problems afterwards and continues to go into those dirty areas.

They had to pull him for an entire third period against the Ducks in the playoffs, because the physicality picked up. I think come post season he will have a lot harder of a time coming out unscathed. He is shifty, and yes, he is a smart player, but all it takes is one time. During the series I was able to see how easily the Ducks physically nullified him.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Uh oh, Gaudreau is playing in the WCoH. Without his luck he won't even make it to game 1 of the 2016-17 season before his inevitable career ending injury delivered by big bad Zach Parise-nay-Artemi Panarin.

At least we dodged a 64 million dollar bullet.

 

[McVespa99]

So do i.

8 yrs x 9 would be even better

 

[heretik27]

I realize its easy to say this when it's not my money, but you would think some players would be more keen on taking discount deals so the team can spend cap money elsewhere.

I'm not talking dirt cheap, and Gaudreau is worth 8m imo, but itd be great for the flames if he took 6-6.5.

I'd like to see him re-sign in Calgary as well, but why on earth does anyone think he should be making less than players like Stamkos (8.5M AAV) or Rick Nash (7.8M AAV)?

Toews 10.5M AAV
Kane 10.5M AAV
Benn 9.5M AAV
Malkin 9.5M AAV
Crosby 8.7M AAV
Perry 8.625M AAV
Giroux 8.275M AAV
Voracek 8.25M AAV
Getzlaf 8.25M AAV
Kessel 8M AAV
Tarasenko 7.5M AAV
O'Rielly 7.5M AAV
Spezza 7.5M AAV
Parise 7.5M AAV
Krejci 7.25M AAV
Thornton 7M AAV
Sedins 7M AAV
Stastny 7M AAV

Just a quick look up on cap friendly at some of the others making more than 7M AAV. While I don't think career-wise Gaudreau's surpassed guys like Thornton or the Sedins, moving forward you know he's worth at least as much as them in today's NHL. Kessel, Voracek, and Perry all make more than 8M yearly as wingers, as well as Benn who is quite possibly the best power forward in the league right now. Realistically looking at this board of current NHL elite forwards I don't think Gaudreau's 8M is too far off what he should be getting paid for the offense he brings bearing in mind many of these players are on older contracts from when the cap was millions less than it is now.

 

[sxvnert]

7m x 7y or 7m x 6y

 

[The Head Crusher]

I'd like to see him re-sign in Calgary as well, but why on earth does anyone think he should be making less than players like Stamkos (8.5M AAV) or Rick Nash (7.8M AAV)?

Nash signed his contract when he was still with CBJ and was still considered one of the best players around (when healthy) and won the Richard trophy. Columbus was hoping that he would get healthy again and be their leader and they needed star power to attract the other pieces they need to build a contender.

Stamkos only recieved a 1M raise from what he made on his last contract. He won the Richard trophy twice before signing his current contract. While he has suffered from some severe injuries in the past he has put up consistent numbers throughout his entire NHL career.

Gaudreau has been impressive in his first 2 full NHL season, but that is such a small sample size to justify a 10x jump in salary. He may yet earn that much money in his NHL career, but it shouldn't be on his 1st contract passed his entry level deal. He is not Crosby or Ovechkin.