[sureLoss]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/08/19...fore-world-cup

The Calgary Flames are on the verge of coming to terms on a longterm contract with Sean Monahan that could be announced as early as Friday.

While Flames GM Brad Treliving refused to comment, a source told the Calgary Sun the 21-year-old centre will likely be inked to a a seven or eight year deal as part of a contract that will make him the highest-paid of all the high-profile young centres who’ve signed extensions to their entry-level deals this summer.

On Thursday afternoon Monahan’s high-powered agent, Pat Morris, told the Sun he was now having daily conversations with Treliving and was “more optimistic now than a week ago.”

He said the deal was taking so much time because “both sides are methodical and well-prepared,” and because of “differences of opinion and other players having signed.”

Asked how soon a deal might be done, Morris provided plenty of relief for fans worrying why neither of the Flames two cornerstones have been locked up.

“I’d say sooner than later,” said Morris.

“The process had a lot of general discussions for a long time but it started to pick up steam at the draft. And still, at that time I believe other than (Florida’s Aleksander) Barkov nobody was signed then. Was Calgary waiting for the market to fill in? That would be for them to speak on.”

Morris is referring to other top young centres in the game who also needed deals after wrapping up successful three-year entry-level contracts like Barkov, who signed for six years and $35.5 million ($5.9 million annual average value). Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele (8 years/$49 million, $6.125 AAV), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (7 years/$44.1 million, $6.3 AAV) and Nashville’s Filip Forsberg (6 years/$36 million, $6 million AAV) were all signed long ago, leaving Monahan, who has outperformed them all.

Debate all you want about who the best player of that bunch is and will be, but Monahan’s 80 goals and 159 points over three seasons leads the group, giving Morris ample ammunition to suggest Monahan should be the highest paid of the lot.

And he will be.

Morris has no doubt been pushing for the $7 million mark annually, while the Flames are trying to make it as close to MacKinnon’s $6.3 million AAV as possible.

Monahan will end up making something in between, perhaps a seven-year pact for roughly $47 million.

Morris confirmed neither side has any interest in a short-term, bridge deal.

The signing opens the door for Monahan to play for Team North America at the World Cup alongside Gaudreau — something Morris insisted Thursday would happen as his client would undoubtedly have a deal with the Flames before then