The moving vans hadn't arrived yet. Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk returns to province where he was loved and loathed. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. He also helped the Eagles win the traditional Beanpot Tournament for the third year in a row and was named Beanpot MVP after the tournament.[14]. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. Last season, the Blue Jackets finished 19 points out of a playoff spot with a 37-38-7 record, but will certainly now be a hip dark horse playoff pick with Gaudreau in the fold. Still, the Blue Jackets have gotten off to just a 4-9-0 start with an Eastern Conference-low eight points. It's all on its way. Exhibits incredible puck control, strength on his skates, stickhandling ability, and a very good forehand and backhand shot which is off . In fact, Tkachuk has been excellent. Calling its a "difficult decision" that "we spent a lot of time examining,' general manger Chuck Fletcher announced the Flyers had put Lindblom on . The Devils are leading a division that features the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguinsand Washington Capitals. [60], With the pending expiration of Gaudreau's contract, he was regarded as the top unrestricted free agent of 2022 by many, and whether the Flames would be able to re-sign him was a topic of considerable discussion. NHL early season overreactions: Johnny Gaudreau should've stayed in Calgary, Devils are playoff bound The 2022-23 season is now a month old, so we decided to formulate some over-the-top opinions Just last season, Dahlin posted some decent point totals, but he still had trouble keeping his head above water at five-on-five. Field Level Media. Things haven't gone quite as planned for Johnny . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. In Game 1 of the series, Gaudreau scored his first playoff goal since 2015, helping the Flames win the game 41. If Dick Duff is in, so should Claude Provost. This is the anti-Lamoriello from his days in New Jersey and that was even before the 2005-06 introduction of the hard cap. We also added another member to the Gaudreau family - my new puppy, Bailey. 4 min read. Johnny Gaudreau Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images. Probably the hardest decision I ever had to make as GM of the Blue Jackets is to trade Oliver Bjorkstrand away. The Islanders are a whole different column, stuck in a salary-cap calamity created by GM Lou Lamoriellos decision to grant lucrative contract extensions to just about every veteran on the teams that fell short in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The day of I was only really talking to two of them. The fact is that when the Flames were unable to get his signature on an extension, it was GM Brad Trelivings obligation to explore the rental trade market just as it was on the Islanders management and ownership to do the same during the unfortunate John Taveras experience. [57] His performance through the early games earned the praise of coach Sutter, who said he felt that Gaudreau had "taken that step" to perform as well in the playoffs as he had during the regular season. Starting off slowly, Gaudreau did not record a point until the sixth game of the year. [59] The Flames were defeated by the Oilers in five games, bringing the playoff run to an end. Johnny Gaudreau's net worth is believed to be about $10 million as of 2022, and his annual salary is around $6.75 million. Because its never been true. I had like three, four teams I knew I wanted to play for, Gaudreau said on the Spittin Chiclets podcast. Many Flames fans are hoping that the wedding wont be the only big news for Gaudreau this offseason. Johnny Gaudreau was born in Salem, New Jersey on August 13, 1993. Video: Gaudreau lands at 7 on NHL Network's Top 20 Wingers. After falling behind 2 games to 1, Gaudreau scored the game-winning goal to help tie the series in Game 4, his first of the playoffs. One of the biggest reasons for that is New Jersey's goal-scoring prowess. No organization has descended into a quagmire as quickly and as inefficiently as Vegas, which was gifted (in exchange for Bill Foleys $500 million entry fee) the greatest cap advantage in NHL history and immediately forfeited it with wild overreach on just about every shiny toy on the market. He was also recognized as the USHL Rookie of the Year. Now this one is being targeted for taking a road less traveled. . Now I want to hear it all the time. And some former guys, like Cam Atkinson and Dalton Prout those guys were just like, Youre going to absolutely love the place, Gaudreau said. Hour 2 - Johnny Gaudreau 100% belongs in the Hart Trophy conversation: Pat and Matt are joined by Eric Francis to chat about what is most important for the Flames group down the stretch. Copyright 2023 Buzz Connected Media Inc. Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. [70], In 2014, Gaudreau was named to the senior United States team that played in the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk, Belarus. All rights reserved. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen certainly wants to make it that way, specifically for his team. The Blue Jackets didn't make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season. This is a group that has compiled an 13-2-0 record (26 points) thus far, which has earned them the best record in the NHL. 6-keys: media/spln/nhl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Paragliders record never-before-seen footage of world's second-tallest mountain, Elizabeth Holmes has 2nd child as prison sentence looms, Dozens of sharks swarm fishing boat in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast, video shows, Thunberg detained by Norway police during protest, Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Snow plow drivers prepare for another round of winter weather. As the story goes, the nickname was created as a fun spinoff of former . People seem to be excited and, I'd say, intrigued as well.". 1. I think we can finally get rid of the bull**** that this is somehow a bad destination, a bad city, whatever, Kekalainen said. In the weeks after signing a mega deal last summer with the Blue Jackets, Johnny Gaudreau knew he wanted to find comfort in his first Columbus home. He scored his first international goal as a professional in a pre-tournament game against Germany, scoring the second goal in a 31 victory. Let's talk about free agency in general. Wife's, like, ready to pop, and nothing in our house. [55] Gaudreau's second goal of the playoffs was also a game-winner, this time in overtime in Game 7, sending the Flames through to the second round for the first time in seven years. The Gaudreaus drove to Columbus last Wednesday. Filip Gustavsson made 39 saves and stopped two shots in the shootout for Minnesota, which has won six of seven and has a season-high, seven-game point streak. Johnny Gaudreau was very close to signing with the Devils in free agency, he revealed on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast Tuesday. One key part of Nationwide Arena, and a feature that has been fully embraced by the Blue Jackets and their fan base, is a giant Civil War-era cannon that goes off every time the home team scores. Kirill Kaprizov scored his team-leading 34th goal and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 30 shots he faced for his 73rd career shutout as the visiting Minnesota Wild . In 2018, Gaudreau was named to the American squad to compete at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. The Flames won the Pacific Division, and were the Western Conference's top seed heading into the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. His height is 5ft 9in, and weight approx. Just try to get this done. Feb 23, 2023. But according to Gaudreau -- who was one of this year's most . In college and into his NHL career, fans referred to Gaudreau as "Johnny Hockey". They have combined for one goal and 10 points between them. It's obviously too early to tell whether Gaudreau made the right decision, but the early returns haven't been great for the star winger after nine phenomenal seasons with the Flames. Johnny Gaudreau Net Worth & Salary. [51], The Flames drew the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, a rematch of the bubble playoffs two years prior, and a matchup in which the Flames were considered the favourites. Gaudreau was selected by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Copyright 2023 Buzz Connected Media Inc. Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. John Michael Gaudreau (born August 13, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a free agent American winger who plays professional ice hockey. But on the other hand, Gaudreau scored 40 goals and 115 points for the Flames in 2021-22 and was the most sought after player this summer after finishing fourth in Hart Trophy voting. Let's talk about Johnny Gaudreau. [32] Gaudreau finished the regular season tied for the rookie scoring lead with Mark Stone of the Ottawa Senators. 12 Calgary Flames players that could play in the Beijing Olympics, Flames fans arent loving the look of new Calgary arena (PHOTOS), Heres what the Calgary Flames lines could look like for opening night. Supply has exceeded demand. The Blue Jackets announced the deal at seven years and $68.25 million, for an average annual value of $9.75 million. 165lbs. Only time will tell if the sacrifice was the correct decision. Johnny Gaudreau. [46], Due to the ongoing pandemic, the NHL realigned its divisions temporarily for a shortened season. "They're super excited.". Thanks for contacting us. Maybe its me, but Torontos latest stab at finding a guy in nets who can win a round is reminiscent of the Flyers flailing through the post-Ron Hextall era when they most infamously jumped on John Vanbiesbrouck in 1998 when both Mike Richter and Curtis Joseph were available on the free agent market. It's rare that an athlete chooses something other than money when it comes to a contract, but Gaudreau did just that. According to the website dedicated to the . Gaudreau has skated with his new teammates only three or four times in informal practices, and it remains to be seen how many preseason games he will play. They still have some work to do this offseason. Gaudreau, who's currently spending his offseason in Avalon . "Everyone seems to know of this Johnny Gaudreau guy who's coming in. One of the main reasons he stayed, he claimed, was to play with his younger brother Matthew, who joined the team in the fall. The Gaudreau clan just got a little bigger. Why Alexis Lafreniere deserves a chance with the top power Dodgers' biggest problem isn't their new shortstop deficit, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released, 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting. Gaudreau again struggled to produce in the playoffs, and the Flames lost the series four games to two. However, goalie Logan Thompson has been spectacular in between the pipes for Vegas so far this season. Thompson currently has a 8-2-0 record to go along a 2.32 goals-against-average and a .925 save percentage. Ryan Reaves scored for the first time . by Gaudreau will miss a second straight game with a lower-body injury. Yes, you read that correctly. Gaudreau was selected as a finalist to be the All-Star Game MVP, an honor eventually given to controversial and unlikely write-in candidate John Scott. He played an integral part in Boston College's win in the team's National Championship, scoring a highlight-reel goal late in the third period in their 41 win in the final over Ferris State University. by The 201819 season proved to be Gaudreau's best regular season to date. Heading into free . After the signing of Gaudreau, I could see that if they signed [Patrik Laine], I figured somebody had to go, he told The Columbus Dispatch after the trade. Factor in the fact that Tkachuk's contract situation is much more favorable than that of Huberdeau or Weegar, and the deal is starting to look very good for the Panthers. After 602 games and 609 points in the Flaming C logo, Gaudreau is a goner. He finished with a career best 99 points, including career highs in goals (36), assists (63), and points (99). Gaudreau had enjoyed playing in Columbus and heard good things about it, and the Blue Jackets had up-and-coming talent, like forward Kent Johnson, the No. [41] Gaudreau finished fourth in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association to the league's most valuable player. A post shared by Luke Morris (@lukemorris127). or B.C.? Gaudreau needed navigation to make the 10-minute drive to Nationwide Arena, where the Columbus Blue Jackets had fitness testing Wednesday and will hold their first practice of training camp Thursday. Thus far, the process isn't much different from last year. Possesses the elusiveness to avoid being taken out, and the creativity to start and finish plays. Previously, Gaudreau played for the NCAA Division I's Boston Eagles from 2011 to 2014. [28] The shootout move,[29] which imitated the previous move performed by Ryan Johansen[30] (who helped seven-year-old Cole Vogt, the son of Columbus Blue Jackets trainer Mike Vogt, score a goal on Corey Crawford) went viral. I guess I didnt look closely enough (at) the situation of (rookies) coming up and future signings and so on, and where theyre at (with the salary cap), so I wouldnt say I expected that phone call. He led the entire tournament with seven goals and tied for the team lead with nine points, as the U.S. won the gold medal. [22], Gaudreau entered the NHL on the same day of his receiving of the Hobey Baker award. "If that's the line, I think we can create some chemistry and have a lot of success.". The Gaudreaus are waiting to find out. I didn't think obviously Johnny would sign in Columbus, so I looked it up and saw that it was great news. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300. I was pretty much signing with a different team. He and his wife, Meredith, were expecting their first child, and now knew they'd be . -- Bengel. [54][55][56] The Flames won the Pacific Division and finished sixth in the league. Ive known Eric Robinson for like 15-20 years. . In his sophomore campaign, Gaudreau emerged as the star of the team and improved upon his already impressive stats, achieving a 213051 scoring line in 35 games, leading the nation in points per game, at 1.46. Enter Search Term. "I was home when somebody texted me, 'You guys got a hell of a player,'" forward Jakub Voracek said. He has a six-year contract with the Calgary Flames, which includes a $6.5 million signing bonus and a guaranteed $40.5 million. The next time he steps on the . Johnny Gaudreau, a longtime member of the Calgary Flames and current forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his wife Meredith welcomed baby girl Noa into the world this week. House Oversight Chair Laments That Joe Biden's Dead Son Was Never Prosecuted. -- Nivison. I'm really looking forward to the trip - experiencing a different country and culture while bonding with my teammates. Thompson did have 17 starts under his belt throughout the 2021-22 campaign, but the pressure is a lot different when a netminder is "the guy" on a nightly basis. Both points came early in the afternoon as the Blue Jackets built a 4-0 lead, only for it to nearly slip through their fingers . Gaudreau even fist bumped a few of the guests in attendance while walking down the aisle. [77], In January 2015, Gaudreau filed a trademark application for the nickname "Johnny Hockey" in both Canada and the U.S. due to concerns people would abuse his nickname for their own marketing gain. Mapcarta, the open map. Columbus was obviously high on that list for me, but there was a few other teams. And of course, with the hard cap being what it is, it forced his hand into a move that he found difficult. Listed at 5'6", Gaudreau was one of the shortest players taken at the Draft. Hockey Star Let Brother Pick", BOSTON COLLEGE EARNS FIFTH NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 41 WIN OVER FERRIS STATE, "Gaudreau Goes Pro: Johnny Hockey Signs With Flames", "Boston College's Gaudreau wins Hockey East player of the year laurels:: USCHO.com:: U.S. College Hockey Online", "Gaudreau, Gillies, Agostino among NHL.com's candidates who could win Hobey Baker Award", "Johnny Gaudreau fails to fly by Paul Kariya's NCAA mark", "JOHNNY GAUDREAU REPEATS AS WARRIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR", "HockeyEastOnline.com BOSTON COLLEGE FORWARDS JOHNNY GAUDREAU AND KEVIN HAYES NAMED HOBEY BAKER TOP TEN FINALISTS", "HockeyEastOnline.com BOSTON COLLEGE JUNIOR FORWARD JOHNNY GAUDREAU NAMED TO HOBEY HAT TRICK", "The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation 2014 Winner", Gaudreau Goes Pro: Johnny Hockey Signs With Flames, "Calgary Flames - Vancouver Canucks - April 13th, 2014", "Ice Hockey: First NHL game, First shot on goal, Johnny Gaudreau scores First NHL goal", Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames 20142015 Stats Calgary Flames Team, What we learned from the Kings' 43 overtime loss to Calgary, Gaudreau selected to NHL All-Star Game Boston College Official Athletic Site, "Gaudreau helps Voracek in Breakaway Challenge", "Johansen and Voracek get help in Breakaway Challenge", Jakub Voracek, Johnny Gaudreau Steal the Show at NHL All-Star Skills Competition, Johnny Gaudreau of Calgary Flames scores twice against Anaheim Ducks to join select company Top Performer, "Ekblad, Gaudreau, Stone voted Calder Trophy finalists", "Panthers rookie Ekblad wins Calder Trophy", NHL All-Star Game: John Scott voted MVP in Pacific win, "Johnny Gaudreau signs 6-year deal with Flames", "Johnny Gaudreau to have surgery on fractured finger", "2018-19 Player Report Card: Johnny Gaudreau", "Is this the best version of Johnny Gaudreau we've seen in Calgary? Johnny Gaudreau has Tied The Knot With Meredith. They rank 30 th in goals against per game and 30 th in shots against per game. However, he then heated up quickly, amassing 12 goals and 30 points through 37 games. He played college hockey at Norwich, after playing high school hockey at North Country Union High School, and was inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. The most accurate comparable for Johnny Gaudreau's next contract would be Artemi Panarin 's in my mind. Johnny Gaudreau has played 520 games in his NHL career, all with the Calgary Flames organization. He has 17 points in 12 games played, and Florida has dominated possession with Tkachuk on the ice at five-on-five. Gaudreau, who has a chance to make a similar impact on the Jackets as Artemi Panarin did on the Rangers, made his choice. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. And now, he leaves the Devils pondering the tantalizing prospects of what could have been. The 28-year-old Gaudreau is coming off a career year for the Flames, netting 115 points and leading Calgary to a first-round playoff victory over the Stars. [74], Gaudreau's younger brother Matthew is also a professional hockey player and currently plays on the Reading Royals of the ECHL. While professional sports teams in Ohio have historically not been looked at as an appealing destination for star players, Gaudreaus signing might change the tides ever so slightly. . The Gaudreau clan just got a little bigger. The 29-year-old forward is going through a lot of life changes all at once after signing a seven-year, $68.25 million contract ($9.75 million average annual value) with the Blue Jackets on July 13, and he's embracing the uncertainty right down to whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Out of the gate, Gaudreau only has six goals and six assists playing on Columbus' top line alongside Patrik Laine and Boone Jenner. His 609 points (210 goals, 399 assists) over the course of his time with the Flames ranks him fifth all-time. He was tied for second in league scoring in 2021-22 with an NHL career-high 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) in 82 games this season. [44] The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic lead to the regular season being prematurely halted in March. Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. [18] For his tremendous season, he was named the league's Player of the Year for the second straight season, as well as the league's scoring champion with 36 points in 20 games, and was named a unanimous First-Team All-Star. 13s path took him to Ohio is anyones guess. So proud of this guy! Best husband ever managing all our changes happening at once. [58] The Flames drew the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, the first playoff "Battle of Alberta" in 31 years. Through their first 12 games, the Devils have amassed a 11-3-0 record and lead the Metropolitan Division with 18 points. Enter Search Term. Things have changed in a big way early on in the 2022-23 season. Not the most likely, rational or logical options but the most interesting . The speedy 28-year-old from South Jersey had a goal and a team-high eight shots on goal he had 12 shot attempts and now it's [] (Photos via Getty) Johnny Gaudreau made the easy real estate choice when . Gaudreaus 115 points were the second most all-time amongst single-season Flames outings after Kent Nilssons 131 points (49 goals, 82 assists) in 1980-81. With Dahlin on the ice in those situations, the BuffaloSabres scored 59 goals but allowed 68. If Johnny Gaudreau is to be believed, he nearly became a New Jersey Devil. It was a little bit of a shocker getting that call.. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Jack Roslovic scored twice in the third period on his way to a four-point game, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 Saturday despite giving up a four . Most of the day I hadnt heard from Columbus and then all of a sudden they called at like 4 [p.m.] And I told my agent, I was like, I want to go here. Because of that, it's probably too early to smash the panic button, but St. Louis needs to snap this losing streak in a hurry. [71] He scored in the first official game of the tournament, the third goal in a 51 victory over hosts Belarus. Although the U.S. bowed out of the tournament in a quarter-finals loss to the Czech Republic, Gaudreau finished the tournament tenth in scoring, with two goals and eight assists for ten points, including a four-point performance in a 54 win over Germany.[72]. "We're going to give her some time with the kid and see how that goes," Gaudreau said. Johnny Gaudreau gives insight to free agency decision. 12:00 pm ET. 104) of the 2011 NHL Draft. "Weve just had to shut our mouth and deal with that, but every time I see a comment like that, I get a rash.. Gaudreau was selected by the Flames in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. On March 11, 2015, Gaudreau scored his 50th point of the season, becoming the first Flames rookie to reach the mark since Jarome Iginla in 199697. section: | slug: nhl-early-season-overreactions-johnny-gaudreau-shouldve-stayed-in-calgary-devils-are-playoff-bound | sport: hockey | route: article_single.us | I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. "Johnny Hockey" is a diminutive, offensively dominant winger with an incredibly high level of skill. #SeaKraken, Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 19, 2022. He previously played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL) and their ECHL affiliate, the Worcester Railers. Elvis Merzlikins has a record of 6-15-2 with a 4.14 GAA and a .876 SV %. Johnny Gaudreau, a longtime member of the Calgary Flames and current forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his wife Meredith welcomed baby girl Noa into the world this week. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. [11], After attending the Calgary Flames training camp ahead of the 201112 season, Gaudreau started his career in the NCAA with the Division I Boston College Eagles team in the Hockey East conference. However, if the Devils can keep producing offensively, they should do just fine and be in the thick of the playoff race late in the regular season. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Obviously, it's extremely early, but the Devils have tallied wins over the likes of the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalancheand Calgary Flames thus far in the young season. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Frederick Gaudreau scored in the shootout to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. He scored one goal and eight assists during the tournament en route to a bronze medal for the U.S.[73], On April 19, 2019, Gaudreau was selected to represent Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, held in Bratislava and Koice, Slovakia. Adjusting to Sutter's style was challenging, and Gaudreau posted only seven points in a span of fifteen games following the switch. "I mean, I thought it was crazy in the summertime when I finally signed in Columbus and came out here for a day, but this past week's been pretty hectic. 5 pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, who grew up a Gaudreau fan and gave up No. They're standing by for the call and will be able to come to Columbus easily after the baby is born. ago] Height 5.09 -- Weight 165 [175 cm/75 kg] Drafted by Calgary Flames - round 4 #104 overall 2011 NHL Entry Draft Regular Season [51] Gaudreau's performance through the season led many to argue that he should be a serious candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy, though he was ultimately not a finalist, finishing fourth in the voting. With those two struggling to make a mark on the scoresheet, Calgary has lost seven straight games. So did the Flames, who entered the playoffs with legit Stanley Cup aspirations before being dragged in five games by the Oilers. It's only been 13 games, but perhaps Gaudreau made a mistake by choosing to leave Calgary. From 2011 through 2014, he competed for the Boston College Eagles of NCAA Division I. In fact, Gaudreau also took less money with Columbus; the Devils . Thompson has established himself among the league's best in the crease through one month of play. Post-Game: House of Blues: Pat Steinberg hosts the Flames Talk Post Game Show following a 6-4 setback at the Dome on Saturday Night to the Blues as a . Entering his 9th full NHL season the same week were expecting our first baby. Fletcher has been a GM in the NHL for 13 years, the first nine of which with the Wild. "Probably Tre," chuckled Gaudreau of GM Brad . [13] Gaudreau was awarded the Bill Flynn Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Hockey East Championship Tournament. He is a 29 year old left wing who was born on Aug. 13, 1993. The Flames lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Second Round last season. I have no idea why the Flyers did not make an honest effort to clear enough space to sign Gaudreau, and I am skeptical that Philadelphia general manager Chuck Fletcher could cogently explain this decision.