Don Cherry calls out Johnny Gaudreau - Doesn't believe he can handle pressure

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Ryan
July 18, 2022 (6:07 PM)

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It's been less than a week after Johnny Gaudreau shocked the hockey world, leaving the Calgary Flames and signing a 7 year deal with a team that is further away from a Stanley Cup in the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Gaudreau turned down a larger and longer contract with the Flames which was believed to be 8 years $10.5 million, to sign with the Blue Jackets for 7 years at $9.5 million. The reasoning for signing with the Jackets is that he is closer to home in Columbus than he was in Calgary, but regardless of the reason, it has not sat well with some people.

Former NHL analyst Don Cherry was critical of Gaudreau's decision to sign with Columbus and talked about it on his recent podcast:

"I don't understand Johnny Hockey, Why would he go to Columbus? It's beyond me... I have no idea. I don't understand it... the only thing I can think of is there's no pressure there.

They are gonna take it easy there, and they'll win, and they will make the playoffs, and that will be it, But I don't understand it if you're a competitor. Take Gretzky and Orr, I mean they would have never gone there if they had their choice, they wanna win.

Gaudreau who was spiralling downhill the past few seasons, shot out of a cannon under coach Darryl Sutter and Don Cherry believes he won't have as much success under a coach that wont be as demanding as him.

We'll see how many goals he gets next year
-Don Cherry