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InsideEdge

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Last years regular season struggles and failure to make the playoffs left many in Calgary shaking their heads.  The challenges the Flames faced last season may just have been minimal to the challenges that they faced during the off-season.  Goaltending was a critical issue, and getting key RFA players signed was also a very high priority.  With the trade for Brian Elliott done, and the goaltending question answered it was time to tackle the RFA troubles.  First the Flames locked up young star center Sean Monahan.  He signed a seven-year $44.625 million dollar contract, which boiled down to a $6.365 million annual hit.  The focus then turned to the speedy Johnny Gaudreau.  Well that negotiation has taken longer to solve, and what many thought would be a formality may just have turned into their biggest off-season challenge. 

 

Negotiations are currently on hold until after the World Cup of Hockey, and many in Calgary are starting to worry a bit.  Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun reported that Gaudreau and his agent are looking for a $8 million dollar deal.  Calgary has reportedly been in the $6.5 million dollar category.  Francis reported, “Sources say Gaudreau’s agent, Lewis Gross, is asking for a payday in the $8-million range while the Flames are pushing to pay between what Sean Monahan signed for ($6.375 million annual average value) and what captain Mark Giordano makes (a team-high $6.75 million AAV).” The Flames hold the cards on this deal since Gaudreau is restricted, and is not eligible to presented an offer-sheet.  But the Flames also do not want to get into a huge contract battle with the young fan favorite. 

 

According to Francis, “Flames fans can relax a bit, there is no way this will not get worked out, and no way that Gaudreau will not be in the Flames lineup come opening night.”  It is very important that they find some common ground and get this deal done.  The Flames cannot afford to not have the face of the team ready to start the season.  I look for the Flames to lock him up right after the World Cup, and it looks as though $7 million a year for 6 years may just be the common ground.

INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS

Gaudreau-Johnny-16-2.jpg

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hf101

I think the length of this contract has a lot to do with it too.  I Gudreau doesn't get near the 8 M he's looking for then I can see him preferring a 2 or 3 year deal around 7M.  I think Gudreau thinks he can put up numbers like Patrick Kane and would prefer to have the opportunity to make near the $10M mark a few years from now.

 

Thanks for posting the blog @InsideEdge.

 

And yeah, I agree fully that he will be ready to start the season with the Flames.

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JR Ewing

If I were the Flames, that $8M figure would be very livable, depending on which Johnny Gaudreau I think I'm going to get.
 Are they getting the guy who scores 2.68 Pts/60 (7th in NHL since he entered the league) at home, or are they getting the road player that's been 526th in the NHL during the same period?

 

One of them is astounding when the coach gets last change, and the other scores less than everybody's favorite bust, Nail Yakupov. The difference is that stark.

 

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flyercanuck
8 hours ago, JR Ewing said:

If I were the Flames, that $8M figure would be very livable, depending on which Johnny Gaudreau I think I'm going to get.
 Are they getting the guy who scores 2.68 Pts/60 (7th in NHL since he entered the league) at home, or are they getting the road player that's been 526th in the NHL during the same period?

 

One of them is astounding when the coach gets last change, and the other scores less than everybody's favorite bust, Nail Yakupov. The difference is that stark.

 

 

WTF????

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JR Ewing
46 minutes ago, flyercanuck said:

 

WTF????

 

Hey, it's true. He's a marvelous talent, but I'd be little leery devoting that much cap space to a player whose scoring drops off the map so badly for literally half the season. He may turn that around as he progresses, but so far he can't score on the road anything remotely close to what you want from an $8M player.

 

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InsideEdge

Gaudreau is a great player but the 8 million mark scares me and I am a Flames fan.   His play on the road is horrible - (thanks for the stats JR Ewing).  This makes me very hesitant.  I honestly think a 7.25 for 6 years makes sense for all.  He is a great player and a fan favorite. He sells tickets!  This all plays a role.  Time is running out - --

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