Under the radar team swoops in and signs Johnny Gaudreau
Johnny Gaudreau is one of, if not the top NHL free agent available this summer.
News broke late Tuesday night that he would not be re-signing with the Calgary Flames as he wanted to move back closer to his family as he and his wife await the birth of their first child.
For obvious reasons, Gaudreau had been linked to the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers, as those two cities are the closest to his hometown of Salem, New Jersey. The New York Islanders had also been linked to Gaudreau since the offseason began.
However, as NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports, a very under-the-radar team has swooped in and signed "Johnny Hockey" to what he thinks is a seven-year, $9.8 million AAV contract.
You probably won't believe it either:
That's right. The Columbus Blue Jackets have reportedly signed Johnny Gaudreau.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun confirmed Friedman's reports:
Gaudreau is coming off a career-best season in goals (40), assists (75) and points (115). He was reportedly offered upwards of $10.5 million from the Calgary Flames but took less to play in Columbus.
What a wild turn of events that not many people would have seen coming! Even professional hockey writers:
