I don't necessarily disagree with anything you say here, but am bemused by all this "manliness" stuff.

The draft order exists to bring about parity. Parity exists to maximize revenue for the league, which includes the players share.

It is thus in the interest of all parties to close the loophole. It will be closed. In the meantime, an employee took a perfectly legal route and did what he felt was best for himself.

Which part of this involves manliness?
- PT21

The part where you accept the team who drafted you and don't act like a little girl because the team that drafted him didn't want to sign you at the end of the 22/23 season.

This is mostly on Gauthier in my opinion. All because the Flyers didn't want him to come out early? Puhleehz, grow up kid.
- MBFlyerfan

Well, they evidently may have cost him a lot of $$. Lots of people vote with their feet for such things. It seems like the “we don’t know why he wouldn’t sign” was a shtick. That tells me that they miscalculated when they pushed out the ELC and did not want to say this is why he would not sign.

you think they will try and move one of Walker, Seeler or RR sooner than later? I think with Cates coming back, ND down, you will have 4 lines, I can see them rotating Zam with RR or others in the short term but I would think they would not want to do that till the TDL??
- wcorvette

Trade deadline is 3/8. I bet they are quietly shopping all three, but will probably wait to finalize anything until they see Drysdale in action. But I do not think they will all be here after the trade deadline unless we just have no dance partners...

Ghosting the Flyers was likely a deliberate strategy, designed by his agent, and designed to force a trade asap.

And oh, that immature and unmanly strategy attained precisely the objective it was designed for.
- PT21

If he had met with the Flyers and again reiterated his stance firmly that he didn't want to play with the Flyers and wanted to be traded. That wouldn't have forced the same trade?

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you say here, but am bemused by all this "manliness" stuff.

The draft order exists to bring about parity. Parity exists to maximize revenue for the league, which includes the players share.

It is thus in the interest of all parties to close the loophole. It will be closed. In the meantime, an employee took a perfectly legal route and did what he felt was best for himself.

Which part of this involves manliness?
- PT21

Nothing that I said, but I think people are miffed about the way he went about it. Was a Richard move. Come out and sit down with Danny and Jones, hear what they had to say, then tell them to F off if you still feel that way.

I say good riddance.

Well, they evidently may have cost him a lot of $$. Lots of people vote with their feet for such things. It seems like the “we don’t know why he wouldn’t sign” was a shtick. That tells me that they miscalculated when they pushed out the ELC and did not want to say this is why he would not sign.
- iamscore2day

In reality, relatively speaking, by the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 NHL season, that cost Gauthier probably about 150K. Gauthier, by refusing to sign for the 23/24 season, cost himself potentially 3+ million.

Well, they evidently may have cost him a lot of $$. Lots of people vote with their feet for such things. It seems like the “we don’t know why he wouldn’t sign” was a shtick. That tells me that they miscalculated when they pushed out the ELC and did not want to say this is why he would not sign.
- iamscore2day

The only problem with this is that by not signing he actually lost WAY more money than if he had signed for this season and been on the books making money this year. Right now the 1-yr to burn is all just speculation.

One thing you can say about the Flyers is they are known to overpay. It just seems like a miscalculation across the board. The agent and player not communicating with the new management is what truly makes this whole thing so much more dumb than it needed to be.

The part where you accept the team who drafted you and don't act like a little girl because the team that drafted him didn't want to sign you at the end of the 22/23 season.
- MJL

How you characterize his decision is a bit in the eye of the beholder. A guy exercising his rights under the league arrangements for draft picks is per se acting like an adult. If the reason is silly, then you can criticize that but from what I understand the FFO may have cost this kid a lot of $$. If so, that seems like a legit reason to me.

Ghosting the Flyers was likely a deliberate strategy, designed by his agent, and designed to force a trade asap.

And oh, that immature and unmanly strategy attained precisely the objective it was designed for.
- PT21

His childish strategy may have been effective but he may have gotten everything he wanted and sooner had he conducted himself like a professional. One thing is for sure, he would’ve maintained some semblance of credibility and dignity at the start of his young career without the specter of many viewing him as some type of malcontent. Reputation means a lot in pretty much any profession, especially those in where one is in the public eye. Obviously this kid doesn’t care about any of that stuff right now and I certainly hope he matures some day and has a good career. It seems like he’s the kind of kid who has lived a charmed life and no one has probably ever told him “no” on anything of import.

Trade deadline is 3/8. I bet they are quietly shopping all three, but will probably wait to finalize anything until they see Drysdale in action. But I do not think they will all be here after the trade deadline unless we just have no dance partners...
- FlyersGrace

I for sure think they want to see a few games, probably hoping Cates is still 3-4 games away from returning. If Drysdale starts hot, could move timeline quicker.

I for sure think they want to see a few games, probably hoping Cates is still 3-4 games away from returning. If Drysdale starts hot, could move timeline quicker.
- wcorvette

I really don't think Drysdale plays any part of it, things happen and depth is always needed, but patience is key when looking for the best or right deal.

Well, they evidently may have cost him a lot of $$. Lots of people vote with their feet for such things. It seems like the “we don’t know why he wouldn’t sign” was a shtick. That tells me that they miscalculated when they pushed out the ELC and did not want to say this is why he would not sign.
- iamscore2day

But what if he wasn’t ready to be a professional player? What if the Flyers determined he needed more amature experience? Of course none of know the answers but this whole thing makes him look bad.

If he had met with the Flyers and again reiterated his stance firmly that he didn't want to play with the Flyers and wanted to be traded. That wouldn't have forced the same trade?
- MJL

He had, by the Flyers own admission, clearly stated he did not want to be a Flyer. That is the same thing.

The Flyers did not accept that message. They wanted to know why. None of their business why. They pestered him by sending high profile players directly to him, instead of to their agent, who was almost certainly handling all his communications and who was extremely unlikely to be in attendance at a random BC game.

The longer this goes on, the more things drag. What if I do this? What if I offer you that?

It is like breaking up with an ex. However unintuitive it is, once your decision is final, a break is a break and the best way to implement it is by a complete and total separation of communication.

In reality, relatively speaking, by the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 NHL season, that cost Gauthier probably about 150K. Gauthier, by refusing to sign for the 23/24 season, cost himself potentially 3+ million.
- MJL

I kinda blame the agent for not pointing this out to the player and his family... That's his job. If the player knew this and STILL said there was no way he'd sign then the money wasn't the issue, so just tell the Flyers why and move on.

I think my new rumor is that he doesn't think he looks good in Orange.

Two things, I don't really care about communication, I care about results. Fletcher had a bias for action? He signed Kevin Hayes, traded for Ellis, traded for Ristolainen and traded Voracek for Atkinson. I wish to God he had a bias for action. Not sure what you're talking about there.
- MJL

Agreed. I was okay with the Atkinson trade, it was time for Jake to go. Not that I agree totally Ellis trade, Nopa and Myers needed to go, just wish they got a better return.

In reality, relatively speaking, by the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 NHL season, that cost Gauthier probably about 150K. Gauthier, by refusing to sign for the 23/24 season, cost himself potentially 3+ million.
- MJL

The previous thread put the amount much higher. I am not saying I know what the number is but lots of people make decisions based on compensation. There is a big trust issue in there too. Given how short their period of productivity can be, I don’t fault any professional athlete for emphasizing the importance of their compensation.

How you characterize his decision is a bit in the eye of the beholder. A guy exercising his rights under the league arrangements for draft picks is per se acting like an adult. If the reason is silly, then you can criticize that but from what I understand the FFO may have cost this kid a lot of $$. If so, that seems like a legit reason to me.
- iamscore2day

Why don't we see a lot of players not signing with the team that drafted them and telling them they want to be traded?

They did not cost him a lot of money. Gauthier by his decision cost himself potentially millions.

Torts says it kills him to have to sit Deslauriers but he has to do it

I kinda blame the agent for not pointing this out to the player and his family... That's his job. If the player knew this and STILL said there was no way he'd sign then the money wasn't the issue, so just tell the Flyers why and move on.

I think my new rumor is that he doesn't think he looks good in Orange.
- FlyersGrace

Have you seen the ducks colors?

Have you seen the ducks colors?
- iamscore2day

SHHHHHHHHHHH

Why don't we see a lot of players not signing with the team that drafted them and telling them they want to be traded?

They did not cost him a lot of money. Gauthier by his decision cost himself potentially millions.
- MJL

Agree 100% My understanding is Fletcher got fired March 10, 2023 and Boston College ended their season March 11, 2023. Gauthier wanted to be signed right after his season ended and start his ELC last year. The Flyers asked to wait until the season ended and then they would sign him and Gauthier would be able to play for the Flyers this season. Jones started on May 10th as POHO. Soon after they met with Gauthier expecting that he would be ready to sign a contract and join the team this year. That is when Gauthier shared with Briere that decided to take his marbles and go home. The kid and his family cost themselves millions, all over something so simple as this. If this doesn't cause red flags about the character of this kid, I don't know what will.

Why don't we see a lot of players not signing with the team that drafted them and telling them they want to be traded?

They did not cost him a lot of money. Gauthier by his decision cost himself potentially millions.
- MJL

Agree 100% My understanding is Fletcher got fired March 10, 2023 and Boston College ended their season March 11, 2023. Gauthier wanted to be signed right after his season ended and start his ELC last year. The Flyers asked to wait until the season ended and then they would sign him and Gauthier would be able to play for the Flyers this season. Jones started on May 10th as POHO. Soon after they met with Gauthier expecting that he would be ready to sign a contract and join the team this year. That is when Gauthier shared with Briere that decided to take his marbles and go home. The kid and his family cost themselves millions, all over something so simple as this. If this doesn't cause red flags about the character of this kid, I don't know what will.

He had, by the Flyers own admission, clearly stated he did not want to be a Flyer. That is the same thing.

The Flyers did not accept that message. They wanted to know why. None of their business why. They pestered him by sending high profile players directly to him, instead of to their agent, who was almost certainly handling all his communications and who was extremely unlikely to be in attendance at a random BC game.

The longer this goes on, the more things drag. What if I do this? What if I offer you that?

It is like breaking up with an ex. However unintuitive it is, once your decision is final, a break is a break and the best way to implement it is by a complete and total separation of communication.
- PT21

The Flyers didn't go to Sweden to know why. They went hoping they could work things out with the player and get him signed.

They didn't send high profile players to him. That's a mischaracterization. They sent employees and representatives of the Flyers to talk to the player that they hold the draft right to. Well within their purview.

You're trying to make it sound like it was some master stroke of strategy that obtained his objective. It wasn't. It was unprofessional and he could've gotten the same result by being respectful and meeting with the Flyers.

You want to talk about it being a business but ignore that it was well within the Flyers rights to pursue and engage with the player that they own the draft rights to.

His childish strategy may have been effective but he may have gotten everything he wanted and sooner had he conducted himself like a professional. One thing is for sure, he would’ve maintained some semblance of credibility and dignity at the start of his young career without the specter of many viewing him as some type of malcontent. Reputation means a lot in pretty much any profession, especially those in where one is in the public eye. Obviously this kid doesn’t care about any of that stuff right now and I certainly hope he matures some day and has a good career. It seems like he’s the kind of kid who has lived a charmed life and no one has probably ever told him “no” on anything of import.
- mikeyo27

It seems like he would have found himself tangled up in negotiations which he did not want to have. One side did not want to let go, and would not accept no. That side wasn't him.

If he was so immature, entitled etc, it would show up in other aspects of his professional performance. One franchise would not have bent over backwards to attain him, and given back something pretty close to his value.

I am sorry, we have a different take on this. As more comes out, I see absolutely nothing unprofessional or immature about this kid's behavior. Just hardassed negotiations.

On the contrary, actually. While going through this in complete secrecy, he won WJC best forward. He can handle pressure. That will be what other bidders for his services will take away from this.

Why don't we see a lot of players not signing with the team that drafted them and telling them they want to be traded?

They did not cost him a lot of money. Gauthier by his decision cost himself potentially millions.
- MJL

You may be right but there are other folks who analyze it differently. With a father who was a pro athlete in hockey, I would think that is wrong but other athletes have gotten the math wrong. But I don’t agree that a player making a decision based on financial considerations is being “childish” unless the financial analysis is so plainly wrong that it looks like a pretext. The Flyers’ response makes me suspicious because they are taking the position that they did not know when his reasons may have been expressed very clearly. Time will tell.