2017/2018 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[GoJetsGo]

I'm starting to lose hope Bennett will reach the heights most of us were hoping but at the present time I think it's a far better move to hang on to him and hope he improves vs. selling low. I don't think his trade value could be much lower right now and I just don't see any upside to giving him away as a throw-in. I'd be surprised to see him return anything close to what we hope his value will be. Might as well give him another year. He is still young and that doesn't seem to get factored in enough in most of these discussions about him.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

I'm starting to lose hope Bennett will reach the heights most of us were hoping but at the present time I think it's a far better move to hang on to him and hope he improves vs. selling low. I don't think his trade value could be much lower right now and I just don't see any upside to giving him away as a throw-in. I'd be surprised to see him return anything close to what we hope his value will be. Might as well give him another year. He is still young and that doesn't seem to get factored in enough in most of these discussions about him.

It's also just part of player development - something the Flames fail at more often than succeed. Bennett may never be the high point producing centre that all the youtube videos we watched made us believe he would be, but that does not mean he won't be a productive, contributing member of the team.

The list of successful internally developed players is rather short for our team.

Tkachuk - instant hit
Monahan - instant hit
Gaudreau - NCAA development
Jankowski - NCAA development

...no one else has done much of anything. We developed Kulak (a 6th d-man), Hathaway (a 14th forward), and TJ Brodie (that's a win...but he's not been very good at all since Gully showed up).

Lazar and Bennett are two players the Flames are actively trying develop at the NHL level - and they're both players who were absolutely rushed into the NHL. They should stick with both players and be patient. Thankfully the team looks to be willing to put in the work, much to the dismay of some posters who love to make snap judgements and refuse to acknowledge that some players simply take time.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Oh geez, I wonder why that is? Different coach and significantly better linemates as a 19 year old? Then tossed out on the ice with complete junk for the entirety of 16/17, and then with a rookie centre and an AHL winger in '17/'18 while playing an offensively decrepit system?

You ignore circumstance, yet go on about why he "looks worse" in years 2 and 3? I question the way in which you've done your analysis, and wonder if some of it is founded in impatience?

I'm not giving Bennett, or anyone, a pass. To talk about regression while ignoring circumstance is such a useless argument - and giving up on a 21 year old after 3 seasons of development at the NHL level and one missed season is being impatient.

I didn’t give up on him. I said confidence should be low, and it damn well should be. Blaming it purely on his line mates is horse ####. He didn’t do a damn thing after Monahan went down and he got some games up on the top line.

I do agree on Gulutzan and I think it’s the number one reason he should be fired. This team will not compete for a cup unless Bennett figures this out (unless they miraculously sign Tavares). Maybe Jankowski can take that spot. Regardless this team needs to figure out a legit 1a or top tier 2 centremen if it wants to compete. There’s not a player on this team I want to see succeed more. Most excited Id ever been about a draft pick since I started watching the team 18 years ago, felt like we got our first ‘no 1’ level talent in the draft. The most excited I’ve been about this team was after Bennett’s rookie year, I thought Bennett was on his way to being a superstar. But to not be disappointed or to just blame it on his circumstances the past two years is hilariously bad analysis. I got my analysis by watching nearly every game this year and seeing another year of extremely underwhelming and terribly inconsistent play. Take off the rose coloured glasses.

The only way Bennett should be traded is if you get a good legit RW like the Islanders did for Strome. Can’t see any scenario that happens so all we can do is hope Bennett figures it out.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

I didn’t give up on him. I said confidence should be low, and it damn well should be. Blaming it purely on his line mates is horse ####. He didn’t do a damn thing after Monahan went down and he got some games up on the top line.

I do agree on Gulutzan and I think it’s the number one reason he should be fired. This team will not compete for a cup unless Bennett figures this out (unless they miraculously sign Tavares). Maybe Jankowski can take that spot. Regardless this team needs to figure out a legit 1a or top tier 2 centremen if it wants to compete. There’s not a player on this team I want to see succeed more. Most excited Id ever been about a draft pick since I started watching the team 18 years ago, felt like we got our first ‘no 1’ level talent in the draft. The most excited I’ve been about this team was after Bennett’s rookie year, I thought Bennett was on his way to being a superstar. But to not be disappointed or to just blame it on his circumstances the past two years is hilariously bad analysis. I got my analysis by watching nearly every game this year and seeing another year of extremely underwhelming and terribly inconsistent play. Take off the rose coloured glasses.

The only way Bennett should be traded is if you get a good legit RW like the Islanders did for Strome. Can’t see any scenario that happens so all we can do is hope Bennett figures it out.

I'm disappointed too - but just because he likely won't live up to his pre-draft scouting report, doesn't mean he can't be a good piece going forward. It's not just about Bennett figuring it out though - the team has to work with him and build him up. I think once he got set with Jankowski, his development got back on track and he looked like a young player struggling with consistency (as did Janko). The entire year prior to that though, the organization screwed him. They screwed him, and themselves. Saddling him with Versteeg/Brouwer/Chiasson...that's idiotic player development. It's astoundingly stupid. No other teams saddle their prized youngsters with such utter crap linemates. It was an impossible situation for Bennett to succeed in. Bad coaching, bad roster building...to expect Bennett to carry non-AHL talent up and down the ice as a centre was moronic.

I'm excited for the Bennett + Jankowski combo going forward. It'd be great to see them get a RW'er that is actually an effective NHL'er in the same way Monahan and Gaudreau got Hudler.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I'm disappointed too - but just because he likely won't live up to his pre-draft scouting report, doesn't mean he can't be a good piece going forward. It's not just about Bennett figuring it out though - the team has to work with him and build him up. I think once he got set with Jankowski, his development got back on path and he looked like a young player struggling with consistency (as did Janko). The entire year prior to that though, the organization screwed him. They screwed him, and themselves. Saddling him with Versteeg/Brouwer/Chiasson...that's idiotic player develop. It's astoundingly stupid. No other teams saddle their prized youngsters with such utter crap linemates.

I don’t disagree with that, ideally he would have spent some time in the AHL. But I don’t know who else he would have played Center with last year. Can’t break up 3M last year and playing with Backlund I think was crucial to Tkachuk being so good so fast. Maybe they should have let him play wing for another year before putting him at center. I don’t know. Regardless, he needs to figure out a way to turn his game around which he didn’t this year. I personally think he was worse this year than the previous. Basically all his points came in one month. He’s so insconsistent and that is what worries me above all. If we don’t get a new coach in here who hopefully can work with him to figure his game out then I’ll have a hard time watching next year.

[TheScorpion]

Just ran into Garnet Hathaway with a walking boot on his left foot.

[Split98]

I really wish that GG and his stubborn insistence on handedness determining position vs comfort.

Johnny looks just fine at RW, and we can solve our #1 RW problem right there. Give Brodie a last chance at his comfortable position with Giordano and we potentially give the defense am injection too. Alas, we wasted a season never answering this.

Tkachuk - Tavares - Johnny looks pretty darn good doesn't it? That would at least give Tavares a reason to consider Calgary.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Just ran into Garnet Hathaway with a walking boot on his left foot.

Hopefully he's healthy for some other team next year.

[Husky]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It's also just part of player development - something the Flames fail at more often than succeed. Bennett may never be the high point producing centre that all the youtube videos we watched made us believe he would be, but that does not mean he won't be a productive, contributing member of the team.

The list of successful internally developed players is rather short for our team.

Tkachuk - instant hit
Monahan - instant hit
Gaudreau - NCAA development
Jankowski - NCAA development

...no one else has done much of anything. We developed Kulak (a 6th d-man), Hathaway (a 14th forward), and TJ Brodie (that's a win...but he's not been very good at all since Gully showed up).

Lazar and Bennett are two players the Flames are actively trying develop at the NHL level - and they're both players who were absolutely rushed into the NHL. They should stick with both players and be patient. Thankfully the team looks to be willing to put in the work, much to the dismay of some posters who love to make snap judgements and refuse to acknowledge that some players simply take time.

Flames also developed Backlund and Giordano. Can srgue Ferland as well. As its tough to hit 20 goals in the nhl.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Hopefully he's healthy for some other team next year.

He seems like a nice guy. Cheering for the Bruins in the playoffs lol. He said it was a minor surgery to remove some scar tissue.

Don't necessarily see a fit here but I wish him well wherever he plays

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

I don’t disagree with that, ideally he would have spent some time in the AHL. But I don’t know who else he would have played Center with last year. Can’t break up 3M last year and playing with Backlund I think was crucial to Tkachuk being so good so fast. Maybe they should have let him play wing for another year before putting him at center. I don’t know. Regardless, he needs to figure out a way to turn his game around which he didn’t this year. I personally think he was worse this year than the previous. Basically all his points came in one month. He’s so insconsistent and that is what worries me above all. If we don’t get a new coach in here who hopefully can work with him to figure his game out then I’ll have a hard time watching next year.

That's the problem though. This team's horrific depth is hurting the good, or potentially good, players we do have. Like Tree mentioned in his end of year presser, they need to do a better job supporting their young players.

As much as I'm for getting rid of Gully (and I am), Tree has an equally huge job in fixing his forward depth this summer.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ???
Tkachuk - Backlund - ???
Bennett - Jankowski - ???
??? - ??? - Lazar

That's how I view our depth chart right now. That's a lot of question marks, and the only players we currently have I'd even want to cross off those question marks with are Spencer Foo for one of the RW spots, possibly Nick Shore at the 4th line centre spot, and Dillon Dube for the 4th line LW if he can outright win a job in camp.

[Iniggywetrust]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That's the problem though. This team's horrific depth is hurting the good, or potentially good, players we do have. Like Tree mentioned in his end of year presser, they need to do a better job supporting their young players.

As much as I'm for getting rid of Gully (and I am), Tree has an equally huge job in fixing his forward depth this summer.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ???
Tkachuk - Backlund - ???
Bennett - Jankowski - ???
??? - ??? - Lazar

That's how I view our depth chart right now. That's a lot of question marks, and the only players we currently have I'd even want to cross off those question marks with are Spencer Foo for one of the RW spots, possibly Nick Shore at the 4th line centre spot, and Dillon Dube for the 4th line LW if he can outright win a job in camp.

I get that Ferland may not be the solution on the top line, but saying he doesn't fit anywhere is a bit absurd.

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[Vinny01]

Ferland is a decent third liner but if he has 20+ goal power forward value he should be shopped. He kind of reminds me of Bourque. Sometimes he looks dominant out there and then he goes ghost mode and does nothing for long stretches. Always leaves you wanting more.

I think the Flames need a significant roster shakeup this summer 2-3 Dmen and 4-6 forwards and possibly a goalie and obviously a coach

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust

I get that Ferland may not be the solution on the top line, but saying he doesn't fit anywhere is a bit absurd.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

My problem with Ferly is he's refused to play an effective brand of hockey over the last while when he's off the top line. He was too inconsistent to be a top liner this year, and last year when he was off the top line he looked completely checked out (he did the same at the tail end of this season).

I've soured on Ferland, perhaps unfairly, but I think his effort level isn't where it needs to be for a player of his skill to succeed.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That's the problem though. This team's horrific depth is hurting the good, or potentially good, players we do have. Like Tree mentioned in his end of year presser, they need to do a better job supporting their young players.

As much as I'm for getting rid of Gully (and I am), Tree has an equally huge job in fixing his forward depth this summer.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ???
Tkachuk - Backlund - ???
Bennett - Jankowski - ???
??? - ??? - Lazar

That's how I view our depth chart right now. That's a lot of question marks, and the only players we currently have I'd even want to cross off those question marks with are Spencer Foo for one of the RW spots, possibly Nick Shore at the 4th line centre spot, and Dillon Dube for the 4th line LW if he can outright win a job in camp.

I think that’s a little extreme given you didn’t list Ferland and Frolik. At the very least they will return pieces in trades.

I hate the idea of Dube coming up, I think he really should spend at least a season in the AHL. The two draft misses in Klimchuk and Poirer are hurting. Trading Granlund away was also a mistake imo. And then there’s Byron. Tre definitely has some egg on his face when it comes to assessing the bottom 6 on this team.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

I think that’s a little extreme given you didn’t list Ferland and Frolik. At the very least they will return pieces in trades.

I hate the idea of Dube coming up, I think he really should spend at least a season in the AHL. The two draft misses in Klimchuk and Poirer are hurting. Trading Granlund away was also a mistake imo. And then there’s Byron. Tre definitely has some egg on his face when it comes to assessing the bottom 6 on this team.

I definitely agree Ferly and Frolik could return some decent picks or prospects, and I hope that's exactly what happens this summer.

I don't want to see Dube rushed, but if he earns it (and I think he may be able to), then awesome. Youth in the bottom 6 should be the path going forward.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Ferland is a decent third liner but if he has 20+ goal power forward value he should be shopped. He kind of reminds me of Bourque. Sometimes he looks dominant out there and then he goes ghost mode and does nothing for long stretches. Always leaves you wanting more.

I think the Flames need a significant roster shakeup this summer 2-3 Dmen and 4-6 forwards and possibly a goalie and obviously a coach

You're not trading 9 roster players unless you're going full rebuild. Getting 2 top 6 right wingers would fix the majority of the roster problems IMO. And maybe even a 4th line whose players are younger than the coach.

[Mr.Coffee]

To me it’s like this. If you’re going to can Gulutzan, keep Bennett, because Gulutzan doesn’t know what he’s doing with the kid and his development has stalled massively. Most key, is his confidence is shot playing the way Gulutzan wants. A new coach may do wonders for a potential second line producer (personally that’s how I view his ceiling but that would be great if he could be like that).

But if you’re going to keep Gulutzan, trade Bennett so that his value doesn’t plunge to zero after next season once Gulutzan is really done with him.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think confidence is huge with Bennett.

We have seen both sides of what Bennett can be. When he is playing confidently, he makes stuff happen out there. I do think that he still could be a center - you do see him make some really good passes when he actually gets good linemates - just watch him work with Gaudreau for proof of that.

The problem with Bennett from what I see is not that he is stupid. It is when he is not feeling confident, he tries to make up for it with doing more things. He simply tries to do too much out there, and this is when he starts taking penalties.

He had a long stretch where he didn't take a single penalty. Then he takes a bunch. I haven't checked, but I bet it is roughly inversely related to his production.

I think you don't give up on Bennett. He is a complete bulldog out there that is difficult to play against, and just battles. You never have to tell the kid to play harder.

I think Hartley in some ways was generally better with younger guys as he would not only yell, but coddle as well (lots of examples).

I think the new coach will have to come in and spend some time with Bennett, and give him more opportunities to build on his confidence. His development arc could be more like Brayden Schenn. It just sometimes takes a while longer for some guys.

The Yakupov comparisons is completely laughable though. Yeah, Yak put up some points, but what else did he do? Right now, Bennett is doing everything BUT put up points. He is so 'coachable'. His defensive game is a wonderful arc right now. His physicality is way better than I thought he would be. His forecheck/board-work/cycle game is probably the best on the Flames (and that is saying a lot with Ferland and Tkachuk).

Trade Bennett now, and the Flames will be embarrassed in the long run. Bennett is just going to take some time (and hopefully a coach that realizes he needs players that play at pace on his line that can also makes plays at pace). I don't mind Hathaway, but he is a 4th liner that can't really make plays. Brouwer can't play with speed. Janko is a rookie - so you have two guys figuring out their game in the NHL - you either need to put a RW'er on that line that is already really good, or just put Foo on that line (speed and skill) and shelter that line while providing them with good opportunities.

[Dajazz]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That's the problem though. This team's horrific depth is hurting the good, or potentially good, players we do have. Like Tree mentioned in his end of year presser, they need to do a better job supporting their young players.

As much as I'm for getting rid of Gully (and I am), Tree has an equally huge job in fixing his forward depth this summer.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ???
Tkachuk - Backlund - ???
Bennett - Jankowski - ???
??? - ??? - Lazar

That's how I view our depth chart right now. That's a lot of question marks, and the only players we currently have I'd even want to cross off those question marks with are Spencer Foo for one of the RW spots, possibly Nick Shore at the 4th line centre spot, and Dillon Dube for the 4th line LW if he can outright win a job in camp.

No matter how you view the depth chart reality says that Ferland, Brouwer, Frolik, Hathaway and Shore (RFA) are under contract. Frolik should slot with Backlund on a great 3rd line with for example Ferland. Problem is we don't have any second liners.... I really hope Bennett can live up to his potential.

Brouwer will stay, maybe we're "lucky" and they buy him out. Shore will likely be signed. Foo? Not so sure about his upside, but fingers crossed.

There aren't that many spots open just by looking at the contracts. It'll be tough for BT to get something done.