[transplant99]

Originally Posted by New Era

Where is this conjecture coming from? Have you heard something from someone in management that seems to indicate they have a crush on Bennett or think he's a player? I think they would love to move Bennett and have dangled him in the market, but are holding firm on a price for him. I think the offers have been underwhelming because other teams know what type of player Bennett is and that he does not play up to his salary.



Unfortunately the coaching staff doesn't like him. They see him for what he is and they don't like what they see, and that shows with his ice time and his assignments. At some point management is going to have align with what four coaching staffs have seen in Sam Bennett.

Benny is 24 and is coming off a season where he was trending to score 15 points. He is not especially adept at anything. Not a great skater. His shot is weak and inaccurate. He's not smart and doesn't play a structured game well. As a result he doesn't play the PP or the PK. He's got 360+ games under his belt. Sam Bennett is what he is and he's not going to develop anything more in his skill set that isn't already there. If it were not for his draft position people would be pissed at the money Bennett makes and how little he brings to the table. I don't believe management "loves" Bennett and would like to find a new team for him. The problem is that no one his coming near the asking price that Treliving put on him earlier this year, and Benny's performance has only hurt that asking price that much more.

Ideally the Flames would probably love to move on from Bennett, Jankowski, and Lucic. The best scenario for the Flames would be trading Bennett and Jankowski and having Lucic retire. That $9.5M in cap space could be used to bring in a player or two that could make a difference. If they could turn these players into something positive this team could be a lot better.

It's amazing to me that he still gets a pass from some people here as being more than anything he has ever shown.

He is a 3/4 line banger and crasher...nothing more and nothing less. He would have more value if he was a C, but he doesnt think the game well enough to play there.

Is he worth his 2.5M salary? Debatable at best. I would say more so if he could contribute on special teams, but he can't.

I like the guy but his value to this club is minimal and even more now with what the cap looks like it will be moving forward.

If you can move him to a GM who still thinks there is more there and they can get it out of him...you have to. I still think something involving him and whatever else is needed (some retained money?) to Toronto for Kapanen makes way to much sense.