I can't believe this is even a discussion. Who cares? He's contributing to a playoff team. You're going to alienate one of your future building block players to save 1 year on actually paying him what he's worth? Makes no sense.
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And let's be honest, if the Flames can push this to game 6 the owners will probably make three or four times his future salary in revenue from that one game. I'm sure they want the best team on the ice so that is more likely to happen.
Yeah, this was always a likelihood if we got out of the first round and Treliving discussed it on the Fan960 indicating that Bob's job is to win games and he gets to select the players that will give him the best opportunity to do that.
If that means burning a year of Sam's ELC then so be it.
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- Monahan and Gaudreau have been really productive on home ice
- the series returns to Calgary for the next two games
- they both have contracts coming up in a year
- why don't we bench both guys tonight
- lose both games
- and avoid them hitting double digits in playoff points
- and hammer them at contract time
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- Monahan and Gaudreau have been really productive on home ice
- the series returns to Calgary for the next two games
- they both have contracts coming up in a year
- why don't we bench both guys tonight
- lose both games
- and avoid them hitting double digits in playoff points
- and hammer them at contract time
That would be a very Oiler thing to do.
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The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
If Bennett is who we think he is then I would expect a bridge contract and treating him up front and direct like this will pay dividends at that time. Same thing with signing Gaudreau and burning a year last year. These are things players and agents look at from a quality organization.
Direct comparison to the Chicago Cubs who sent their best prospect down for 12 days to save a year of free agency. Works great in the long run for that player but others look at it and say your a nickel and dime organization. Which has a longer term wider more negative impact.
Play him. Treat him fairly. It will all work out in the end.
playing a top 3/6 role, in critical situations, in the biggest games of the season. Exactly what the organization would have hoped for when he was drafted.
No issue with any contractual impact. He has earned where he is.
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Actually, I think they should sit him and never play him again to keep him in as close to mint condition as possible. He'll be worth much more if he's in good condition.
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That HF thread has some horrible idiot logic by a couple posters. Seriously arguing we are hurting our long term goals by playing Sam now. If the Flames intentionally benched him it would be an absolute disaster. Sam likely would remeber this and force his way out sooner than later. The kid is a gamer and a huge part of our future while being a key part of our present.
We don't lose any RFA years regardless how deep we go in the playoffs. He is playing an important role and his secondary scoring was a contributing factor to te first round victory. Win or lose this is amazing experience for our future core on Bennett, Monahan, and Gaudreau. These 3 kids represent the next great era of Flames hockey and all 3 will continue to play and will be rewarded and retained long term when the time is right
The kid is clearly talented and will be a part of the Flames for a long, long time. Burn a year now... Do it next year... Do it the season after that... In any case, it really doesn't matter because you will be resigning him to a big deal one day.
Sitting him now sends a bad message to the team. Not to mention possibly creating a RoR/Avalanche-type situation (as in the player hating the organization) with Bennett. Playing him is a no-brainer.
The only real cost to the team for this is going to be a couple million dollars in 2017-18. And given the difference between his ELC bonuses and a second contract without bonuses, it may not even be that much.
The 41 games for waiver eligibility is the big one, and Bennett won't hit that.
