[News] Dreger: Still sizable gap between Bennett and Flames

[Tinordi]

Coming down to who blinks first. I can't see the Flames bending, they don't *need* Bennett to start the season. In fact, provided that Janko can break it onto the roster, they're probably fine seeing what he can do with Sam's minutes. Have to think, if that's the case, Bennett won't hold out for long.

[Gaudfather]

Treliving on the Fan 960 this morning certainly made it sound like the Flames expect to get Bennett signed before training camp opens. He stated how it is not a good thing for a player to miss camp. No real sense of concern on his part.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/960/boomer-m...t-still-going/

[ComixZone]

So funny seeing how easily we apparently fall into a false sense of confidence.

Prior to Monahan, we'd been clamouring for a centre that has Bennett's ability and potential for a decade+. Now that we have the first inkling of depth at the position in two decades and everyone quickly turns to "pffft, we don't need Bennett - let the kid go to Europe, screw him".

Just as quickly as we cast Bennett off into the sun, Backlund has gone from a replaceable piece to the saviour of all things - meanwhile everyone seems to just forget the long, rocky development that he had and the patience required to see him through those tough years.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

So funny seeing how easily we apparently fall into a false sense of confidence.

Prior to Monahan, we'd been clamouring for a centre that has Bennett's ability and potential for a decade+. Now that we have the first inkling of depth at the position in two decades and everyone quickly turns to "pffft, we don't need Bennett - let the kid go to Europe, screw him".

Just as quickly as we cast Bennett off into the sun, Backlund has gone from a replaceable piece to the saviour of all things - meanwhile everyone seems to just forget the long, rocky development that he had and the patience required to see him through those tough years.

Maybe some posters have betrayed this attitude, but what I read from most is that Bennett's presence or absence in camp affects his own development much more significantly than it does the team. That is not to say that Bennett is a replacement level player, only that the team is deep enough to absorb his absence for a time. The frustrating thing here for me is the potential damage that Bennett could inflict on his own continuing development with a holdout.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by transplant99

IMO its why, as much as it is hard to swallow, you have to look at trading Backlund this trade deadline.

One thing for sure is you cannot let him hit UFA and risk getting nothing for him.

The biggest off season money moves by the Flames were adding Hamonic @ 3 x 3.85 and Stone @ 3 x 3.5 and Smith 4.15 total 11.5

That simply replaces Wideman's 5.25 and Engelland's 2.9 and Elliot 2.5 total 10.65

I really thought that once the Flames landed Hamonic that Stone was off the table.


The Flames have the best defense on paper since Phaneuf, Regehr, Bouwmeester, Sarich, Gio to start the 2009 season.... Gio the #5 guy had a cap hit of $891 K

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The biggest off season money moves by the Flames were adding Hamonic @ 3 x 3.85 and Stone @ 3 x 3.5 and Smith 4.15 total 11.5

That simply replaces Wideman's 5.25 and Engelland's 2.9 and Elliot 2.5 total 10.65

I really thought that once the Flames landed Hamonic that Stone was off the table.


The Flames have the best defense on paper since Phaneuf, Regehr, Bouwmeester, Sarich, Gio to start the 2009 season.... Gio the #5 guy had a cap hit of $891 K

Ummm.....OK?

Not sure what any of it has to do with the quoted post however.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Ummm.....OK?

Not sure what any of it has to do with the quoted post however.

I think he's trying to suggest that the reason we might lose Backlund is because our #5 d-man is no longer a ~900K cap hit.

Or something.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The biggest off season money moves by the Flames were adding Hamonic @ 3 x 3.85 and Stone @ 3 x 3.5 and Smith 4.15 total 11.5

That simply replaces Wideman's 5.25 and Engelland's 2.9 and Elliot 2.5 total 10.65

I really thought that once the Flames landed Hamonic that Stone was off the table.


The Flames have the best defense on paper since Phaneuf, Regehr, Bouwmeester, Sarich, Gio to start the 2009 season.... Gio the #5 guy had a cap hit of $891 K

That's true, but it should be noted that the cost of the top-end of that group from 2009 is FAR higher than what the Flames are paying for their top four today. Regehr, Phganeuf, Boumeester and Sarich commanded a combined caphit of $20.725 m, which accounted for 36.5% of the salary cap. Giordano, Brodie, Hamilton and Harmonic produce a caphit of just over $21 m, yet which accounts for only 28% of the current salary cap. Stone's cost can be partially justified by savings elsewhere on defense. It is also important to note that this figure is cost-controlled for the next three years after which the Flames should benefit from some value contracts in their top four to replace one or two of their current defensemen.

[BigRed]

Bennett for Duchene?

[868904]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Treliving on the Fan 960 this morning certainly made it sound like the Flames expect to get Bennett signed before training camp opens. He stated how it is not a good thing for a player to miss camp. No real sense of concern on his part.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/960/boomer-m...t-still-going/

Tre also sounded pretty confident he could get Hickey signed last season too.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Bennett for Duchene?

Duchene has a 6 million dollar cap hit. More would have to go to COl just to keep the cap flexible.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Duchene has a 6 million dollar cap hit. More would have to go to COl just to keep the cap flexible.

And a heck of a lot more value. Bennett does not get you Duchene.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by transplant99

IMO its why, as much as it is hard to swallow, you have to look at trading Backlund this trade deadline.

One thing for sure is you cannot let him hit UFA and risk getting nothing for him.

It really depends on the level of risk at the time.

Even if Backlund is not extended by the TD, the Flames will almost certainly not trade him. If they are in the mix for the division lead like most of us expect and they look like they could make a deep run in the playoffs, then there will be no appetite for moving Backlund in exchange for an underwhelming return. Moreover, if the team remains confident about signing Backlund in the offseason they will likely proceed in good faith with him into the playoffs.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by 868904

Tre also sounded pretty confident he could get Hickey signed last season too.

Hickey had the leverage of waiting the Flames out until he hit UFA. Bennett has no such luxury.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

And a heck of a lot more value. Bennett does not get you Duchene.

Of course not. But that's the rumour -- of Duchene not reporting to camp. Bennett could be a key part of a package, but would likely mean losing a D as well -- which would leave either Stone or Hamonic royally pissed ...

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Bennett for Duchene?

No. We are still a long way from the point of a contract impasse, which might necessitate a trade.

Bennett will be signed before camp.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Of course not. But that's the rumour -- of Duchene not reporting to camp. Bennett could be a key part of a package, but would likely mean losing a D as well -- which would leave either Stone or Hamonic royally pissed ...

What rumour??

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What rumour??

Duchene appears non-committal as far as attending camp:

When asked Tuesday night by TSN whether Duchene planned to report to Avalanche training camp, Duchene’s agent - Pat Brisson of CAA Sports - responded: “All I want to say is, for the moment Matt is skating in Toronto.”

TSN

There certainly hasn’t been a lack of interest expressed in Duchene. Nashville, Columbus, Montreal, Boston, Pittsburgh, Carolina and Calgary have been linked to him in rumours over the last eight months. None have pulled the trigger.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Duchene appears non-committal as far as attending camp:



TSN

So, what does that have to do with Sam Bennett? The idea of a trade involving Duchene and Bennett is fan fiction that has no practical basis in reality. It's not happening.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Stone's cost can be partially justified by savings elsewhere on defense.

So because we have a series of non-value contracts at forward let's take it out on Bennett and Backlund?