"Calgary is a special place for me": Gaudreau ponders Flames future with free agency looming
Has Johnny Gaudreau already played his last game as a member of the Calgary Flames?
That’s a question that remains to be answered, as the 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Speaking to the media on locker clean-out day in Calgary, Gaudreau had nice words to say about his time in the city.
“Calgary has a special place in my heart,” Gaudreau said, as reported by Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg. “I’ve been a part of this organization for 11 years now. Everything about this city I love.”
“We’ll see what happens.”
Pending UFA Johnny Gaudreau on what the next six or seven weeks look like for him:
“Obviously Calgary has a special place in my heart. I’ve been a part of this organization for 11 years now. Everything about this city I love.
“Obviously we’ll see what happens.” #Flames
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) May 28, 2022
Gaudreau had the best season of his NHL career, scoring 115 points (40-75-115) in 82 games during the regular season. He added 14 points (3-11-14) in 12 playoff games, including the biggest goal of his career, the overtime winner in Game 7 against the Dallas Stars.
Needless to say, he’ll be able to command a raise on his $6.75 million salary on the open market.
But the Flames’ season did have a disappointing end, losing in five games to the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. That’s not good enough for a Flames team that had Stanley Cup aspirations after an 111-point regular season.
Winning a Cup is something Gaudreau would like to do one day, of course. Maybe, one day, in Calgary.
Johnny Gaudreau says he’d like to remain with Calgary if everything works out.
“That would be pretty special, to win a Cup here. Calgary is a special place for me and I do really, really love it.” #Flames
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) May 28, 2022
“That would be pretty special, to win a Cup here,” Gaudreau added. “Calgary is a special place for me and I do really, really love it.”
"I never really had that moment where I was like, ‘Oh. This is it for me.’"
Gaudreau, on if there was a Last Dance mentality knowing how different the roster might be in the fall:#Flames pic.twitter.com/7SmOxPYl12
— Salim Nadim Valji (@salimvalji) May 28, 2022