Why does Johnny Gaudreau want to join the carnage in Philadelphia?

Reports consistently suggest Johnny Gaudreau is interested in joining the Flyers but given the unpredictability of what Philadelphia are becoming, why would the Flames star give up a sure thing in Calgary?

Video Transcript

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Like, Johnny Gaudreau, for example. Like, is he going to Calgary? Is he staying in Calgary? Is he going to Seattle for the big money? Is he going to Philly? Is he going to New Jersey? Avry, where do you think Johnny Gaudreau is going?

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: I said on season one, Johnny Gaudreau, go to Philly, Philadelphia. Make it happen.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: You said on season one?

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: I did, yes. I said, go to Philadelphia.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: I don't remember that episode. Which episode was that?

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: I got to go through the archives again, but I said it. I quoted it. I quoted him going to Philadelphia last trade deadline day, didn't happen. But now, I want to see him play in Philadelphia and see what happens there. I mean, he's been linked there for, it seems like, 45 years. So make it happen now, see what works in that franchise that's trying to rebuild.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: OK, all right. So we have Avry down for Philadelphia as to where Johnny Gaudreau would go. Remember, a franchise that has John Tortorella, Gritty, and now Anthony DeAngelo in their seed.

So already, there's just going to be a whole set of mess. They're a team that is going to be a must-watch team for all the wrong reasons. And then you put in Johnny Gaudreau, who is going to have to work with Torts. I have no idea how that relationship is going to work, but I am all for it.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: Yeah, I mean, I-- I kind of think he's gonna end up at Philly, too, because they're just so desperate. It's just, like, they just-- they just reek of desperation, that franchise, with everything that they do. And I think despite that, Gaudreau kind of wants to be there.

They're like-- people are talking about Seattle. I mean, he's always been talking about the East Coast, like, this entire career. It's the conversation around that he wants to go to the East Coast. Seattle can't offer him the right coast and he can't offer them-- well, they can offer him more money, I guess, than Calgary. They can't go eight years.

So if he's gonna stay on the West Coast, does Calgary not make the most sense? A competitive team. It's your team. You already know what you're getting into. They give you the eight years, maximize the dollars.

I don't know, really, how Seattle fits into this equation, although they-- we keep hearing their names. So maybe they are involved. But I just feel like it's always been Philly. So it will be Philly and it might be a disaster. It probably will be a disaster, but that's what I'm expecting.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: It probably will be. Sam, what about you?

SAM CHANG: Yeah, I think Philly is a good guess 'cause-- if only just 'cause we keep hearing that he wants to play there. I think the other interesting place-- oh, I think they're probably rebuilding more now than they ever have been, is Boston. He played for Boston College. I think that's-- that's, you know, East Coast.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That's fair.

SAM CHANG: Maybe that'd be interesting. They've-- like, you know, Boston is losing a lot of their marquee players. That's a good place for him.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: OK. I'm just gonna say he's gonna stay in Calgary. I mean, I know we're coming up on the deadline for when he could actually get that, like, eighth year in his contract with Calgary, but I see him staying.

Like, this is, like, a really good situation. He was a part of the best line in hockey last year. I don't think they're that far off from doing another run in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Calgary Flames. So I see him staying. But if he goes to Philly, I am all for the carnage.