Todd Cordell: On Bennett, Gazdic, Glass, and Hathaway

Backlund-Bennett-Frolik
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Press Box: Brouwer, Hamilton

The longer the Bennett discussions go, the more I'm convinced Bennett will be signing long term. If it was just a one or two year deal, it would be done by now. Bennett has pretty much no leverage on a short term deal. He wasn't very good last year and there's not way he can ask for more than 2.5 million and his agent knows it. I also can't see the Flames not willing to go close enough to 2.5 that they wouldn't have signed yet.

There's also the matter that on a shorter deal, Bennett is going to want to do everything he can to have an amazing year to set up the next contract. Spending September stressing out about signing a new contract is always a good way to get off to a slow start. Too slow a start could be a disaster for Bennett. Why risk that for a couple hundred thousand on a short term deal.

A longer deal is the only thing they could still be negotiating. Treliving has a history for giving his players fair deals for less money than you'd think they'd be getting. I bet the deal ends up being 5 or 6 years at around 4 million a year.

I like Hathaway last year. He brings a lot of energy to the line and I think he has some skill that hasn't really been displayed yet. With him and Ferland on the roster we shouldn't have to worry about someone having to step up to fight when needed.

Remember Glass is plan B in case Bennett holds out longer

Love how you are sure Bennett will take a two year deal at 2.5 av deal in a year where every other RFA is gettin max term and dollar.

I would expect Bennetts camp will push and sign for more than 2.5 mill av no matter what the term and I would also expect that number to be higher if going for max term. Which I would be shocked if his camp wasn't pushing hard for an 8 year deal at 5mill + av with lockout protection.

If Trev sticks to his guns, as he should, I think a 1 or 2 year deal at 3.5 to 4.5 mill av is likely.

Love how you are sure Bennett will take a two year deal at 2.5 av deal in a year where every other RFA is gettin max term and dollar.

I would expect Bennetts camp will push and sign for more than 2.5 mill av no matter what the term and I would also expect that number to be higher if going for max term. Which I would be shocked if his camp wasn't pushing hard for an 8 year deal at 5mill + av with lockout protection.

If Trev sticks to his guns, as he should, I think a 1 or 2 year deal at 3.5 to 4.5 mill av is likely.
- Aerchon

Love how you are sure Bennett will take a two year deal at 2.5 av deal in a year where every other RFA is gettin max term and dollar.

I would expect Bennetts camp will push and sign for more than 2.5 mill av no matter what the term and I would also expect that number to be higher if going for max term. Which I would be shocked if his camp wasn't pushing hard for an 8 year deal at 5mill + av with lockout protection.

If Trev sticks to his guns, as he should, I think a 1 or 2 year deal at 3.5 to 4.5 mill av is likely.
- Aerchon

Every other RFA has had at least one breakout season already. If GMs start giving out max term and dollar deals after 26 point seasons, we may as well just start the lockout now.

There's also no way Bennett is asking for more than 2.5 if it's a short term deal. His agent needs to actually have some kind of argument as to why his worth that much, and he has nothing. The Flames are not going to pay him 4 million on a prove your worth contract, and the Flames will have no problem letting him stay home if he's being that ridiculous. They have multiple AHLers who should probably be making the team anyway.

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Press Box: Brouwer, Hamilton


- fry

Why would you mess with the 3M line??

Why would you mess with the 3M line??
- FlamesFan1230

Because Tkachuk-Jankowski-Jagr is a dream I will hold on to until the end of time.

And I think Backlund and Bennett could rotate the center position around mid shift well enough to provide overwhelming puck support.

And I think It would be good for Bennett to work with those two. The downside of shifting Backlund over is outweighed by the upside of Bennett flourishing on a dominant line.

It's late August. It's ok to think out of the box a little. Tkachuk-Janitor-Jagr

Bennett should get 4 @ $4 million and cal it good.

Show 'em you've got it and get paid big time next time around.

I don't get why you keep making such a big deal about glass and gazdic, their there for preseason matches against Edmonton to make sure nothing happens. That's all. Glass will be cut or given a AHL contract and the same goes for Gazdic. They are just bodies for camp and preseason bouts.

I don't get why you keep making such a big deal about glass and gazdic, their there for preseason matches against Edmonton to make sure nothing happens. That's all. Glass will be cut or given a AHL contract and the same goes for Gazdic. They are just bodies for camp and preseason bouts.
- shayne

Except Gazdic is actually signed to a 2-way contract already.

Except Gazdic is actually signed to a 2-way contract already.
- TandA4Flames

Need a designated Instigator down in Stockton. Bad for the team to have Lomberg, Smith, Aulie suspended on any given night.

While I agree Bennett isnt worth more than 2.5, his draft position, potential, and the way contracts/the market have ballooned just marke that number unlikely.

While I agree Bennett isnt worth more than 2.5, his draft position, potential, and the way contracts/the market have ballooned just marke that number unlikely.
- Aerchon

Draft position and potential mean pretty much nothing after the ELC. Yes, if he signs a long term deal, he'll get more than 2.5 based on potential. A short term deal is so he can earn a big contract and potential doesn't factor into that. Draft position is 100% meaningless at this point.

The big contracts that have been signed have come because those players put up great years and were key parts of their teams giving their agents plenty of leverage. The most direct comparison for Bennett at this stage is Yakupov who got the exact deal most are expecting Bennett to sign.

I'm not sure why you keep talking about Gazdic or Glass as anything more than a call-up when we need and a PTO to fill out the roster with vets in the preseason, respectively. Gazdic is signed to a two-way and will more than likely be playing in Stockton, and Glass is a body in training camp/pre-season. That's it. No idea why either are a big deal.

As for Bennett, I'm expecting something like a 3x3 for him. He certainly hasn't played well enough yet to earn anything more than that, and a 3 year deal gives him time to prove he's worth more and get paid big on his next contract. I highly doubt Benny's agent is asking for more than $3million, so I would assume term is the big issue here. I'd be fine with locking Benny up long term, as I'm sure Tre is, but I don't know if Bennett's camp would be.

If your best comparible is Yakupov. A guy who was minus 100 at the same time as Bennett and many thought possibly could, and still might, wash out of the league because his play was so bad... Your basically proving my point.

ive read 100+ posts saying Bennett is waaaaaaay better than Yak and going to still be an impact player at the NHL level. Many still have him penciled in as a #1 center. You dont pay that guy the same as Nail the fail Yakupov.

If Bennet is actually as bad as Yak and as unlikely to succeed... Sure 2.5 sounds right.

If your best comparible is Yakupov. A guy who was minus 100 at the same time as Bennett and many thought possibly could, and still might, wash out of the league because his play was so bad... Your basically proving my point.

ive read 100+ posts saying Bennett is waaaaaaay better than Yak and going to still be an impact player at the NHL level. Many still have him penciled in as a #1 center. You dont pay that guy the same as Nail the fail Yakupov.

If Bennet is actually as bad as Yak and as unlikely to succeed... Sure 2.5 sounds right.
- Aerchon

Bennett is already better overall than yak ...

To those who think market dictates Bennett getting 3 or more per year. Comparable RFA's signed this year:

Brown - G20-A16-P36-GP82 - 2.1x3
Shear - G23-A30-P53-GP61 - 3x3
Teravainen - G15-A27-P-42-GP81 - 2.86x2
Spooner - G11-A28-P39-GP78 - 2.825x1
Bennett - G13-A13-P26-GP81 -?

All numbers from previous season only as they will be most relevant. Only way Bennett gets more than 2.5 is a long term contract like hunk stated. After seeing the comparables I believe a 2mill x 3 is fair, maybe 2x2.

If your best comparible is Yakupov. A guy who was minus 100 at the same time as Bennett and many thought possibly could, and still might, wash out of the league because his play was so bad... Your basically proving my point.

ive read 100+ posts saying Bennett is waaaaaaay better than Yak and going to still be an impact player at the NHL level. Many still have him penciled in as a #1 center. You dont pay that guy the same as Nail the fail Yakupov.

If Bennet is actually as bad as Yak and as unlikely to succeed... Sure 2.5 sounds right.
- Aerchon

Yak got 2.5x2 after scoring 14 and 19 for 33 in 2015. If it were 2015 I would agree it's comparable. However, I don't think that's fair. Gotta compare him to contracts signed this offseason.

Dr_soilpants. Good comparibles but Bennett will get paid more than those players just because of draft position and potential. Imo.

Those comparibles do lower the numbers I was thinking but not enough to realistically come in under 3. Except maybe on a one year deal.

I just can't imagine Bennetts camp being happy at all with a bridge deal that low. Major props to the GM if he can bring him in on a cheap bridge.

To those who think market dictates Bennett getting 3 or more per year. Comparable RFA's signed this year:

Brown - G20-A16-P36-GP82 - 2.1x3
Shear - G23-A30-P53-GP61 - 3x3
Teravainen - G15-A27-P-42-GP81 - 2.86x2
Spooner - G11-A28-P39-GP78 - 2.825x1
Bennett - G13-A13-P26-GP81 -?

All numbers from previous season only as they will be most relevant. Only way Bennett gets more than 2.5 is a long term contract like hunk stated. After seeing the comparables I believe a 2mill x 3 is fair, maybe 2x2.
- dr_soiledpants

Most of your comparables have only a single NHL season.

Dr_soilpants. Good comparibles but Bennett will get paid more than those players just because of draft position and potential. Imo.

Those comparibles do lower the numbers I was thinking but not enough to realistically come in under 3. Except maybe on a one year deal.

I just can't imagine Bennetts camp being happy at all with a bridge deal that low. Major props to the GM if he can bring him in on a cheap bridge.
- Aerchon

I don't know why you keep bringing up draft position. It has zero impact on your second contract. If the agent brings up that nonsense during negotiations, Treliving just responds with why did he only score 26 points last year. Potential also means next to nothing unless it's a long contract. As an RFA, you either get paid for what you've done on a short term deal hoping to cash in next time or you sign a long term deal using your potential to get the team to pay you more than you're currently worth in hopes they can save some money in the future. You don't get both.

Treleving doesn't deserve props for paying Bennett what he's worth. Can you bring up a single comparable player who underwhelmed during their ELC but was paid more than 3 million a year just because they were drafted high?

Most of your comparables have only a single NHL season.
- BINGO!

Bennett only has 2, and every player he listed put up better numbers than Bennett's best season.