Bennett

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Where do we go from here?

Seattle.

[Monahammer]

I wonder if there's anyone still dumb enough to pay us for him pre offering him up for Seattle? I would prefer that obviously but also dont really care if he goes during expansion. What a waste.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I wonder if there's anyone still dumb enough to pay us for him pre offering him up for Seattle? I would prefer that obviously but also dont really care if he goes during expansion. What a waste.

He's probably got Sven value level right now.
So a third.
But then you lose someone else to Seattle.

So the math is

Bennet (traded) + Kylington (claimed) for a third
Or Bennet (claimed) for nothing

The return for Bennet would have to be valued greater than the player you are likely to lose in his place.

[Macho0978]

I think almost all off CP agrees the Flames #1 need is a top 6 RW who shoots right handed. Why I feel Sam Bennett is the guy that needs to go isn't because I don't think he has value I just don't see him ever filling that role.

How do we add a top 6 RW with our cap space? I doubt we can land one on an ELC or a steal of a deal. So cap space is needed. Where do we get cap space without creating a hole elsewhere? IMO it's Sam Bennett (assuming Lucic is not tradeable).

Ryan could be tradeable and his cap space could help get a deal done but I don't think Bennett will be happy taking a 4th line role. Ryan is fine with it and his contract expires after this season. Removing Ryan and replacing him with a vet center for about $1 mil and removing Rittich and replacing him for about $1 IMO does not hurt this team. Removing Bennett and replacing him with one of our prospects does not hurt this team. The cap space allows this team to target a top 6 RW. I can live with the Reider's Rinadlo's Simon's Nordtsrom's of this league if we can add a top 6 RW without removing any of our d, Markstrom or any of our top 6 forwards.

Sam Bennett is an RFA who is already over paid because of where he was drafted and his QO already is probably too much for what he brings. If I was Treliving I have no idea how I'd handle that new contract and he is a risk to be lost for nothing anyways. It's time to move on even if we can't get that top 6 RW the same day we move him. I just don't see this team missing him that much

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by CSharp

I think we need to trade Backlund, Lindholm, and Monahan so that Bennett can be THE centerman the Flames have drafted for. Anyone else to throw on/under that bus? OMG LOL!!!

Who am I throwing under the bus?

[CSharp]

Nm

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Obviously you think Bennett is better than Backlund.

That's not what I see at all. It is much more obvious that SeanCharles wants to upgrade the position of need on RW with the most valuable expendable asset the Flames have, which is Mikael Backlund. As I understand him, the expectation is that Lindholm can perform Backlund's role, and Bennett can then slide back to centre the third line, where he looked pretty good for a few games in last year's playoffs.

I am not sure I agree, but that's the plan.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He's probably got Sven value level right now.
So a third.
But then you lose someone else to Seattle.

So the math is

Bennet (traded) + Kylington (claimed) for a third
Or Bennet (claimed) for nothing

The return for Bennet would have to be valued greater than the player you are likely to lose in his place.

I think keeping Bennett to dangle as expansion bait is a good strategy. He would probably be a a good reclamation project for an expansion team.

But, they would still need to qualify him at 100% of his current salary, so like $2.6 million. Maybe being an expansion team and not yet being in cap hell like most other teams, they may take that chance. I am not convinced that they would, but it might be worth the shot as I doubt we would get much for him in a trade anyway.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That's not what I see at all. It is much more obvious that SeanCharles wants to upgrade the position of need on RW with the most valuable expendable asset the Flames have, which is Mikael Backlund. As I understand him, the expectation is that Lindholm can perform Backlund's role, and Bennett can then slide back to centre the third line, where he looked pretty good for a few games in last year's playoffs.

I am not sure I agree, but that's the plan.

I gave it a quick thought and came to the same conclusion (hence "NM" on the edit). However, by doing that, you lose a centerman. Backlund provides that depth and moving Bennett in isn't going to solve anything at all. Moving Backlund and losing a center is not an option unless you pick up another serviceable center. I'm just surprised Tre didn't pick up Tiffoli on free agency.

[UKflames]

If we need a RW why not put Lindholm back at wing, where he plays well, and put Bennett at C, where he also appears to play much better?

Once again we seem to be putting Bennett in a position to fail, when the team talked about playing him at C all winter.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by UKflames

If we need a RW why not put Lindholm back at wing, where he plays well, and put Bennett at C, where he also appears to play much better?

Once again we seem to be putting Bennett in a position to fail, when the team talked about playing him at C all winter.

Yeah, I have no issue with this. Backlund is too good to be a 3C. Simon and Leivo aren’t good enough to be top 6 wings. Slot the new guys in replacement level roles and let them earn something

Johnny Monny Lindholm — was a top line in the entire frickin’ league. Gives 13 and 23 an elite, skilled winger .... It has worked.
Tkachuk Backlund Mangiapane - Hot down the stretch, and 11 and 19 have played well together for years... It has worked.
Lucic Bennett Dube — best line in the playoffs, slots Bennett where he works, has never been a regular thing in the regular season... it has worked
Simon Ryan Leivo - properly slotting your cheap 4th line salaries

The obsession with making Lindholm a C pushes Backlund down and rewards new guys who are replacement level players for no discernible reason

Going to three lines that have all worked. Why do something so obvious when you could instead try to find a way to be the smartest guy in the room?

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

The obsession with making Lindholm a C pushes Backlund down and rewards new guys who are replacement level players for no discernible reason

I think they should stick with Lindholm at center but maybe try some other things out to balance out the lines..

It’s a little surprising how decent Lucic-Backlund-Bennett has looked in the few odd shifts they have had together in the last couple games.

Maybe roll with Simon-Ryan-Leivo on the 4th line and see what Mangiapane can do with on the 2nd line?

Everything will be better when Dube returns.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I think they should stick with Lindholm at center but maybe try some other things out to balance out the lines..

It’s a little surprising how decent Lucic-Backlund-Bennett has looked in the few odd shifts they have had together in the last couple games.

Maybe roll with Simon-Ryan-Leivo on the 4th line and see what Mangiapane can do with on the 2nd line?

Everything will be better when Dube returns.

You honestly think the Lucic-Backlund-Bennett line has looked good?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Seattle.

Why would Seattle want him? Why would they take him? There will be much better players available. Calgary will have better players available. If they want him, they wait for Calgary yo not qualify him and then pick him up at league minimum or on a PTO. Bennett is nothing that was not available for free as a professional try out. No team is going to to waste an expansion draft pick on a player they can get for free after the draft.

[jjgallow]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I think almost all off CP agrees the Flames #1 need is a top 6 RW who shoots right handed.

It's definitely up there.

I would say our biggest need is a real first line RHS D.

[dino7c]

Lindholm is a center. It's his preferred position not something they are trying to force.

[Flames1217]

Seattle will likely take Tanev.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

You honestly think the Lucic-Backlund-Bennett line has looked good?

Hahaha our bottom six has been so bad when there is even a tiny glimmer of good I take notice.

It just seemed like Bennett was skating and carrying the puck much better when they formed that group for the few odd shifts here and there. Lucic scoring helps.

I’m not sold on any of Lucic, Leivo or Simon in our top 9 so I don’t know what the answer is.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Lindholm is a center. It's his preferred position not something they are trying to force.

That’s lovely except you have to ask whether the job of the coach to ice the best mix of 12 skaters to help the team succeed, or whether it is to cater to one guy’s positional preference.

Guess what? Dube is also a C. Lindholm is also a winger. Bennett is also a C. Backlund is a C they tried on wing. So they are dressing 6 Cs on any given night.
You know what they are doing? Picking Cs to play W

Why is Lindholm so special that he is the one guy who gets what he wants?
And if you focus on giving him his preference, is it best for the mix of 12?

Especially when he is elite as a winger, and two of the guys, Backlund and Bennett, both seem to be quite a lot better at C

That what I’m saying they are forcing. Forcing other Cs to wing, so that a team with a glut of Cs and a dearth of excellent natural wingers has a sub ideal mix

I shouldn’t have said obsession with making him a C, probably should have said determination to slot him at C

I really would have thought you got that

[Sandman]

Tkachuk-Benny-Lindholm. Give it one damn game at least!