Top 50 UFAs: When will no answer from Johnny Gaudreau be an answer for Flames?

The Calgary Flames have backed a Brinks truck up to the home of Johnny Gaudreau, yet after five weeks, GM Brad Treliving is still sitting at the wheel idling in the driveway while Gaudreau discerns his decision.

Conversation has been cordial. Both sides have said all the right things. At some point, the longer this drags on, no answer will become an answer. We aren’t there quite yet.

But the clock is ticking as the calendar turns to July 1.

Whether it’s $76 million, $80 million or $84 million from the Flames, there is likely significantly more money available in Calgary than anywhere else on the open market by virtue of the Flames’ baked-in ability to exclusively offer eight years. That ability expires on July 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The Flames will need an answer before then. Or, they might know the answer before then. The Pacific Division winners have a load of other business to take care of, including RFAs Matthew Tkachuk, Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington, in addition to pending UFAs Nikita Zadorov, Erik Gudbranson and Michael Stone. Not all of that money is tied up in Gaudreau’s decision, of course, but they won’t know how much of the pie they have left until Johnny Hockey takes a slice. Or says his plate is full at another team’s table.

It would be easy to say that pessimism is growing in Calgary. The Flames made their pitch shortly after they last faced off five weeks ago. But sources close to Gaudreau indicate he truly does not know what he wants to do. This is not about money, it’s about where Gaudreau wants to work and live and chase a Stanley Cup for the next seven or eight years. He’s come this far, is it at least worth finding out his potential suitors when the market opens on July 13 at 12 noon ET? Maybe. It’s only 12 days away now.

The bigger question is, if that’s the plan: Will the Flames’ offer still be standing? It can’t, at least not as lucratively given that eighth year’s expiration, once free agency opens. More than that, the Flames are going to have to pivot at some point and explore substantive discussions on how to potentially replace their franchise winger. That date hasn’t arrived, but it’s not far away on the other side of next week’s draft in Montreal.

Gaudreau remains the No. 1 pending free agent available this summer. To celebrate Canada Day, the traditional opening of free agency, here is a fresh Top 50 players available: