[Signing] Kraken sign Beniers (7 yrs, $7.14 mil AAV)

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by codynw

Tkachuk signed his second contract after a 77 point season though.


I have no doubt that Beniers will more than live up to this contract, but Tkachuk had proven way more when he signed.

Would have been great had the Flames given Tkachuk 7 x $7M coming off those first two seasons when he was eligible for an extension though wouldn't it?

That's the bet the Kraken are trying to make here.

Even for the Flames...of course it's the benefit of hindsight... but would have been pretty nice if the Flames locked up Tkachuk long term coming into the 18-19 season and giving themselves that cost certainty moving forward. Would have much rather they done that and overpaid Tkachuk that offseason instead of giving Neal 5 x $5.75M that season.

I think if Tkachuk was locked up, and Neal wasn't a Flame yet that you might have seen a better shot of Mark Stone being a Flame at that deadline too since the Flames would have been more comfortable with Stone's $9M+ contract ask having certainty on Tkachuk's deal and not having Neal.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Would have been great had the Flames given Tkachuk 7 x $7M coming off those first two seasons when he was eligible for an extension though wouldn't it?

Why would Tkachuk have signed at that point instead of playing out his ELC and betting on himself to improve his numbers?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Why would Tkachuk have signed at that point instead of playing out his ELC and betting on himself to improve his numbers?

Why did Beniers? Get $50M guaranteed a year early is a nice insurance play.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Why would Tkachuk have signed at that point instead of playing out his ELC and betting on himself to improve his numbers?

I think if you put 7 x $7M in front of him coming off his 49 point season he would have taken it.

Especially considering he took 3 x $7M coming off his 77 point season.

It would have been called an overpayment at that time, just like people are calling this an overpayment, but it likely would have been very beneficial for the Flames.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think if you put 7 x $7M in front of him coming off his 49 point season he would have taken it.

Especially considering he took 3 x $7M coming off his 77 point season.

It would have been called an overpayment at that time, just like people are calling this an overpayment, but it likely would have been very beneficial for the Flames.

Tkachuk did sign 3x$7M but the term was the issue. More years would have cost more money and not - he guaranteed him $9M on his next contract.

I really doubt Tkachuk was signing anything after only two years and only "pretty good" production for a high draft pick. He knows leverage and he didn't have it then.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think if you put 7 x $7M in front of him coming off his 49 point season he would have taken it.

Especially considering he took 3 x $7M coming off his 77 point season.

It would have been called an overpayment at that time, just like people are calling this an overpayment, but it likely would have been very beneficial for the Flames.

That's the thing. You should pay your young RFAs based on what you think or expect they will become. If you take a hardline approach with them, it can just sour the relationships. It's much less risky to overpay a 21 year old showing signs of becoming a great player than overpaying a player in their 30s for what they did in the past and expecting that to continue. I realize you still have to occasionally bite the bullet and do the latter to get the player to sign, but if overpaying your 21 year old former 2nd OA who has been reasonably productive so far, prevents you from overpaying an older post-apex player later, I think that is an acceptable opportunity cost.

[the-rasta-masta]

Tkachuk was looking like a great player in his first two years, but I'm not sure anybody thought he was going to turn into what he is now. I think I would have expected a 60-70 point guy who could irritate the other team. I'm not sure I would have offered him a 7x7 after year 2 without the benefit of hindsight.