The Calgary Flames had a disappointing end to their otherwise terrific season when they fell in five games to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. With their campaign over, the Flames can now turn to perhaps the biggest item on their offseason checklist: to retain the services of star forward Johnny Gaudreau.

Gaudreau is definitely going to be among the hottest items in the upcoming NHL free agency. The 28-year-old Gaudreau, who signed a six-year deal worth $40.5 million back in 2016, is expected to fetch top money from suitors, and it appears that Calgary isn’t going to let him go away that easily – the same could be said about Gaudreau’s neighbors.

Via Hailey Salvian of The Athletic:

Johnny Gaudreau says he’s pretty sure his neighbours were shovelling the snow in his driveway “to make me stay.”

Flames general manager Brad Treliving seems to have established an early foundation for the looming fresh contract for Johnny Hockey, per Salim Valji of TSN.

“I've said this – and I've said it to John – I think he's a Calgary Flame and we want to make him a Calgary Flame for a long time,” Treliving said. 

“We're going to do everything we possibly can to make that happen. We saw what he's capable of. I've believed in this guy since the day I walked through the doors here. Certainly, that's an important piece of business that we've got to take care of.”

Despite their early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Flames' future looks bright, and it should only shine brighter if they could keep Gaudreau for years to come along with linemate Matthew Tkachuk, who is another top priority for Calgary in the offseason. (Tkachuk is a pending restricted free agent.)

Gaudreau led the Flames in the 2021-22 NHL season with 115 points on the strength of 40 goals and 75 assists.