CALGARY – The focus around Johnny Gaudreau’s return to the Saddledome Monday is about how things ended in Calgary.
However, a look back at how it all began reveals just how perilously close it came to never happening at all.
No one knows that better than Flames assistant GM Craig Conroy, who sweated through the drama of both of Gaudreau’s last-minute decisions – one to join the team and one to leave it.
Flashback to the spring of 2014, three years after the Flames took a chance on the 5-foot-9, 150-pound jitterbug by drafting him in the fourth round.
In his third year at Boston College, Gaudreau led the nation in scoring, landing the heavily-favoured Eagles in the Frozen Four.
It was there, in Philadelphia, where Conroy and Flames communications guru Peter Hanlon were sent in a private jet by ownership to sign Gaudreau and bring him back to Calgary so he wasn’t tempted to play his fourth and final year in college and walk as a free agent.
“When I saw (Gaudreau’s parents) Jane and Guy on the concourse at Wells Fargo Center it was right after they lost in the Final Four, which was a big deal, and she was like, ‘what are you guys doing here?” recalled Conroy.
“She kind of seemed upset.
“She didn’t tell me that, but I could tell when she walked away
“Guy kind of said, ‘I don’t think Johnny would be a good fit with (then-Flames hockey president) Brian Burke.’
“But I said, ‘no, we’ll have a big team, he’ll be well-protected and Burkie understands we need that skilled guy.’”
Prior to that exchange, Conroy was given no indication the Gaudreau’s had second-thoughts about his future with the Flames, as he’d spent several years cultivating his relationship with them through a series of visits.
Conroy then spoke with Gaudreau’s agent, Lewis Gross, who had also represented Conroy throughout his career.
“I went back and forth with Lewis, and probably four hours later it didn’t feel good to me,” said Conroy, terrified of flying home without Gaudreau by his side, as the temptation to sign closer to home after a fourth year at school would have been significant.
“That’s when I called Burkie and said I was disappointed and didn’t know what was going on.”
“Burkie said, ‘no problem.’
“He said at some point in the night pull the contract and just tell them, ‘we love him, we wish them all the best and we’ll be there next year.’”
Conroy could feel the blood drain from his face, unsure such a high-stakes game of poker would finish with the desired result.
“I didn’t want to do that, really, but it was about 11 at night and I finally said, ‘I’ve got to throw it out there,’” said Conroy, grimacing at the memory.
“I called Lewis and said, ‘we love him, but I think we’ll pull back the contract and we’ll let him go back to school and we’ll be here next year.
“He said, ‘whoa, whoa, whoa – let me call them. John hasn’t talked to his mom about this yet.’
“I’m like, ‘what? It’s 11:30 p.m. and they saw us at 3 o clock!’
“But that’s how Johnny is. He just didn’t want to bring it up to his mom.”
More waiting, as Conroy paced in his hotel room.
“We were really on a time constraint to get the contract in to burn the first year, if that’s what they wanted. We were down to the last 24 hours.
“Finally, Lewis called back and told me they were driving and the family spoke in the car and said, ‘okay, we’re coming.’
“That was a big weight off my shoulders. It was tense, but Burkie was calm.”
Burke is quick to remind everyone there was no guarantee Gaudreau could overcome his size to be an NHLer, let alone be a star.
“It’s not like anyone was calling me about (trading for) Gaudreau,” said Burke.
“You saw the skill, and we wanted him in Calgary, but I wasn’t too worried, as we offered him a nice contract and he’d get to burn a year off his deal by playing a couple nights later.”
The next day Gaudreau signed with the Flames, accepted the Hobey Baker Award and jumped on the jet with Conroy, Hanlon and Boston College linemate Bill Arnold, who was also signed by the Flames.
Two nights later he scored in his NHL debut in Vancouver, the Flames’ last game of the season.
It kicked off a nine-season stay in Calgary in which Johnny Hockey became the stuff of legend, racking up 609 points while twice garnering serious Hart Trophy consideration.
Had he signed the eight-year, $84 million deal the Flames believed he was about to sign this summer, he would have re-written the club’s record book and entered into the conversation around being perhaps the greatest Flame of all time.
However, this time, his late-night discussion with loved ones went against the Flames, prompting him to take less money to play with a Blue Jackets club that sits dead last in the standings.
Because of it, he knows he’ll receive a steady diet of boos Monday.
Much like his pal, Matthew Tkachuk, received earlier this year, there will be a video tribute, followed by a well-earned standing ovation.
After that, open season.
As one of the game’s most exciting and creative playmakers, he is certainly missed in Calgary.
By the team, and the fans.
While many are still sad/mad it’s over, some will simply celebrate that it happened… as it almost didn’t.
