2017/2018 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[loob job]

I talked to a scout at the nhl draft. He said that Bennett was going to be a good player, not an 80 point guy but a steady 60 point, 25-30 goal man.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I do think this is a bit of a make or break year for Bennett, both in terms of him being a Centre, and his general future with the Flames. Yes, the guy is young, but players who are picked at his position tend to produce early. He's entering his 4th year of hockey with this team (yes I realize the first one was partial), it's time to take the next step.

Personally, I still don't really see him as a Centre...he just doesn't utilize his teammates enough to be one.

Agreed. I love how Bennett plays. He has intensity and skill, but he doesn't really play like a center at the NHL level. I don't see why giving him a chance on the wing is such a terrible thing. Then when inevitable injuries hit, you can move him back. Utility is a wondering thing to have.

[iloveicedhockey]

It must also be difficult to see your peers playing with excellent linemates getting acclaim and in some cases big second contracts. (Think I did the same list in another thread but can't find it)

MacKinnon - landeskog, Rantanen
Barkov - jagr, Marchessault
Monny - Johnny
Wennberg - Foligno, saad
Reinhart - Eichel, Kane
Drai - McD, maroon
Nylander - Matthews, Hyman
Ehlers - scheifele, wheeler, Laine
Marner - JVR, bozak

And you find yourself with thirdline minutes, spending nearly every second with either Brouwer or Chiasson.

As someone else said, what does he see coming in the near future? We're certainly trying to resign backs, monny is number 1 offensive C, so where does he go? Best case we mix up the lines and have three scoring lines where he has tkachuk, perhaps he finds chemistry with lazar, or maybe he gets bumped to wing on the top two. Worst case, he has another season learning with plugs, Jankowski passes him on the depth chart and he loses faith in his own ability.

I feel we really need to accommodate him this year and let him prove himself; kid can be an absolute stud. I appreciate that he also need to bring it but it must be difficult thinking that on the offensive side of the game, plays will die consistently on your linemates stick.

[TheScorpion]

I have a sneaking intuition that Radim Vrbata will be a Flame on July 1. Just a gut feeling... Treliving seems to like bringing in guys who he's familiar with, and Vrbata is still a pretty solid 50-60 point guy who shouldn't cost much.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Demetric

Hearing Vegas is trying to move Emelin and having trouble, I think with salary retained would be a good replacement for Engelland on the 3rd pairing, thoughts?

I doubt that Vegas is willing to retain much salary, and even if they are I wouldn't want the Flames to give up anything for Emelin even at ~2M.

I don't know why Vegas took that contract. 4.4M for a bottom pairing, turnover machine in Emelin when they could have got Davidson or even Plekanac.

[killer_carlson]

The Flames are closing in on mis-handling the prospect because they are not putting him in a place to succeed in the role he was drafted for.

[Toonage]

So, if I'm understanding this Friedman stuff correctly, the Flames actually considered moving Bennett this past weekend and even spoke with him about a possible move?

[FanIn80]

Jonny Monny Bennett (I refuse to call him Benny)

That's the line I want to see out the gate in Oct and (hopefully) into Sept.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I don't remember Emelin being that much of a tough guy, sure he hits but he doesn't really seem tough, but that's just what I think. IMO they need a guy on the bottom pairing that isn't afraid to make someone eat their teeth but can still play well. Emelin just doesn't seem like that guy to me.

Apparently, Emelin can't fight. Literally.

I read that he had some head or face surgery in the past, and he is not allowed to fight for one reason or another because of it. So yeah, definitely not a real Engelland replacement, and his big hits would cause his teammates to stick up for him.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Toonage

So, if I'm understanding this Friedman stuff correctly, the Flames actually considered moving Bennett this past weekend and even spoke with him about a possible move?

I know. Weird. Yet thy called to tell bennett that they weren't trading him for ovi a few weeks ago to settle him after rumours were swirling. And Bennett joked they would have to consider it. Friedman is normally smart about this stuff but this is one I don't believe

[Demetric]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I don't remember Emelin being that much of a tough guy, sure he hits but he doesn't really seem tough, but that's just what I think. IMO they need a guy on the bottom pairing that isn't afraid to make someone eat their teeth but can still play well. Emelin just doesn't seem like that guy to me.

I don't think we need a face puncher. We need hockey players first and foremost and then if they plays heavy hitting game that is all the better.

Also, from what I hear Hamonic is willing to throw down the mitts for his teammates.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

The Flames are closing in on mis-handling the prospect because they are not putting him in a place to succeed in the role he was drafted for.

hmm, i don't think i'd agree with that sentiment. I think bennett has been slow in figuring out the NHL game. I think we saw too much of the speed thru the blue line and try to dipsy doodle a dman or try a long range wrister ain't going to cut it at this level (i think we see a lot of young skilled players need time to figure this out in the NHL).

The good news he absolutely has the skill and toolset to play a style that could be very successful in the NHL. I am not sure how much of the time lag to this is just natural time of progression being different young player to player versus the coaching staff not putting him in a position to succeed.

I do question if he's had ample time with high skill forwards to help him grow. Though i don't know if that's a coaching fault vs the team just having few seasoned high skill players outside of gaudreau (who pairs well with monahan). i don't fault the coaches for not starting the year with a line of bennet/tkachuk given how young they'd be, and i also understand why it was never tried given the success tkachuk saw with backlund/frolik.

I think bennett needs to (and will) show ample justification for ice time, but also better line mates as early as this season. The raw skill that's there and his demeanor just make it too hard to look past.

[Otto-matic]

Bennett needs to stop doing the cute dipsy doodle plays at the blue line and actually just work the puck in with his teammates.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

I know. Weird. Yet thy called to tell bennett that they weren't trading him for ovi a few weeks ago to settle him after rumours were swirling. And Bennett joked they would have to consider it. Friedman is normally smart about this stuff but this is one I don't believe

I agree - don't really see this one being true.

But even if it was true I don't think we should read too much into it. I'm sure Bennett wouldn't have too much of an issue going to play in New York with some great forwards including John Tavares.

Not sure why we should expect him to be fine with moving to a city like New York to play on a team with one of the best centers in the game.

[Fire]

I like the idea of putting Tkachuk with Bennett.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Lazar <--- give these guys the easy minutes.
Bouma - Hamilton - Brouwer
Stajan

If Bennett struggles at center, switch Jankowski and Bennett.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Fire

I like the idea of putting Tkachuk with Bennett.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Lazar <--- give these guys the easy minutes.
Bouma - Hamilton - Brouwer
Stajan

If Bennett struggles at center, switch Jankowski and Bennett.

I agree about tkachuk and Bennett and lazar. If they click,that line would cause havoc.

Also would be good to see if tkachuk and Backlund can live without each other as they will need new contracts.

[loob job]

Originally Posted by Toonage

So, if I'm understanding this Friedman stuff correctly, the Flames actually considered moving Bennett this past weekend and even spoke with him about a possible move?

I heard the interview and he said he thinks the flames had offers for Bennett but don't want to move him. He never once mentioned the Flames considered moving him or that he was involved in any Islanders deal as mentioned by someone else. He made it sound like the Flames don't want to give up on him.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

hmm, i don't think i'd agree with that sentiment. I think bennett has been slow in figuring out the NHL game. I think we saw too much of the speed thru the blue line and try to dipsy doodle a dman or try a long range wrister ain't going to cut it at this level (i think we see a lot of young skilled players need time to figure this out in the NHL).

The good news he absolutely has the skill and toolset to play a style that could be very successful in the NHL. I am not sure how much of the time lag to this is just natural time of progression being different young player to player versus the coaching staff not putting him in a position to succeed.

I do question if he's had ample time with high skill forwards to help him grow. Though i don't know if that's a coaching fault vs the team just having few seasoned high skill players outside of gaudreau (who pairs well with monahan). i don't fault the coaches for not starting the year with a line of bennet/tkachuk given how young they'd be, and i also understand why it was never tried given the success tkachuk saw with backlund/frolik.

I think bennett needs to (and will) show ample justification for ice time, but also better line mates as early as this season. The raw skill that's there and his demeanor just make it too hard to look past.

I think you saw that because he was tired of seeing Brouwer and Bouma bounce his passes off of their sticks and lose possession.

[Flash Walken]

Plugged in reporter suggests flames considered moving a player, but I don't want that to be true so I don't believe it and instead accuse Friedman of dishonesty.

[memphusk]

If they did trade Bennett, whatever team he goes to would use him on the wing and have a 25-30 goal scorer.