Seravalli: Johnny Gaudreau informed the Flames he will not be returning

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Gaudreau is such a pathetic playoff performer. Is this really that big of a loss?

33 points in 42 games is pathetic?

 

[belair]

Ya but Gaudreau isn't a player you're going to win the cup with as your top dog to carry the offense. He's not good enough to lead a team to a cup. This is a blessing in disguise for the Flames team. In a few years from now, they will be glad they didn't have Gaudreau on their team eating up 25% of the cap.

I don't disagree with your initial statement, but losing a player of that calibre for nothing is never a blessing. My criticism of Treliving has to do with his methods. I don't understand why he'd let things settle the way they have when Calgary never entered a season expecting to contend.

 

[oceanchild]

It won’t happen, but it would be epic if he signed in Edmonton to play with McDavid.

 

[BrindamoursNose]

Flyers are on the eve of signing the top UFA and we have no joy in it

 

[Kravtsov420]

Fine by me when the big guys are tryig to dig the puck out of their own net after said small guys light them up

Playoffs are a different animal, not saying there’s anything wrong with players being smaller, but having a whole team of them?

Devils needed size and some people that play a rougher game. Jack Hughes and Co seemingly always get hurt when the body is put on them, and that’s not even in the playoffs where there’s less time and space, more physicality, and less shit gets called . So if the skilled player isn’t playing for half the season, that’s an issue.

 

[Tripod]

JD slotted next to Nico will also take Nico to another level. Double win for NJ should they get him.

 

[DomBarr]

Ugh 16 hrs until Treliving does something stupid

 

[SML2]

Ultimately theses things boil down to a few factors.
Loyalty
Money
Quality of life.

Some guys want to play their whole career in one organization. Maybe they have enough money to stay happy and that's more important to them than more money.

Some play for the love of the game, but some just play for a living. In that case you go for the biggest number or a state that doesnt take a giant bite out of your ass.

Quality of life has to be best in the metro. Even most of your road games in the division are going to have you home at night. Guys who are from the area or ones with young families are going to gravitate to places where they aren't spending half their lives on a plane.

I really wish the NHL had some provosion where a home grown and developed kid could make more money with his organization and have it discounted against the cap. It's got to be heartbreaking for kids to just watch their heroes turn their back and walk away.

 

[TheNumber4]

So… how are the Flyers fitting him in? They have to do a fire sale to clear cap no?

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Gaudreau is an elite offensive player. Losing him hurts. I think Calgary is in for a rough couple of seasons trying to rebuild the top half of their roster. Particularly if Tkachuk chooses to move on.

Signing aging vets will only ensure they continue on as a fringe team. You're also not seeing much in terms of top four defensemen on the open market. Odds are you're stuck with a handful of diminishing assets a couple years from now if the plan is to spend in free agency.

Gaudreau has shown time and time again that he does not excel when under pressure. I believe this is one reason he doesn't want to play for a Canadian team anymore. He's pretty much the modern day Phil Kessell when he was a leaf. Great player but not a #1 forward on any legit contender. Will find his next level when he's the #3 or #4 best forward on a team playing behind better players.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

If Treliving signs Evander Kane to replace Johnny, I think I'm taking a year off from hockey

 

[Kranix]

Johnny. Johnny!
JOOHHHHNNNNNYYYYYYYYYYYY

 

[NotAVacuumSalesman]

I knew this rap was bad karma.

 

[ozzie]

Would be a decent fit for Pittsburgh to replace Malkin. He seems like a really great #2. I feel bad for Calgary. Obviously he would make any team better, plenty of east coast options depending on cap space.

 

[Little Psycho]

Thank goodness this free agency is gonna be interesting. That last few years have been a dud

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

I don't disagree with your initial statement, but losing a player of that calibre for nothing is never a blessing. My criticism of Treliving has to do with his methods. I don't understand why he'd let things settle the way they have when Calgary never entered a season expecting to contend.

Flames ownership have always been terrible. They’re known for holding onto their star players for too long while getting nothing for them. Just look when they traded Iginla, they waited two years too late and got spart parts for him. It set their franchise back 5 years. All because they failed to want to rebuild and kept believing they were a contender with an aging Iginla and kipprisoff.

 

[Cotton]

Kadri's already refused a trade to Calgary once iirc. I don't think he wants to play in Canada again.

... because he wanted to remain on the Leafs. He addressed it in the media, he had nothing against Calgary, he just didn't want to leave Toronto.

But you go on with your narrative.

 

[rajuabju]

If all the reports are true about the $80M-ish offer, then I dont know what else Calgary could have done to keep him, seems like the player just wanted to leave and cash not the motivating factor.

 

[McDrai]

Gaudreau has shown time and time again that he does not excel when under pressure. I believe this is one reason he doesn't want to play for a Canadian team anymore. He's pretty much the modern day Phil Kessell when he was a leaf. Great player but not a #1 forward on any legit contender. Will find his next level when he's the #3 or #4 best forward on a team playing behind better players.

Maybe at the All Star Game. Gaudreau finished 2nd in points during the regular season. There is no team in the NHL in which he is the #3 or #4 forward lol

 

[belair]

Flames ownership have always been terrible. They’re known for holding onto their star players for too long while getting nothing for them. Just look when they traded Iginla, they waited two years too late and got spart parts for him. It set their franchise back 5 years. All because they failed to want to rebuild and kept believing they were a contender with an aging Iginla and kipprisoff.

I don't understand why teams do this to themselves. Players are assets and long-term success is far more valuable than 'chasing a dream'.

The Edmonton Oilers post-2006 were the perfect example of that after they lost Chris Pronger. And they traded him!

When it gets to the point where Leon and Connor get to their UFA years, I want our management to push for extensions. It's necessary, because you can't lose that asset for nothing. It's horrible optics and damaging for morale.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Maybe at the All Star Game. Gaudreau finished 2nd in points during the regular season. There is no team in the NHL in which he is the #3 or #4 forward lol

So he would be better than Mcdavid or Draisaitl on Edmonton?

 

[tmurfin]

Flames ownership have always been terrible. They’re known for holding onto their star players for too long while getting nothing for them. Just look when they traded Iginla, they waited two years too late and got spart parts for him. It set their franchise back 5 years. All because they failed to want to rebuild and kept believing they were a contender with an aging Iginla and kipprisoff.

I usually tend to agree with shitting on Flames ownership, but Iggy has since admitted he practically begged the organization to keep them together longer to keep trying.

 

[GordonGraham]

Much rather have the cap space than 8 years of Gaudreau at 10M just dont blow it on something stupid like Kane or Kadri

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Johnny is just like Jarome Iginla, they just don't have that winners vibe and are not good under pressure.

Sure Calgary won't have great regular seasons anymore but they weren't winning with him anyway

 

[Spawn]

Honestly as somehow who hates the Flames... I think this sucks.

Obviously Gaudreau is entitled to go where he wants, he's a UFA. But it sucks seeing a teams franchise player who has spent his entire career with one organization leave. Fans poke fun at the possibility of this kind of stuff happening. But its so disheartening when it does.

The Oilers are going to have to face that possibility in 3/4 years with Draisaitl and McDavid. Feels like bad karma getting enjoyment out of it now when the Oilers could be in a similar position in the not too distant future.