Treliving isn't being stingy.
First off we don't really know what either side is doing, only reports and rumours.
But for the sake of argument lets just call this fact and deal with it as such. The Flames at 6.5 are setting the RFA issue goal post of what he should be paid based on having 5 RFA years in his contract. Going lower than that would be stingy or difficult to deal with. At that point is prudent as it establishes a goal post that is defendable.
5*5.5 + 3*8.5 = $6.6M
It pays him a healthy amount historically for RFA years, and recognizes his worth as a UFA at the end.
The agent if he's asking for $8.5M is establishing the other goal post, the one where his client in one of the best in the world and deserves to be paid as such. It's a good goal post to create as it comes from production and the impact the player has had on the team's game.
I get it.
From there though you have to move to the middle, and in this case, the structure of NHL salaries and the pressure points on the two sides suggest the Flames won't need to travel as far to get a deal done as the agent will.
Neither side are being stingy, but the Flames simply can't move at all until the agent gets into this game, there's no point, they'd be negotiating against themselves.
So here we sit.
As soon as Gross gets a 7 at the front of his ask things will get moving. Until that point it's a standoff and Treliving (if all this above is the case) certainly won't be to blame.
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