It certainly doesn't help. And long term? Absolutely could be detrimental.
The devils aren't competing next year with JG, and can't sign him to an extension. Maybe the team is better. Congrats, we go from sixth worst team to ninth. So they get one worthless year of JG production and if they can't sign him to an extension, have to deal him at the deadline in year to for less than you have up to acquire him.
Lis earlier, it's the wrong year.
We have to start thinking like winners and stop being scared of the "what if’s".
The packaged proposed is almost similar to what we got for Taylor Hall, so no, I don’t see the big downside if ever JG decides to bolt.
If our goal is to build a contender via the draft, we’re heading into another 5 year process to get this team up and running. Our roster is very young and badly needs an injection of pure talent. Johnny Gaudreau is just that type of player.
Listen, I love Bratt but he’s nowhere close to Gaudreau. The pick would sting a little but the fact we’d still picking in the top #10 would soften that blow and we’d probably have an extra pick to work with around #17.
We have to get out of this rebuilding cycle and start adding legit talent on the cheap. There is no way in hell Calgary would even listen to such an offer if Taylor Hall wouldn’t be talked about potentially signing there as a UFA. If that’s the case and the Flames are on board, passing up on such a deal would be criminal IMO.
Let’s also view it the other way around. What if Johnny hockey has this wicked chemistry with Hughes or Hischier and wants to be the catalyst in turning this sinking ship around? We can give him the contract he wants since we have the cash and the cap space, he’s playing close to home, is with a franchise who’s looking to be on the rise with players the likes of Hughes, Hischier, Zacha, Foote, Boqvist, Smith, Bahl, Blackwood, the 6th and 17th overall picks, etc.
I hope management will be somewhat ballsy and not just sit back and wait to build a contender only by way of finishing last, or close to last, and adding picks. I’d try and make a huge splash by going hard after Gaudreau and Sergachev.