NHL Rumors: Calgary Flames Still Waiting on Johnny Gaudreau

Tuesday night at 11:59pm eastern time is the last minute the Calgary Flames can offer Johnny Gaudreau an eight-year contract. Once midnight strikes, only seven-year deals are on the table and Gaudreau can start to listen to every other team in the league. Needless to say, the Flames are getting impatient as they handed over the contract offer days ago and still haven't heard back.

The Flames are committed to keeping Gaudreau in town, and also want to sign Matthew Tkachuk to a multi-year deal as the pesky forward is a restricted free agent this summer. Both players are going to take a big chunk of cap space from the Flames, who currently sit with $26.9 million available.

In exactly 48 hours, #Flames will lose the ability to offer Johnny Gaudreau an 8-year contract, which will significantly narrow (eliminate?) their advantage versus the market.

Sources say there has been no traction in talks to this point between Gaudreau and Calgary.

Tick tock.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 11, 2022

As for Gaudreau, he's coming off a monster season, putting up 115 points in 2021-22. Once midnight strikes and the market opens up on Wednesday, look for the Seattle Kraken to make a giant push to sign 'Johnny Hockey' as they're expected to make a contract offer at $10 million per season over the maximum seven years.

Photo credit:  Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports