[sureLoss]

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ng-sam-bennett

After all, even with the inevitable signing of restricted free agent Sam Bennett the Flames will have roughly $4.5 million in cap space to sign either veteran. Despite being 40 and 45-years-old respectively, you can understand the misty-eyed allure of adding Iginla or Jagr as both are legends.

“I don’t know where all this talk comes from — we certainly never made a statement saying we’re looking at so-and-so,” said Treliving, addressing the summertime street talk for the first time.

“Both are Hall of Famers. Nobody has done more as a player in Calgary than Jarome Iginla. You can’t help but respect them. But this notion we’ve been in contract talks with them is rumour and I’m not going to comment on them.”

“Are we going to go to camp with the group we have? Good chance. Are we poking around at a few things and could there be additions before camp? Yes.

“Is that a guarantee? No.

“I wouldn’t say there’s anything significant on the horizon, but we look at everything every day.”

The prolonged contract talks with Bennett are somewhat surprising given comparable contracts dictate he’s clearly slotted to make somewhere between $2.5 and $3 million annually.

“We’re going to get Sam signed,” declared Treliving of his 21-year-old third-line centre who was the fourth pick overall in 2014.

“Every contract is unique and takes it’s own course. We’re working away at it and we think Sam is going to be a good player in this organization for a long time. He’s growing and I know he’s had a good summer. We’ll keep banging away at it.”

Then again, the $4.5 million in cap space Treliving has left himself opens up some options most teams don’t have.

“It’s an asset,” said Treliving of the breathing room.

“But just because you have it doesn’t mean you spend it. It’s also, ‘who are you going to spend it on?’”