The Calgary Flames have signed left wing Johnny Gaudreau to a new contract. According to Pierre Lebrun, the extension is for six years, carrying an average annual value of 6.75 million. This contracts marks an extensive increase from his entry-level contract which carried a cap hit of $925,000 per year.
Six years, $6.75 million per year on average for Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary. Flames never did want to go over $7 M.
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) October 10, 2016
Johnny Gaudreau Signs With Calgary Flames
During the 2015-16 season, Gaudreau played a total of 79 games. In this campaign, he tallied 30 goals and 48 assists for 78 total points. In terms of points, Gaudreau finished for the sixth highest in the league, tied with Joe Pavelski. This was an increase from the 2014-15 season in which he played 80 games with 24 goals and 40 goals for 64 points. Additionally, Gaudreau finished last season with a shooting percentage of 13.8% and an average time on ice of 19:56. While his shooting percentage had dropped from 2014-15 (14.4%), he increased his total shots from 167 to 217.
This move was viewed as a must for the organization, along with the extension of center Sean Monahan. The pairing usually play on the Flames’ top forward line. In 2015-16, they spent 966:49 of ice time together, ranking first and second in average ice time among Calgary’s forwards. The two will be reunited as members of Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey.
Gaudreau was selected by the Flames in the fourth round, 104 overall during the 2011 NHL Draft. During his rookie season in 2014-15, he was third in voting for the Calder Trophy. Gaudreau also played in the past two NHL All-Star Games.
Main Photo:
CALGARY, AB – MARCH 26: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames in action against the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 26, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
