Quote:
Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache
Bennett left Calgary with 5 points in his last 4 games and Sutter had started using him on the PK
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couple things; I would tend to think part of Sutter coming back included his say/input on on player personnel decisions and I strongly suspect he knew of Bennett's trade request. Doubt very much he was brought in to salvage the relationship, if at all possible, either.
I don't read too much in how Sutter utilized him, Bennett had one foot out the door and the other stepping through it probably since Ward had him playing down the lineup after the bubble. From what I could tell it definitely seemed as though the player had quit on the coach. For all we know the intent was to pump and dump Bennett for whatever time was left before the deadline. There was also the impending expansion draft and IIRC conversations between Francis and GM's around the league were underway. If Treliving knew, or strongly suspected, the Kraken were going to take Bennett, better to get something for him. Better yet, send him across the continent. Nice that Sam had complimentary things to say about Sutter but there were obviously larger issues at play. Had the Flames been able to hire Sutter in 2019/20 like it sounds like they wanted to then things probably play out a lot differently.
The die was cast here. Treliving knew it, Farris knew it, Bennett, despite his public comments, probably knew it too.