Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau could very well be the top free agent on the market when the frenzy kicks off on July 13. That is of course unless the Flames are able to lock up their offensive dynamo before then. The team is putting the “pedal down” according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, as they try to beat the clock.
Seravalli points out something that is important to remember in cases like this. The Flames’ advantage of being able to offer Gaudreau an extra year will disappear once free agency begins, meaning they have just over a month left to offer him an eight-year deal. If he reaches July 13 without a contract, the 28-year-old forward will only be able to sign a seven-year contract, no matter where he chooses to go.
Every time that general manager Brad Treliving has spoken about Gaudreau, he’s made clear that Calgary hopes to retain the services of their 115-point man. Despite that, speculation continues to swirl around the New Jersey native, suggesting he might be interested in returning to the east coast. As always, any contract talks will likely be determined by overall salary first and foremost, as it does with almost every player that hits the market.
On that end, the Flames certainly have enough cap space to win a bidding war, though there are other players who could be affected by where Gaudreau lands. Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane are both restricted free agents just a single year from unrestricted free agent status, and could simply use the arbitration system to get to the open market in 2023. Any long-term extensions with them will be buying out almost exclusively UFA years and would be expensive.
The focus is obviously on Gaudreau though, as there is a lot more time to talk to the RFA forwards after the free agent period begins. If they don’t get the first domino in place by then, things could be drastically different in Calgary next season.
8*8.5 get it done?
8 x $9.5M
Then trade Matty to St louis for Kyrou, Perunivich, and a 2nd
9.5 seems like too much. do we really think another team will offer him $10,000,000+ per on a 7 year contract (just comparing $). I could maybe see going to 9M but not sure he’s worth more.
Funny stuff! You don’t seem to be aware that that both teams have to agree to any trade.
Devils have a lot of cap space, makes sense for him there
The Devils wont be good unless Mercer, Holtz and Luke Hughes pan out, plus whomever they draft with the #2 overall… in which case they will need cap space to sign all four. With big contracts already given out to Jack Hughes, Hischier and Hamilton as well as needing to sign Bratt, they could screw themselves by signing Johnny to a massive contract.
8×8
gotta leave something for the team to remain competitive.
Flames are gonna have to offer 8 figures if they want him to sign before free agency.
Does Gaudreau benefit financially playing In the U.S. versus Canada? And what would his tax hit look like playing In Jersey vs. Alberta?
it depends on HOW they pay him. Signing bonuses seem to be less taxes. But Jersey is highy taxed like most of Canada. I do not know about Alberta, the oil and mining there might keep the provincial taxes lower.
He has 3 or 4 good years left so whoever ponies up will get burned. That’s today’s NHL
Yeah. I can’t wrap my head around how being able to offer an 8 year deal vs a 7 year deal is a POSITIVE for a team. For every one of these heavy term deals that works out, there are five that are colossal albatrosses around a team’s cap hit.
If I was an owner, I wouldn’t just fire any GM who signed a player to more than five years. I’d have him impaled in front of the arena, the body set on fire, and the ashes put in an urn to be displayed in the team offices, as a warning to the next chump.
Ron Francis said he’s going to be aggressive in free agency. Might pursue Gaudreau.
Seattle might be a perfect fit for him.
Let johnny hockey go. Not worth it. Can’t play on any team that can’t protect him with Lucic Zadarov Gubranson etc. Sign Tkachuk he can make his own space