George Richards Sam Bennett: Contract Negotiations

[Gentle Man]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847814064262479957

There is no Friedman shits so GR it is

Click to read more...

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

B-b-but what about Ekbad?

 

[Laus723]

F Ekblad, I’m gettin a Benny jersey.

 

[pantherbot]

Man if we can get Benny locked up, we'd have arguably the best three centers in the league on contract for the next 5 years.

 

[Gentle Man]

Honestly, Benny looks like he improved too

 

[pantherbot]

Honestly, Benny looks like he improved too

I think he's just healthy

 

[Gentle Man]

I think he's just healthy

Offensively he looks assertive and confident

 

[KW]

Offensively he looks assertive and confident

Benny attacks opponents like Ek attacks a bowl of carbonara

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

Benny attacks opponents like Ek attacks a bowl of carbonara

This is one of many reasons I really like Aaron Ekblad.

 

[pantherbot]

Offensively he looks assertive and confident

Totally, just saying that he's probably doing these things now because he's healthy. Always felt like he had these constant nagging injuries but he was pretty healthy through the playoffs except the hand thing.

 

[FloridaMan]

 

[FloridaMan]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847804166904897665

 

[FloridaMan]

 

[Vilam]

Praise Zito!

 

[Felidae]

I find it interesting everyone is willing to re-sign Bennett but a good portion of fans aren't even willing to take Ekblad at a low price.

Look, Bennett is f***ing awesome, and his type of game is hard to find. He was also far more valuable than Ekblad last season, and arguably in 2022. But he's almost as injury prone, plays a far more physically taxing game, and doesn't exactly have the high level hockey sense to make me think his game will age particularly well..

Regardless, I trust Zito with whatever he does.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

I find it interesting everyone is willing to resign Bennett but a good portion of fans aren't even willing to take Ekblad at a low price.

Look, Bennett is f***ing awesome, and his type of game is hard to find. He was also far more valuable than Ekblad last season, and arguably in 2022. But he's almost as injury prone, plays a far more physically taxing game, and doesn't exactly have the high level hockey sense to make me think his game will age particularly well..

Regardless, I trust Zito with whatever he does.

I'm willing to take Ekblad at a low price. The thing is, I am really, really, really concerned about Ekblad on a contract with real term on it. I think he is one injury or three years of wear and tear (at most) from being a third pair guy who needs heavily sheltered minutes.

I don't relish saying that at all, but from where I am, that's the only way I can see it. You can not give this guy an 8 year contract like the others are getting. You simply can't. Those contracts will be bad in the last couple of years, but Ekblad's will be bad by year 3 or 4.

 

[Gentle Man]

I find it interesting everyone is willing to resign Bennett but a good portion of fans aren't even willing to take Ekblad at a low price.

Look, Bennett is f***ing awesome, and his type of game is hard to find. He was also far more valuable than Ekblad last season, and arguably in 2022. But he's almost as injury prone, plays a far more physically taxing game, and doesn't exactly have the high level hockey sense to make me think his game will age particularly well..

Regardless, I trust Zito with whatever he does.

FWIW, losing Ekblad would cause a ripple like when Gudbranson and Kulikov got moved in the same offseason.

It wasn't cause they were good, but those trades (and that summer in general) took us a while to recover from

 

[I am not exposed]

I find it interesting everyone is willing to resign Bennett but a good portion of fans aren't even willing to take Ekblad at a low price.

Look, Bennett is f***ing awesome, and his type of game is hard to find. He was also far more valuable than Ekblad last season, and arguably in 2022. But he's almost as injury prone, plays a far more physically taxing game, and doesn't exactly have the high level hockey sense to make me think his game will age particularly well..

Regardless, I trust Zito with whatever he does.

Everyone seems more keen on re-signing him from what I'm reading...

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

FWIW, losing Ekblad would cause a ripple like when Gudbranson and Kulikov got moved in the same offseason.

It wasn't cause they were good, but those trades (and that summer in general) took us a while to recover from

Same things were said about Huby and his irreplaceable 115pts. It was the circumstances (Gallant getting fired) and other moving parts, like Campbell going back to the Hawks, that caused turmoil. We'll be fine without Ekblad.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

Someone have the load size maximum meme ready for when it’s something bonkers like 6x5

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Someone have the load size maximum meme ready for when it’s something bonkers like 6x5

6.5x8

 

[Dread Clawz]

We're gonna re-sign both Benny and Ek at great numbers. Because Zito rules.

 

[Felidae]

Same things were said about Huby and his irreplaceable 115pts. It was the circumstances (Gallant getting fired) and other moving parts, like Campbell going back to the Hawks, that caused turmoil. We'll be fine without Ekblad.

Lets not forget the absence of Weegar. Of course we had the unexpected emergence of Montour and Forsling. But our overall team defense was still in a precarious spot during the 2022 season. It nearly cost them the wildcard position

 

[Laus723]

Lets not forget the absence of Weegar. Of course we had the unexpected emergence of Montour and Forsling. But our overall team defense was still in a precarious spot during the 2022 season. It nearly cost them the wildcard position

They spent the whole season learning Maurice’s system. When they employed it, they tended to win, when they reverted to what Brunette allowed, they struggled. It clicked before the playoffs and carried us to the Finals. As a result, Bob also played his best hockey as a Panther and continues to.

IMO losing Guds and Kuli that year wasn’t the issue, the issue was that we brought in mediocre guys.

 

[Marco 85]

I'm willing to take Ekblad at a low price. The thing is, I am really, really, really concerned about Ekblad on a contract with real term on it. I think he is one injury or three years of wear and tear (at most) from being a third pair guy who needs heavily sheltered minutes.

I don't relish saying that at all, but from where I am, that's the only way I can see it. You can not give this guy an 8 year contract like the others are getting. You simply can't. Those contracts will be bad in the last couple of years, but Ekblad's will be bad by year 3 or 4.

Ekblad for 2 or 3years at 6 would be great.
I doubt he accepts it though.