Did the Flyers dodge a bullet by not signing this free agent?
PUBLICATION
Travis PolitakisJanuary 29, 2024 (4:40 PM)
In the summer of 2022, young NHL star Johnny Gaudreau was one of the hottest commodities in the market during the free agency frenzy. With Gaudreau growing up a Flyers fan and vocally showing his respect for the organization, many thought it would be a no brainer for the Flyers to sign the South Jersey native.
After not only failing to sign Gaudreau, but not even offering him a contract, many fans were highly disappointed in the Flyers and vocal about the decision. After a massive contract and a slow start to his career in Columbus, the Flyers may have made the right decision after all.
2022 saw Gaudreau sign a a seven-year $68.25 million contract that comes out to over $9 million AAV per year. As the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to struggle and Gaudreau not hitting the market until 2029 when he is 36-years-old, Gaudreau is going to be a tough piece to unload for Columbus.
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Early in the season there was even some speculation that Gaudreau could be on the trading block, but with the density of his contract, most teams are going to stay away unless desperate times call for desperate measures.
Gaudreau put up numbers his first year in Columbus with over 70 points, but a -33 plus/minus rating along with a less than ideal team finish has made a $68 million dollar deal seem disappointing.
Although the Gaudreau name would have sold jerseys and put fans in the seats for the Flyers, there is not much evidence to show that it would have led to team success.
| POLL | ||
29 JANVIER | 310 ANSWERS Did the Flyers dodge a bullet by not signing this free agent? Are you glad the Flyers did not sign Johnny Gaudreau? | ||
| Yes | 222 | 71.6 % |
| No | 88 | 28.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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