Don’t tell the Calgary Flames that they’re supposed to be trading forward Johnny Gaudreau. Despite multiple sources suggesting the Flames have him at the top of their to-trade list, a recent report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggests the Flames are not only considering keeping the player, but looking at extending him on a new contract that could make him the highest-paid player in franchise history.
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On the surface, this may come as shocking news to many. The Flames have struggled and there’s a lot of water cooler chatter they need to make big and lasting changes to their roster if they’re ever going to be more than a team a lot of people think can be good, but are never really competitors. Gaudreau’s name comes up a lot in trade talk because he’s an offensively-gifted player that doesn’t always show up in the postseason. For the Flames, the playoffs is all that matters any more. They’re tired of being a team that tends to get barely scrape in, but never gets very far.
Because Gaudreau would have value on the trade market, the Flames could add some significant pieces that could help right away. They’d be giving up a lot, but if Gaudreau isn’t part of the organization’s long-term plans, why not move him? Apparently, the Flames think he could be part of the solution.
Good Reason to Negotiate With Gaudreau Now
Friedman writes that the Flames and Gaudreau are currently working on an extension. The players has one year remaining at $6.75 million and the NHL insider believes if Gaudreau is going to stay put, the Flames will be expected to pay more than he’s currently making. Part of the reasons the two sides are talking now is because Gaudreau’s contract will adopt a no-trade clause on July 28. After that point, he can block deals to any clubs not on a five-team list of his choosing.
Essentially, if the Flames decide that having to go higher than Matthew Tkachuk’s $7M AAV to get the deal done seems like a big ask, they can try to make a deal right away. They’d face little pushback, other than to find the right trade partner. But, if the team and player were happy with each other and wanted, under all circumstances, to keep this relationship going, then maybe it’s a fair number. After all, he’s regularly produced and twice eclipsed the point-per-game marker in a season. According to Evolving-Hockey, his numbers as an above replacement player made him worth $8 million last year.
But, if the rumors of Gaudreau ever being shopped are accurate, it seems like a lot of money to invest in a player the team has thought about shipping elsewhere.
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