Calgary Flames: Is Leon Draisaitl Affecting Sam Bennett’s Contract?

So, I’m scrolling through Twitter the other day looking for Calgary Flames stuff. And this is what I came upon…

A lot has been written lately on Flame for Thought about the contract talks between the Flames and Sam Bennett.  I’d always figured this would a simple negotiation.  Bennett still has much to prove.  The Calgary Flames still recognize his potential.  So, a quick and dirty bridge deal seemed like a no-brainer.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I came upon this from TSN’s Darren Dreger…

A few hours later, Dreger followed it up with this…

Related Story: Why is Sam Bennett's Contract Taking so Long?

Perhaps I am off-the-charts naive, but this makes no sense to me.  As I see things, it is only logical that both sides would covet a short-term bridge contract.  Bennett’s camp would want the opportunity to show the Flames that his production in 2016-2017 was an outlier.  He only managed 26 points last year, down 10 from the year before.  His possession numbers are below average all around, but slightly lower last year versus the year before.  How is he not begging for a shot at a way bigger payday by way of a bridge deal?

I’m certain the Flames want the same thing.  So why the “sizable gap”?  The only thing I can think of is the perceived leverage created by the Leon Draisaitl‘s ridiculous contract.

Now, a few words about Draisaitl’s deal.  It’s INSANE.  He is a great player, and deserves compensation for 2 very good years in Edmonton.  But 8 years at $8.5 million per year is lunacy.

Firstly, the Oilers are paying him for inflated numbers. Draisaitl had the distinct pleasure of playing on a line with hockey’s heir apparent, Connor McDavid in 2017-2018.  Again, Draisaitl’s talent is undisputed, but I’m pretty sure even I can score 10 goals in the NHL with McDavid feeding me the puck. Put Draisaitl with lesser players, and $8.5 million seems expensive.

Secondly, and as a Flames fan I find this very amusing, Draisaitl’s deal puts the Oilers in a tremendously bad spot where the salary cap is concerned.  Taking into account Draisaitl, McDavid, Milan Lucic, and (assuming he isn’t traded) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the team will have $33 million tied up in 4 players as of 2018.  That’s 44% of their cap room, if the cap stays at $75 million.  One question is how competitive a team can be in that landscape.

Finally, and most relevantly to Bennett, Draisaitl’s contract has most likely established itself as the new standard by which RFA contracts are measured.  I am certainly not comparing Bennett to Draisaitl, but I’d be very surprised if Bennett’s agent, Darren Ferris, didn’t reference the deal in his negotiations with Brad Treliving.

The net effect, in my opinion, is that the gap between the Flames and Bennett has been artificially widened.

This is not an ideal situation, but it not totally worrisome.  Dreger was quick to point out that a deal with the Flames would get done.  I do not believe Bennett spends any time overseas.

If Calgary Flames fans have anything to be concerned about, it is training camp. The slow start last year should be evidence enough that a good training camp puts the team in a better position to start well.

Altogether, I think Darren Dreger is right. Sam Bennett and his group will get a deal done.  Timing is really the only question.  It is just too bad that a contract from the north needs to act as an impediment to that.

Next: Calgary Flames 29 Days Until the Season Starts: #29 Deryk Engelland

Leave it to the Oilers to mess it up for everybody!