Johnny Gaudreau, the top free agent on the market, stunned the NHL world Wednesday with his decision about his new team.
they had signed the former Flames winger to a seven-year contract. Gaudreau rebuffed a larger contract offer fr om Calgary to head to Columbus.
"(Gaudreau) is an elite player with great character that makes the players around him better. We are thrilled to add a player of his caliber to our group. This is an exciting day for our franchise, our fans and the city of Columbus,"Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement.
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Gaudreau had been linked to several Eastern Conference teams, including the Flyers, Devils and Islanders. Columbus was only mentioned late as a potential sleeper. It was reported earlier in the day that the Blue Jackets were not viewed as a likely destination and that Gaudreau's decision would come down to the Devils or the Islanders.
have not been seen as a likely destination for free agent forward Johnny Gaudreau. Its reportedly down to or .But word acro s the is that GM Jarmo Kekalainen and staff have made a major play for Gaudreau today.
Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline)
Gaudreau is coming off a career year in Calgary with 40 goals with 75 a sists. His 115 points were second only to the Oilers' Connor McDavid. He finished fourth in the Hart Trophy voting and was named to the All-Star team.
The Sporting News breaks down Gaudreau's shocking decision to sign with Columbus.
Why did Johnny Gaudreau sign with the Blue Jackets?
The question on everyone's mind is: Why Columbus?
Gaudreauthat he was wowed by the atmosphere in Columbus the first time he played there. He also said past and present Blue Jackets, such as Zach Werenski, Eric Robinson, Cam Atkinson and Dalton Prout told him he was "absolutely going to love the place." He said Columbus was on his list before free agency began.
And of course, he mentioned the Blue Jackets' distinct cannon that they fire off after every goal.
"That cannon kind of scares me a little bit. I've had a run-in with that cannon a couple of times. I used to not want to hear it. Now I want to hear it all the time," Gaudreau told Portzline. "Hopefully, we'll get that thing really blasting this season."
Many hockey fans expected him to sign with a team close to his New Jersey hometown. While Columbus is closer to his hometown than Calgary, it is still much farther than the other top suitors. Gaudreau is also leaving money and an extra year on the table to go to Columbus.
Though the Blue Jackets are coming off a 37-38-7 season, there is reason for optimism within the organization. They boast a young core with stars like Werenski, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson and Patrik Laine, and they improved their defense by .
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Columbus signed one of Gaudreau's teammates in Calgary, defenseman Erik Gudbranson, earlier Wednesday.
The Blue Jackets have historically not made major splashes in free agency. In fact, stars like Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin have left the team in recent years to sign major deals elsewhere.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving announced Tuesday night that Gaudreau would be testing the free-agent market after receiving a large offer to remain in Calgary.
"It's a disappointing day, to say the very least," Treliving told reporters,. "I sat in front of you at the end of our season and I think my line was we would move heaven and earth. I can a sure our fans we did everything po sible to keep John in Calgary."
Where is Johnny Gaudreau's hometown?
Part of the reason the Flyers, Devils and Islanders were considered among the early non-Calgary front-runners was that Gaudreau hails fr om the Philadelphia area. He was born in Salem, N.J., and raised in Carney's Point, N.J. He attended high school in Gloucester City, N.J., though he graduated in Dubuque, Iowa, wh ere he was playing in the United States Hockey League.
Gaudreau's agent told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that Gaudreau's exit fr om the Flames was a family decision, building on previous reporting that he wanted to be closer to his family in New Jersey.
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Earlier on Wednesday, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said the team was finished with free agency, citing a lack of cap space, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Giana Han.
Chuck Fletcher announces they are done with the free agency market. They are officially out on Johnny Gaudreau. Says the reality is, they didn't have the cap space.
Giana Han (@giana_jade)
That left just the Devils and Islanders in the sweepstakes, The Fourth Line's David Pagnotta reported. Or so everyone thought.
Devils and Islanders in a battle for Gaudreau? Might be down to them unle s someone jumps back in last minute.
David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod)
, it is a nearly eight-hour, 500-mile drive from Columbus to Carney's Point.
Johnny Gaudreau contract details
The Blue Jackets announced the deal at seven years and $68.25 million, for an average annual value of $9.75 million. that the Flames offered Gaudreau an eight-year deal with a $10.5 million average annual value. He also reported the Devils offered seven years and more than $9 million per year.
Portzline reported that there is a no-move clause for the first four years and a lim ited no-trade clause in the last three, and that each season, he'll be paid $9.75 million.
Gaudreau's contract has a no-move clause for the first four years, then a lim ited no-trade in the final three.It will pay him $9.75M (AAV) in each of the seven years. No fluctuation from year to year.
Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline)
The contract agreement with Gaudreau happened not long after Columbus signed Gudbranson to a four-year, $16 million contract.
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Columbus will now look to sign Laine, a restricted free agent, to an extension. Laine was acquired with center Jack Roslovic from the Jets for Pierre-Luc Dubois in an early-season trade last season. Laine scored 26 goals and had 30 a sists in 56 games for Columbus.
say signing of Johnny Gaudreau does not preclude them from signing Patrik Laine, who is currently an RFA. They can keep them both, but other moves are now nece sary.
Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline)
, the Blue Jackets are projected to have just over $3 million in cap space remaining, which means they will need to clear space to sign Laine to a new deal.
Blue Jackets lines
Gaudreau was part of a top line in Calgary that was one of the best in the league. He played alongside center Elias Lindholm and left winger Matthew Tkachuk. Last season, Lindholm had 42 goals and 40 a s
they had signed the former Flames winger to a seven-year contract. Gaudreau rebuffed a larger contract offer fr om Calgary to head to Columbus.
"(Gaudreau) is an elite player with great character that makes the players around him better. We are thrilled to add a player of his caliber to our group. This is an exciting day for our franchise, our fans and the city of Columbus,"Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement.
MORE:
Gaudreau had been linked to several Eastern Conference teams, including the Flyers, Devils and Islanders. Columbus was only mentioned late as a potential sleeper. It was reported earlier in the day that the Blue Jackets were not viewed as a likely destination and that Gaudreau's decision would come down to the Devils or the Islanders.
have not been seen as a likely destination for free agent forward Johnny Gaudreau. Its reportedly down to or .But word acro s the is that GM Jarmo Kekalainen and staff have made a major play for Gaudreau today.
Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline)
Gaudreau is coming off a career year in Calgary with 40 goals with 75 a sists. His 115 points were second only to the Oilers' Connor McDavid. He finished fourth in the Hart Trophy voting and was named to the All-Star team.
The Sporting News breaks down Gaudreau's shocking decision to sign with Columbus.
Why did Johnny Gaudreau sign with the Blue Jackets?
The question on everyone's mind is: Why Columbus?
Gaudreauthat he was wowed by the atmosphere in Columbus the first time he played there. He also said past and present Blue Jackets, such as Zach Werenski, Eric Robinson, Cam Atkinson and Dalton Prout told him he was "absolutely going to love the place." He said Columbus was on his list before free agency began.
And of course, he mentioned the Blue Jackets' distinct cannon that they fire off after every goal.
"That cannon kind of scares me a little bit. I've had a run-in with that cannon a couple of times. I used to not want to hear it. Now I want to hear it all the time," Gaudreau told Portzline. "Hopefully, we'll get that thing really blasting this season."
Many hockey fans expected him to sign with a team close to his New Jersey hometown. While Columbus is closer to his hometown than Calgary, it is still much farther than the other top suitors. Gaudreau is also leaving money and an extra year on the table to go to Columbus.
Though the Blue Jackets are coming off a 37-38-7 season, there is reason for optimism within the organization. They boast a young core with stars like Werenski, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson and Patrik Laine, and they improved their defense by .
MORE:
Columbus signed one of Gaudreau's teammates in Calgary, defenseman Erik Gudbranson, earlier Wednesday.
The Blue Jackets have historically not made major splashes in free agency. In fact, stars like Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin have left the team in recent years to sign major deals elsewhere.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving announced Tuesday night that Gaudreau would be testing the free-agent market after receiving a large offer to remain in Calgary.
"It's a disappointing day, to say the very least," Treliving told reporters,. "I sat in front of you at the end of our season and I think my line was we would move heaven and earth. I can a sure our fans we did everything po sible to keep John in Calgary."
Where is Johnny Gaudreau's hometown?
Part of the reason the Flyers, Devils and Islanders were considered among the early non-Calgary front-runners was that Gaudreau hails fr om the Philadelphia area. He was born in Salem, N.J., and raised in Carney's Point, N.J. He attended high school in Gloucester City, N.J., though he graduated in Dubuque, Iowa, wh ere he was playing in the United States Hockey League.
Gaudreau's agent told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that Gaudreau's exit fr om the Flames was a family decision, building on previous reporting that he wanted to be closer to his family in New Jersey.
MORE:
Earlier on Wednesday, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said the team was finished with free agency, citing a lack of cap space, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Giana Han.
Chuck Fletcher announces they are done with the free agency market. They are officially out on Johnny Gaudreau. Says the reality is, they didn't have the cap space.
Giana Han (@giana_jade)
That left just the Devils and Islanders in the sweepstakes, The Fourth Line's David Pagnotta reported. Or so everyone thought.
Devils and Islanders in a battle for Gaudreau? Might be down to them unle s someone jumps back in last minute.
David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod)
, it is a nearly eight-hour, 500-mile drive from Columbus to Carney's Point.
Johnny Gaudreau contract details
The Blue Jackets announced the deal at seven years and $68.25 million, for an average annual value of $9.75 million. that the Flames offered Gaudreau an eight-year deal with a $10.5 million average annual value. He also reported the Devils offered seven years and more than $9 million per year.
Portzline reported that there is a no-move clause for the first four years and a lim ited no-trade clause in the last three, and that each season, he'll be paid $9.75 million.
Gaudreau's contract has a no-move clause for the first four years, then a lim ited no-trade in the final three.It will pay him $9.75M (AAV) in each of the seven years. No fluctuation from year to year.
Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline)
The contract agreement with Gaudreau happened not long after Columbus signed Gudbranson to a four-year, $16 million contract.
MORE:
Columbus will now look to sign Laine, a restricted free agent, to an extension. Laine was acquired with center Jack Roslovic from the Jets for Pierre-Luc Dubois in an early-season trade last season. Laine scored 26 goals and had 30 a sists in 56 games for Columbus.
say signing of Johnny Gaudreau does not preclude them from signing Patrik Laine, who is currently an RFA. They can keep them both, but other moves are now nece sary.
Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline)
, the Blue Jackets are projected to have just over $3 million in cap space remaining, which means they will need to clear space to sign Laine to a new deal.
Blue Jackets lines
Gaudreau was part of a top line in Calgary that was one of the best in the league. He played alongside center Elias Lindholm and left winger Matthew Tkachuk. Last season, Lindholm had 42 goals and 40 a s