Johnny Gaudreau hopeful contract comes 'pretty soon'

Johnny Gaudreau said Thursday he expects to have a new contract with the Calgary Flames in the very near future.
"Hopefully it's going to come pretty soon here," the forward told Sportsnet.
Gaudreau said he is leaving the negotiations to agent Lewis Gross.

"Honestly, I'm not even involved," Gaudreau said. "I try to stay out of it as much as possible. I don't like getting different numbers in my head. Hoping for this, hoping for that, how many years ... it's just, I don't really enjoy that stuff.
"Whatever my agent thinks is best for me is what I'm going to do. He does a really good job with his players, so I have all the faith in him that he'll get something done."
Gaudreau and linemate Sean Monahan each is a restricted free agent. Monahan also remains without a contract for this season. General manager Brad Treliving said this week that talks are ongoing.

"I'm not sure how his deal's going, but we're on the same page," Gaudreau said of Monahan. "We're both really excited we're in Calgary. It's a great city that's so passionate about hockey, and the fans are great to us. We both want to be there for a long time with how great that city's treated us the past two years."
Monahan, a center who will turn 22 on Oct. 12, and Gaudreau, a wing who will be 23 on Aug. 13, have been linemates for the past two seasons, when they have combined for 112 goals and 267 points.
"I just love playing with him," Gaudreau said. "He's a great [center] and an even better guy off the ice."
Gaudreau tied for sixth in the NHL with 78 points (30 goals, 48 assists) last season. Center Mark Scheifele, 23, of the Winnipeg Jets signed an eight-year contract worth $6.125 million annually, and forward Filip Forsberg, 22 on Aug. 13, of the Nashville Predators signed a six-year contract worth $6 million per season, as a restricted free agent this offseason.
Forward Brandon Saad, 24 on Oct. 27, a Gross client, signed a six-year contract reportedly worth $6 million annually with the Columbus Blue Jackets last July after being traded by the Chicago Blackhawks.