Flames GM Brad Treliving has made it no secret that he'd like to get captain Mark Giordano signed to a long-term extension this off-season.
We're now more than halfway through the summer and the two sides don't appear close to an agreement.
@depoisdacurva @FriedgeHNIC Little quiet on that one. I assume it got off to a rocky start, through no fault of the player involved.
— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) August 13, 2015Sportsnet's Roger Millions is usually pretty dialled in when it comes to the Flames so if he thinks negotiations didn't start on the right foot he's probably right.
Money is usually the hardest thing to agree on in negotiations but in this case I think term is the biggest sticking point.
Giordano, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, reportedly wants an eight-year deal worth $9 million per season.
Based on his play over the last few years, and the expected rise of the salary cap, the Flames probably don't have a problem making him one of the highest paid players (on a per year basis) in the NHL.
That said Treliving is probably not thrilled with the idea of an eight-year deal as Giordano will be 33(!) by the time he plays a game under a new contract.
Giordano is a fitness freak, and he'll take care of his body as well as anyone, but even so I doubt he'll be worth close to $9 million in the latter half of a contract that length. Treliving knows this and is surely doing the best he can to limit the term.
It will be interesting to see if he can do so.
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