Flames obviously won't protect Bennett if he is not traded, and I am sure they will work on a short-term deal. The incentive to Bennett to re-upping for another short-term deal is that he has a good relationship with the coach, and there will probably be a number of moves this off-season which may leave him as a 3rd line centre with perhaps PK and even PP time. That's a pretty good situation for him.
Now, unless Calgary is going to sell one of their top 4 defencemen, then it will be a defencemen that gets taken. If you are Seattle, do you take Giordano or do you take Bennett? You take Giordano, of course. You can then flip him for a 1st, especially with some salary retention. You aren't going to get a 1st for Bennett. Seattle is going to take the most value in any pick.
Bennett isn't a 'problem'. He is neither a player that the Flames should keep, nor is he a player that the Flames have to get rid of. I am actually interested in what Bennett can become with regular ice-time and line mates as a centre. I think he can be a very good 3rd line centre.
|