[Rumour] Spector: Bennett for Stamkos? Hudler asking $7 mil/yr. Russell available

[sureLoss]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...up-a-big-mess/

No small trade is going to fix his Flames, who are entirely broken right now, and word is out that Treliving is willing to talk about a very big deal if he can find one. We even heard that his conversation with Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman was all about the Lightning’s obvious issues with signing soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Steven Stamkos.

The Flames would be willing to deal a top young player, perhaps Sam Bennett, to acquire Stamkos at this point. That’s risky but wise, in our opinion. But there’s one problem: This early in the proceedings (a full five months prior to the NHL trading deadline) the conversation from Tampa’s end would start with centre Sean Monahan, who we believe to be the most untradeable Flame.

We have no doubt that Treliving is asking about Stamkos — why wouldn’t he? — and he’s not the only GM interested. If everything was perfect in Tampa, Stamkos would be signed by now, and the fact he isn’t makes us wonder if Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is resigned to losing him, and as such, will try to trade the asset.

(Our personal feeling is that no one will meet Yzerman’s price, he’ll sign Stamkos in Tampa, and if the two sides can’t mend fences then a trade will be found that will largely be controlled by Stamkos and his agent Don Meehan. That way Stamkos gets market value and goes where he wants — Tampa or elsewhere —and the Lightning are not left empty-handed.)

And on some other players

The rest of the league is willing to talk with Treliving from a position of strength, and here’s what they’ll be hearing:

• Defencemen Dennis Wideman has been available, literally, for three years in Calgary. He had an excellent season last year, but that is still seen as an aberration. With an AAV of $5.25 million (one year left after this one) Wideman’s presence may make it hard to sign pending UFA Kris Russell.

• Russell is available, and on Monday I couldn’t find a scout or GM who didn’t admit to quite liking this player. Treliving is the rare GM today who can afford to deal a defenceman for a forward, a huge luxury in a 30-team league where about 27 teams feel like they need more defencemen to have success.

• Pending UFA Jiri Hudler’s contract demands, believed to be in the $7 million range with term attached, far outstretch his perceived value in Calgary. Hudler was exposed to a degree against the bigger Ducks last spring. If he’s not going to be a leading component then he is a complimentary part, and $7 million is too much for one of those. He is available in trade, but returns on a 180-pound, 31-year-old will not overwhelm.

• Another option becomes a trade of unwanted contracts. Calgary has buyer’s remorse over the three-year, $9.45 million deal handed to Mason Raymond prior to last season. The only foreseeable return for Raymond, however, is someone else’s contract dump.

[dammage79]

Bennett, Hudler and a pick would be the max I'd offer for Stamkos. Would fill in on the RW to replace Hudler. But it's ridiculous. I want to keep Bennett.

[Hockeyguy15]

Flames aren't trading Bennett for Stamkos.

[442scotty]

Please do not trade Bennett.... hes only 19

[Otto-matic]

I'd probably do that deal, Hudler + Bennett.

Stamkos with Mony+Johnny would be amazing.

[Gaskal]

Right now Brad is probably texting Sam to reassure him while cursing Spector under his breath.

[FFR]

You can't deny Stamkos' talent but I would be very, very disappointed if we traded Bennett. I understand that you have to give up something to get something, but to me, that's moving backwards. This team is trying to rebuild - we need young players and we need to give them time to develop. Trading for an impact now player isn't going to help in the future. Yes - Stamkos is an incredible hockey player and is only 25, but we also need to build our team from the players we draft. We can't trade them all away for 'win now' type players. I hope this remains a rumour.

[Split98]

Stamkos is one of my favourite players in the NHL.

That being said, unless they're interested in Hudler, Russell and/or Wideman we don't have the pieces to make this trade.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Flames aren't trading Bennett for Stamkos.

Exactly, you don't trade a young future #1 C for a guy who can just walk at the end of the season. Now if Stamkos agreed to a long term deal before hand I would be on board.

[Street Pharmacist]

Stamkos is a UFA at the end of the year and will get $10M+ per year. That'll break the salary structure and goodbye Johnny or Monahan. No thanks

[Locke]

I dont see either of those things happening.

Hudler must be out of his mind if thats true. $7M+term?

Dont let the door hit ya!

And I say that as a huge Hudler fan, but the guy is an aged, complimentary piece, not a key player in his prime.

[vicarious]

If only Treliving could just bundle all of the garbage players together for Stamkos lol

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I'd probably do that deal, Hudler + Bennett.

Stamkos with Mony+Johnny would be amazing.

Boy am I ever glad you're not the GM.

You don't trade Bennett for a guy who could very easily walk to Toronto or Florida at the end of the season to collect the $10 million paycheck he wants.

[Five-hole]

The way this season is going so far, trading youth for vets is exactly the wrong direction we should be going for. We should be exploring moving Wideman and Hudler et al for youth, not the other way around.

That said, if this team were playing better, picking up Stamkos (provided we get him on the kind of long-term deal that only Tampa can sign him to) would sure be something.

[Mith]

Those of you saying "We shouldn't be trading young players for impact players when we're rebuilding"

Stamkos is 25 years old. He's 4 whole years older than Monahan.

The guy is not a geezer :P

[Locke]

And the Stamkos thing? The guy wants to get paid and paid huge, so the crowd saying:

"I'd love to see Stamkos with Monahan and Gaudreau!!"

You'd get to see that. For one season.

Because after you finish paying Stamkos theres probably only enough left to keep one of those two guys.

[burn_this_city]

Hudler was injured against Anaheim, weird people think he was exposed..

[sureLoss]

Let's give Treliving some credit... IF he were to trade Bennett for Stamkos, he would be doing it with the certainty that he can re-sign Stamkos. All the talks about Stamkos walking would be moot IMO.

[Mith]

Originally Posted by Locke

And the Stamkos thing? The guy wants to get paid and paid huge, so the crowd saying:

"I'd love to see Stamkos with Monahan and Gaudreau!!"

You'd get to see that. For one season.

Because after you finish paying Stamkos theres probably only enough left to keep one of those two guys.

But we can afford to keep Monahan, Gaudreau, Hudler, Giordano, Hamilton, Brodie, AND bennett?

Cmon now. The difference between Bennett's second contract and Stamkos is probably going to be 4 million dollars.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Mith

Those of you saying "We shouldn't be trading young players for impact players when we're rebuilding"

Stamkos is 25 years old. He's 4 whole years older than Monahan.

The guy is not a geezer :P

No, he's not old. But he's six years older than Bennett. That's a lot. The only reason Stamkos' name is coming up in trade rumours is that he's a UFA at the end of the season. And he's going to get big money. Should the Flames just turf their current plan to pay UFA dollars to keep him? Generally, I believe that you get better value for your contracts if you keep the players you draft and don't have to compete on the UFA stage. That's why I don't trade young players for established players.