examples? How about Eberle, RNH and to an extent Draisatl and even McDavid. Eberle makes more than Tavares for (frank) sakes. I get Macdavid has been very good but has he 'earned' $12.5 mil? Drai has had 1 good year.
- TandA4Flames

I'd say being a generational talent that won 3 of the major awards says he's earned it.

Eberle and RNH I agree with. LD to an extent. I'm still torn on him.

I'd say being a generational talent that won 3 of the major awards says he's earned it.

Eberle and RNH I agree with. LD to an extent. I'm still torn on him.
- Lahey

Re: McDavid. Sure I agree with that but unlike guys like TOews, KANe what has he won for the team? 1 PO round. Worth $12.5 mil?

examples? How about Eberle, RNH and to an extent Draisatl and even McDavid. Eberle makes more than Tavares for (frank) sakes. I get Macdavid has been very good but has he 'earned' $12.5 mil? Drai has had 1 good year.
- TandA4Flames

Eberle had 43 points in his first year, 76 in his second. RNH had 52 in his first year and 56 in his third. Draisaitl had 51 points and then 77 the year before his deal. All three blow Bennett's production out of the water. Also, all three of them signed long term deals.

People have mentioned Yakupov. Who we can all agree is not as good as Bennett.

I am sure there are more examples of ELC contracts with slightly inflated salary's for highly touted but poor performing top 10 draft picks.
- Aerchon

If you're going by stats, Bennett isn't better than Yakupov at the end of their ELCs. Also, the biggest plus Bennett has over Yakupov is that he's not Russian. People would feel a whole lot different about Bennett if he was a dirty Russian.

Its hard to put up big numbers on the 3rd line with no power play time...its just a fact. True he hasn't earned it yet but most top draft picks are gifted those minutes, not gonna happen in Calgary where he is behind two fairly young established NHL centers.


Anyone who knows a thing about hockey and has watched him play will realize the potential. IF he was gifted top line minutes he would have much higher numbers obviously.

Still the deal is 2.5-3M on a short term contract

I have my doubts about Oiler fanboy DD and his "reporting"

My guess is that the Flames want a longer deal and he wants a shorter deal...until he is missing camp its really not an issue.

Flames could be like another team and just give their players whatever they want...long term though that isn't very smart
- flashfire

Agreed about the minute on top line assesment, but IF he was as good as he is hyped by Flames Fans, why wouldnt he have been given thise minutes. Coaches dont demote players who win games for their teams. Not in todays NHL. Maybe back in the 70's when you had to 'earn' it. So basically if he was 'that' good, he wouldnt be 3rd line.

If you're going by stats, Bennett isn't better than Yakupov at the end of their ELCs. Also, the biggest plus Bennett has over Yakupov is that he's not Russian. People would feel a whole lot different about Bennett if he was a dirty Russian.
- Hunkulese

Well, if you go by watching hockey you will see that Bennett is a much better player. Not sure about you but I really don't feel like this is something I want to waste my time arguing about. Yak also got to play with McD.

But If you feel that Yak=Bennett have fun with that.

People have mentioned Yakupov. Who we can all agree is not as good as Bennett.

I am sure there are more examples of ELC contracts with slightly inflated salary's for highly touted but poor performing top 10 draft picks.
- Aerchon

We can all agree he is not as good, but his stats over the same time in the NHL as Bennetts says he was. And before you go off about yak getting fed minutes, remember people have said the Oilers ruined him because of how they deployed him. So ya, he does have zero leverage.

Agreed about the minute on top line assesment, but IF he was as good as he is hyped by Flames Fans, why wouldnt he have been given thise minutes. Coaches dont demote players who win games for their teams. Not in todays NHL. Maybe back in the 70's when you had to 'earn' it. So basically if he was 'that' good, he wouldnt be 3rd line.
- Shyster19

He's our 3C because Monahan had already established himself with Gaudreau and Backlund is a legit #1 centre.

The Flames want to develop Sam as a centre. He wasn't "demoted", those were the only minutes available to him; unless we were to convert him to a RW (which I don't think the Flames want to do given the uncertainty around Backlund's extension).

If there's any truth to this, I wonder if the Flames are just refusing to give him a short term deal. It should be the easiest thing ever and not worth destroying their relationship over.

Bennett has absolutely no argument to ask for more than 1.5 for one year or 2.5 for two years, and I can't see the Flames not willing to be even close to those numbers if they'd do a short contract.

Duclair just got 1.2 for a year, which should make it even easier. He also had one great year followed by a pretty crappy year. Give Bennett 1.5 so he can feel that the Flames think he's better than Duclair and do this again next year.

Bennett's also a headcase. Skipping training camp and then putting all that pressure on himself to earn his next contract in one season isn't going to work out well for him.
- Hunkulese

If that is the case, then I don't blame Bennett for holding out. He shouldn't have to sign a long term contract for less than he feels he is worth.

If he's trying to get a big payday on a 1-2 year deal, then I'd say suck it up and sign the damn bridge deal Sammy.



Also, headcase? He's a young, gritty player that takes the odd bad penalty he's not mentally unstable FFS

Trade him to Edmonton for RNH

The people making these Yak=Bennett claims should learn more about backchecking.

Trade him to Edmonton for RNH
- DinoRondelly

4. Bennett.
5. MDC
6. Virtanen.

Busts, all (frank)ing busts.

4. Bennett.
5. MDC
6. Virtanen.

Busts, all (frank)ing busts.
- Whiskey-Tango

Don't you drag Bennett in with those sh!tbirds.

The people making these Yak=Bennett claims should learn more about backchecking.
- fry

And Grit.

He's our 3C because Monahan had already established himself with Gaudreau and Backlund is a legit #1 centre.

The Flames want to develop Sam as a centre. He wasn't "demoted", those were the only minutes available to him; unless we were to convert him to a RW (which I don't think the Flames want to do given the uncertainty around Backlund's extension).
- Saskabush

Wut

Don't you drag Bennett in with those sh!tbirds.
- fry

It's where he belongs Ok!
He's among friends

The people making these Yak=Bennett claims should learn more about backchecking.
- fry

Never forget

Well, if you go by watching hockey you will see that Bennett is a much better player. Not sure about you but I really don't feel like this is something I want to waste my time arguing about. Yak also got to play with McD.

But If you feel that Yak=Bennett have fun with that.
- DuranDuran

I obviously think that Bennett is a better hockey player, but it really doesn't matter what I think. Contracts, especially second contracts, are 90% about finding a player with comparable stats and adjusting accordingly. Yakupov and Bennett put up similar numbers during their ELCs so expect a 2 year deal to be pretty similar.

I'm still waiting to see if anyone can bring up a comparable player other than Yakupov. There's no one that underperformed during their ELC that got a big two year deal that Bennett's agent can bring up during negotiations.

Also, headcase? He's a young, gritty player that takes the odd bad penalty he's not mentally unstable FFS
- Saskabush

If you listen to him in interviews, he clearly gets in his own head and puts too much pressure on himself when things aren't going well. If he gets off to a good start, he will probably have a great season, but if it's a rough start, he's probably going to get stuck in his own head and start overthinking everything again. Skipping training camp isn't the best way to make sure you're season gets off to a great start.

I obviously think that Bennett is a better hockey player, but it really doesn't matter what I think. Contracts, especially second contracts, are 90% about finding a player with comparable stats and adjusting accordingly. Yakupov and Bennett put up similar numbers during their ELCs so expect a 2 year deal to be pretty similar.

I'm still waiting to see if anyone can bring up a comparable player other than Yakupov. There's no one that underperformed during their ELC that got a big two year deal that Bennett's agent can bring up during negotiations.
- Hunkulese

I think everyone on here is thinking something around 2.5 million on 2 yrs. My gut is that BT wants him at $2million or less. He seems to grind RFAs pretty hard then blow his brains out on UFAs. Regardless, I think he'll be in camp at the start as Bennett can't afford to miss any time.

I obviously think that Bennett is a better hockey player, but it really doesn't matter what I think. Contracts, especially second contracts, are 90% about finding a player with comparable stats and adjusting accordingly. Yakupov and Bennett put up similar numbers during their ELCs so expect a 2 year deal to be pretty similar.

I'm still waiting to see if anyone can bring up a comparable player other than Yakupov. There's no one that underperformed during their ELC that got a big two year deal that Bennett's agent can bring up during negotiations.
- Hunkulese

define "big" 2 year deal.

If you listen to him in interviews, he clearly gets in his own head and puts too much pressure on himself when things aren't going well. If he gets off to a good start, he will probably have a great season, but if it's a rough start, he's probably going to get stuck in his own head and start overthinking everything again. Skipping training camp isn't the best way to make sure you're season gets off to a great start.
- Hunkulese

That just makes him a 21 year old kid with high expectations for himself. Not a head case.

I obviously think that Bennett is a better hockey player, but it really doesn't matter what I think. Contracts, especially second contracts, are 90% about finding a player with comparable stats and adjusting accordingly. Yakupov and Bennett put up similar numbers during their ELCs so expect a 2 year deal to be pretty similar.

I'm still waiting to see if anyone can bring up a comparable player other than Yakupov. There's no one that underperformed during their ELC that got a big two year deal that Bennett's agent can bring up during negotiations.
- Hunkulese

Yeah I could see how Benny would be a little sour as he did a lot more than his stats showed.

Maybe if he stopped getting sloshed at all these country concerts and actually focused on his training he could earn some more money.