Maybe I'm missing something but when was the last time a player barely past his rookie year told his employer that he's unilaterally suspending negotiations with the employer because he's busy doing something else?
And everyone talks about how the Flames should just pay him the 8M or 8.5M and suck it up. What about the fact that the Flames have the least number of contracts (42) signed for the upcoming season of all 30 teams? How does that not put them at a disadvantage when there are injuries/suspensions,etc?
The majority of the contracts are less than 1M. What kind of person says, in effect, I'm a star (granted) and I'm damn well worth more than any one else on this team - even the veterans and up to 10 times more than the guy that I'm depending on to make me look good? How does that work as far as team dynamics go?
Frankly, I think JG has gotten some bad advice and the Flames will be lucky if they don't end up looking like the bad guys no matter what they do.
At the end of the day, hockey is a team sport and this guy, regardless of how good he is, either doesn't remember how he got to where he is, or he's determined to play somewhere else as soon as possible.
- itwasin

Yes, how dare he suspend negotiations while he plays in a tournament that earns both parties more money?

Iggy sat out a few games while negotiating a contract as well.

Yes, how dare he suspend negotiations while he plays in a tournament that earns both parties more money?

Iggy sat out a few games while negotiating a contract as well.


- fry

I think these guys better take a fcking pill. Jesus! Kucherov hasn't signed either, Tampa better trade the fcker. Ristouleinen hasn't signed in Buffalo yet, ohhhh boy they better trade the fcker! Gaudreau is worth Tarasenko money, bar none. Gaudreau aint going nowhere. He can't go anywhere for the next 5 years anyway, so sign him for 5 & then trade him in 4 years. but that would be stupid.

Maybe I'm missing something but when was the last time a player barely past his rookie year told his employer that he's unilaterally suspending negotiations with the employer because he's busy doing something else?
And everyone talks about how the Flames should just pay him the 8M or 8.5M and suck it up. What about the fact that the Flames have the least number of contracts (42) signed for the upcoming season of all 30 teams? How does that not put them at a disadvantage when there are injuries/suspensions,etc?
The majority of the contracts are less than 1M. What kind of person says, in effect, I'm a star (granted) and I'm damn well worth more than any one else on this team - even the veterans and up to 10 times more than the guy that I'm depending on to make me look good? How does that work as far as team dynamics go?
Frankly, I think JG has gotten some bad advice and the Flames will be lucky if they don't end up looking like the bad guys no matter what they do.
At the end of the day, hockey is a team sport and this guy, regardless of how good he is, either doesn't remember how he got to where he is, or he's determined to play somewhere else as soon as possible.
- itwasin

I can't even tell if it's Johnny or his agent who's pushing for this ridiculous asking price. Maybe it's his parents, or maybe it's his friends, who knows.
Maybe if this was Evander Kane or something I could see this happening, but I'm having a hard time imagining what a 23 year old college student even wants to do with that sort of money.
Regardless, I personally don't like players who demand more than they deserve, or act like they're better than everyone else on the team.
Case in point, I personally don't like Vesey and how he handled his negotiations.

Anyways, I say if it's really Gaudreau who's demanding 7.5 mil+, and would rather not play than sign for 7, I would just trade him.

But we shall see.

I can't even tell if it's Johnny or his agent who's pushing for this ridiculous asking price. Maybe it's his parents, or maybe it's his friends, who knows.
Maybe if this was Evander Kane or something I could see this happening, but I'm having a hard time imagining what a 23 year old college student even wants to do with that sort of money.
Regardless, I personally don't like players who demand more than they deserve, or act like they're better than everyone else on the team.
Case in point, I personally don't like Vesey and how he handled his negotiations.

Anyways, I say if it's really Gaudreau who's demanding 7.5 mil+, and would rather not play than sign for 7, I would just trade him.

But we shall see.
- BobHartley

I believe he's a professional hockey player and not a college student.

And I don't think he's going to sit out any season games.

We could have traded Iggy when he sat out games between his ELC and his second contract. We wouldnt have our franchise leader in just about all scoring categories.. But atleast we'd make a point about.. Equity? WTF

Johnny is kicking ass at the World Cup; we should be grateful he won't be getting +8. God knows McDavid is getting +8.

Why bother writing about this non-piece of news? I know you are not really much of a writer beyond the confines of cold hard fact, but maybe it would be beneficial writing a blog based on what-ifs or speculative scenarios.


Sometimes a little Tanner flavor goes a very long way.

Why bother writing about this non-piece of news? I know you are not really much of a writer beyond the confines of cold hard fact, but maybe it would be beneficial writing a blog based on what-ifs or speculative scenarios.


Sometimes a little Tanner flavor goes a very long way.
- Misterbator

Perhaps you forget what site this is...
Fact RARELY ever comes into play here.

I can't even tell if it's Johnny or his agent who's pushing for this ridiculous asking price. Maybe it's his parents, or maybe it's his friends, who knows.
Maybe if this was Evander Kane or something I could see this happening, but I'm having a hard time imagining what a 23 year old college student even wants to do with that sort of money.
Regardless, I personally don't like players who demand more than they deserve, or act like they're better than everyone else on the team.
Case in point, I personally don't like Vesey and how he handled his negotiations.

Anyways, I say if it's really Gaudreau who's demanding 7.5 mil+, and would rather not play than sign for 7, I would just trade him.

But we shall see.
- BobHartley

Just curious what you are basing "he's not worth it" on???? You think Toews is worth 10.5 mill? You think Kopitar is worth 10.0 mill he recently signed? What determines the $$$$. Johnny outperformed both those guys last year, should he get 11.0 mil then? If we can get him for 7.5mill, we should take it & run for the next 7 or 8 years. That means we have him in his prime years. In case you haven't noticed, 30 seems to be the old-timerage in this league & a lot of 31-32 year old players are having trouble getting decent contracts because they are deemed as slowing down & their game regressing. You can't blame these kids for wanting to get paid for their prime years of playing. I would do the same thing myself, & you know damn well you would too if you had Gaudreau talent.

I know Flames fans will be on me for this,
But if Johnny will only sign for over 7.5 mil, I think we should just trade him.

If Panarin was a free agent this season, how much do you think he'd sign for? 6 mil?

Now ask me if I'd rather have Johnny or Panarin and it'd be close.

Ask me if I'd rather have Tarasenko or Gaudreau, and Tarasenko is better than Gaudreau in almost every way. I'll call the points a split. Tarasenko is faster. Tarasenko is stronger. Tarasenko is more physical. Tarasenko has a better shot. Tarasenko scores more goals. More trusted in the defensive end.

Before you idiots tell me because he got 78 points, he is worth equal or more than Tarasenko, tell me if you'd rather have Ovechkin or Kane, assume they're the same age.
If we look purely at points and playmaking, Kane smokes Ovechkin out of the water with 46/106, vs. 50/71 (35 point difference!). But I would say they are equal value, if not Ovechkin being even more valuable to a team.

Simply put, Ovechkin makes up for that 35 point difference by the other things I talked about. I would compare Tarasenko to Ovi, and Kane to Gaudreau.

However, in this case, there is only a 4 point difference, and people are still justify Gaudreau's 7.5+ contract.
8 years 56 mil.
- BobHartley

Between Ovi and Kane - Who has the Cups? And before you say Kane has Toews, Ovi has Backstrom. I would take Kane (minus his warts as a human being) because the guy has proven he can score and win despite being undersized. Sure, Ovi can impact the game physically, but he is less a team guy and has shown that he can be absolutely shut down in the playoffs as well.

Gaudreau should get around 7.5 million, the guy is a top ten scorer in the league and one of its most dynamic players.

Team guy or not, superstars get paid and JG deserves to get paid. And, sure, compare Panarin and JG, you don't think (anywhere else) Panarin is going to get Tarasenko money? You're crazy if you think that either one of those guys hitting the free agent market would not command $8M+ in a bidding war

Yeah just pay the kid. Like it or not, his talent level justifies it. He's far and away your best player and exciting as hell to watch.

Just curious what you are basing "he's not worth it" on???? You think Toews is worth 10.5 mill? You think Kopitar is worth 10.0 mill he recently signed? What determines the $$$$. Johnny outperformed both those guys last year, should he get 11.0 mil then? If we can get him for 7.5mill, we should take it & run for the next 7 or 8 years. That means we have him in his prime years. In case you haven't noticed, 30 seems to be the old-timerage in this league & a lot of 31-32 year old players are having trouble getting decent contracts because they are deemed as slowing down & their game regressing. You can't blame these kids for wanting to get paid for their prime years of playing. I would do the same thing myself, & you know damn well you would too if you had Gaudreau talent.
- Kevin R

He's "not worth" 8mil+ because I can get equal or better talent with less.

For example, people are saying Johnny's performance in the World Cup demands a higher pay. Well what about Nate Mackinnon? I'd say he's been more effective and more noticeable, and he's a 6 mil player.
When we enter 8, 8.5 mil territory, I expect a proven elite superstar. What Gaudreau brings and has proved is not equal to Steven Stamkos. Period.
Yes, he MIGHT be a 90 pt. player in a few years, but for Brad, there is risk involved with a guy with 2 years in the NHL. He could just as likely turn into a 50-60 pt guy. He might be injury prone. He might have a glaring weakness we don't know yet (other than his size).

Point is, potential might be 8mil. But atm, he hasn't done what it takes to earn the 8.5

He's "not worth" 8mil+ because I can get equal or better talent with less.

For example, people are saying Johnny's performance in the World Cup demands a higher pay. Well what about Nate Mackinnon? I'd say he's been more effective and more noticeable, and he's a 6 mil player.
When we enter 8, 8.5 mil territory, I expect a proven elite superstar. What Gaudreau brings and has proved is not equal to Steven Stamkos. Period.
Yes, he MIGHT be a 90 pt. player in a few years, but for Brad, there is risk involved with a guy with 2 years in the NHL. He could just as likely turn into a 50-60 pt guy. He might be injury prone. He might have a glaring weakness we don't know yet (other than his size).

Point is, potential might be 8mil. But atm, he hasn't done what it takes to earn the 8.5
- BobHartley

Who? Who is going to give us a better player straight up. That's a nonsense argument. Don't compare are Mckinnons contract to Johnny, he had a meh year last year, in fact his last 2 years were underachieved. Monahan had more goals in that 2 years. Not saying Monahan will be a better player than McKinnon but, he has outperformed him until now. Injury argument doesn't wash either. Anyone can get injured in this league due to the speed of the game & that causes freak injuries. If you wait until he is a consistent 90-100 point player, you won't be getting him for 8.0 mill anymore, he'll be $10.0 mill +
So glad you aren't the GM, we would be trading all our star players because you don't think they are worth it. No I don't consider Tarasenko better than Gaudreau for the record.

Who? Who is going to give us a better player straight up. That's a nonsense argument. Don't compare are Mckinnons contract to Johnny, he had a meh year last year, in fact his last 2 years were underachieved. Monahan had more goals in that 2 years. Not saying Monahan will be a better player than McKinnon but, he has outperformed him until now. Injury argument doesn't wash either. Anyone can get injured in this league due to the speed of the game & that causes freak injuries. If you wait until he is a consistent 90-100 point player, you won't be getting him for 8.0 mill anymore, he'll be $10.0 mill +
So glad you aren't the GM, we would be trading all our star players because you don't think they are worth it. No I don't consider Tarasenko better than Gaudreau for the record.
- Kevin R

Look at comparables for good players coming off their ELCs.
For example, Stamkos came off a 51 goal, 95 pt season and a 91 pt season, and signed a 7.5 mil contract. Is Gaudreau worth that?
Jamie Benn came off 67, than 72 (over 82 games) and signed for 5.25 mil.

Point is, players coming off their ELCs don't demand that sort of money. Sure, the cap has gone up a little in 5 years, but it remains. It's unwise for any GM to give away elite superstar money for "potential" elite superstars.

Perhaps you forget what site this is...
Fact RARELY ever comes into play here.
- geta02it

I am totally confused by your response.


Todd is all about facts, numbers, old pieces of regurgitated information.

I was asking for the" rarities" you so graciously pointed out to be turned down a little on the Flames blog so we don't have to read about fricken Niklass Grossman.

Perhaps you forget what this blog is...