The regular season is a grind. A quick run in the playoffs is disappointing. Not having a first round pick isn't the greatest scenario. But waiting for free agency to start is excruciating and it's worse when you're waiting for the straw the stirs the Flames drink to decide what he's going to do. That straw, is Johnny Gaudreau.
Now, you'd have to be living under a rock to know that this offseason for the Flames is rather large. Not only do they have to get Gaudreau back under contract, but they also need to extend a qualifying offer to Matthew Tkachuk and sign one or both of Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington.