It always amazes me when sports donkeys take the decisions of professional athletes personally. Like Johnny Gaudreau’s decision to sign in Columbus for 1 million less per year somehow offended Eric Francis’s family after over-delivering for the Calgary Flames for nine years, with nothing to show.
"I think you owe the city a little bit more than that."@EricFrancis joined The People's Show to discuss Johnny Gaudreau's move to Columbus. @BikNizzar | @RandipJanda
📣https://t.co/SrxeeEXwp6
🍎https://t.co/mVn64gPx4i pic.twitter.com/ArLdXFSn84— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) July 14, 2022
The drama!!
Johnny didn’t leave anyone high and dry. He was a model employee for nine years, completed his contractual obligations, and he’s going home.
I know Eric a bit, and some of that weird sports donkey rage is a put-on for his employers and friends in the Flames front office who are VERY fucking angry that Johnny embarrassed Brad Treliving by taking MILLIONS less to move to Columbus.
What does Eric not mention? Johnny’s wife wanted to work at a children’s hospital in Columbus, and Johnny made this decision for BOTH of them because he’s a good man who’s proud of his wife’s ambition.
I get it, Calgary. You lost, and it makes no monetary sense. Big fucking deal. Get over it.
It doesn’t have to, and Gaudreau doesn’t owe the city of Calgary jack SHIT.
He over delivered in every metric for the Flames.
Johnny put up 609 pts in 602 career games over nine years, with a constant carousel of coaches. He over-delivered every contract he signed, and it’s over, so he left for a better situation for his family as he enters the second half of what should be a Hall Of Fame Career, and this Calgary reporter doesn’t get that at all.
Calgary news has zero chill 😂
pic.twitter.com/mycV9k7n0N— CBJ Artillery (@CBJArtillery) July 15, 2022
Enter FOX news, Columbus, and the best local news troll job you’ll ever see driving home the extreme loss of Calgary’s Mitch Marner at a MASSIVE discount:
We heard you wanted to join @johngaudreau03 in Columbus @browncbc…so we came up with an offer for you. pic.twitter.com/lNdqPkHPZ1
— FOX 28 Columbus (@fox28columbus) July 16, 2022
BWAHAHAHAH!!!
What a masterclass in ‘BOO HOO’ trolling. The fake check for “Way Less”? Chef’s kiss.
HELLO, JOHNNY HOCKEY 👋@RuoffMortgage | #CBJ https://t.co/zxmM5g5g4f
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) July 14, 2022
Good for Johnny Hockey and Columbus. Bad for Calgary. It’s just business, Cowtown. Get over it and start shopping on the garbage heap of who’s left in FA and get busy making Tkachuk the highest-paid player in the league because he’s next unless you change the name of your city to St Louis.
DB
PS: How close were the Flames to getting this done?
This close
A Flames exec sent this to us a month ago saying both sides had agreed in principle, but Johnny was weighing his options.
OOOOOOHHH. So close.