[News] Dreger: Still sizable gap between Bennett and Flames

[Toonage]

R-e-l-a-x

[Rejean31]

Just Oiler fan boy Dreger trying to create some drama in the Flames camp. Don't get sucked in.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by robaur

I had no problem with what Gaudreau was doing. That's the difference. Gaudreau deserved every penny and probably more.

What has Sam Bennett done? Nothing. That's the difference. It IS arrogance. There's a very fine line between being passionate and being arrogant.

You must spend a lot of your life on the rumble strips

[DJones]

Wow, this thread has been a rollercoaster haha.

"If Bennett doesn't get signed, what would he do, go play overseas?"

"Yes, that would be an option"

*Headline: Bennett's going to Europe

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Seems like his agent is getting desperate and trying a Hail Mary to get the fans riled up to put pressure on the club to cave. No doubt that Bennett has to be looking at some recent RFA contracts and want a piece, but come on man... put up some numbers first.

As a side note: heard from what I consider a reliable source that Bennett's agent is after Frolik/Brodie money.

Well that sure isn't going to happen. One was a UFA signing for a former cup winning all-tools forward. The other was actually a bargain on a top 3 defenseman who drives possession. Those two have a LOT more value at the time of their signings than Bennett does right now.

I love the kid, but that's an unrealistic price point for what he's done in the league to date.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Treliving has established himself as a tough but fair negotiator. He won't overpay for an RFA (See: Gaudreau, Monahan, et al), but he'll give them around their market value. Bennett's agent should probably take a short bridge deal that's bonus laden so that Bennett can prove his value. The question is whether or not that's being offered.

Normally, I can understand why players with a lot of negotiating power hold out, but this one seems ill-advised to me. He's young, he's got potential, but he hasn't earned a big deal....yet.

Take the contract that's offered, Sam. You're unlikely to get a much better deal.

I'm guessing this would be done if the bridge options were on the table. But I'm guessing the Flames don't want one or two year deals and that's the problem.

1 - and Bennett breaks out meaning he goes upward next year and someone has to go
2 - and he falls into Tkachuk's window

Treliving has all his signings so far fitting together, the key for the next two years is getting Bennett and Backlund into the fold so they can hold this window.

A one year Bennett deal could screw that up.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

T...Bennett's agent should probably take a short bridge deal that's bonus laden so that Bennett can prove his value. The question is whether or not that's being offered...

It is not being offered since there are no bonuses on NHL SPCs. Bonuses are only available on entry level and +35 contracts.

All in all this is disappointing. I think this is posturing by the agent, but is a more dangerous situation for Bennett than it was for Gaudreau last year. Bennett cannot afford to miss camp: having not solidified his place in the lineup, and with incoming prospects like Jankowski breathing down his neck, this could be a bad decision.

[Huntingwhale]

Thank goodness we have a GM who is willing to wait it out and get the ''right'' deal in place, rather then one who caters to the ''get it down'' crowd. If BT was the latter, we'd have Gaudreau signed at 8.5 million simply to 'get it done'.

And isn't Dreger known to be a loudmouth who purposely gets fans riled up simply to get hits on his twitter account? 9 posts in and we got people calling Bennett a diva, f off to europe, and how arrogant he is. LOL. Hilarious overreaction.

[Resolute 14]

Dreger is a guy who doesn't have the kind of respect level the likes of McKenzie and Duhatschek have, so the only way he continues to get fed information is if he carries water for agents. That's all this is, and there's no real reason for anyone to worry at this point.

[Ashasx]

this kind of news regarding the Flames always comes from Dreger

[robaur]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

don't see how a Dreger comment can lead you to believe Sam Bennett is an arrogant so and so.

all it seems to be is a nothing comment in the contract dance.

I doubt Bennett is even involved in the negotiations at this point. that's why these guys have agents.

not a big deal.

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Seems like his agent is getting desperate and trying a Hail Mary to get the fans riled up to put pressure on the club to cave. No doubt that Bennett has to be looking at some recent RFA contracts and want a piece, but come on man... put up some numbers first.

As a side note: heard from what I consider a reliable source that Bennett's agent is after Frolik/Brodie money.

This. It's not just "Dreger's comment". It's more of a confirmation of things I've heard from the grapevine. I don't understand why people are so easy to discredit journalists so fast and just cast them off as "starved for hits". Darren Dreger is very well compensated. In fact, most of these journalists publish maybe 5% of the information that they receive. Recently, guys like Freidman have also been getting bashed on this website and that's just sad.

People seriously need to stop deflecting blame off the player by blaming the agent or blaming the journalist for bad info.

You know that's one of the reasons why players employ agents right? So in these kinds of situations, they can just deflect the bad PR on their agent. At the end of the day, the agent is not doing anything or using any tactics without the approval and knowledge of his client....so I don't understand how people are so easy to just lay the blame at the doorstep of the agent but clear the player of having any issues. It's denial at its brightest and finest.

[Robbob]

I don't know why people keep getting upset about standard negotiating tactics. Bottom line the line in the sand is start of camp. There really has been no pressure to get things done quickly up until know. Obviously Sam's agent blinked first because they are negotiating from a position of weakness.

[SebC]

Holding out it practically an admission that the Flame's offer is in the right ballpark. Otherwise, the threat would be an offer sheet.

[robaur]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I don't know why people keep getting upset about standard negotiating tactics. Bottom line the line in the sand is start of camp. There really has been no pressure to get things done quickly up until know. Obviously Sam's agent blinked first because they are negotiating from a position of weakness.

A) I seem to have started posting in this thread with a boost of adrenaline from the morning coffee. To be honest, I just thought it would be an easy/straight-forward contract negotiation.

B) I think the bigger problem with this negotiation is the role that Bennett is playing rather than the money. I don't think Bennett is happy playing as the #3C but the Flames are very keen on playing him in that position and with Monahan/Backlund on the team, the room for progression isn't really there.

[bubbsy]

Hope this is just negotiation tactics. You would think not getting a great start at camp and the season will only hurt is value for this year, which depending on the size of the assumed short bridge deal, would quickly impact his next deal too. If Bennett does decide to go overseas, imagine what happens to his negotiation/nhl position in the event that he doesn't tear it up?!

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't see what leverage he has, if he does decide to be tough on negotiations and decides to hold out or go play in Europe, it just gives the Flames a chance to give Jankowski a deeper look.

[Ozy_Flame]

No problem, opens up a spot for Jankowski to shine while he's away.

[Racki]

Nothing but a bunch of smoke. Think he's gonna go to Switzerland for $200,000/year and risk suffering a major injury? Not a chance. He'll be in camp signed to a deal commensurate with what his stats and experience would suggest that he is worth.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by robaur

People seriously need to stop deflecting blame off the player by blaming the agent or blaming the journalist for bad info.

You know that's one of the reasons why players employ agents right? So in these kinds of situations, they can just deflect the bad PR on their agent. At the end of the day, the agent is not doing anything or using any tactics without the approval and knowledge of his client....so I don't understand how people are so easy to just lay the blame at the doorstep of the agent but clear the player of having any issues. It's denial at its brightest and finest.

I'll ignore the media stuff as I haven't shot the messenger at all ... could be true, may not be, but doesn't really matter.

But you just don't have enough to go on to jump to arrogance as a summary, there are no Bennett whining to the media quotes to go on. It's a negotiation, and a tough one given the coming out of entry level and the different structures and term lengths possible.

[Ozy_Flame]

Assume Bennett isn't making opening day roster, and move forward with the talent you do have in training camp. Plan to have a competitive team without Bennett, and when you get him back, it's all gravy.

Besides, there are probably guys on the roster who saw this tweet today or know about the situation and are going to make the most of it. Flames have a dearth of players hungry to make the roster and the less permanent guys around, the better for them.