[News] All-encompassing Bennett trade discussions thread

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Great post. I'd add that there are also people who are genuinely loathsome and worthy of our scorn, anger, and even hatred. There is no reason to believe that Sam Bennett is one of those people. It is beyond me how some people can muster anything more than an occasional driveby post or two in a game thread to express their discontentment with him.

Sometimes "hate", "indifference" can be used as an attention seeker. It is a pattern that when fed can escalate, and is generally unhealthy.

[Camronius]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Why does everyone forget the purple drink line?

Yeah that’s fair. I’m not sure everyone forgets about it. Perhaps it’s that I think Lindholm would be successful regardless of top 6 deployment, maybe partly that both he and the team wanted to move him to center. Either way I guess I was cherry picking to a narrative somewhat.

Similarly I think backlund or chucky could also find success in that slot, but I’ve excluded them from the choices as I think most fans agree they are better suited to spread out the offence.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by New Era

Lucic and Dube. It's the only combination that Bennett has shown a degree of success with over any period of time. Unfortunately that would be the 4th line and I think that is a waste of Dube's talent.

As to what team has ideal line mates for him, I don't know and really don't care. I don't hope for success for specific players (that's so Edmonton Oilers fanish) especially after they leave the Flames. Once they are gone I don't care about them and I don't wish them any success whatsoever. So the second Bennett is traded he's dead to me and I couldn't care less about him. If I was pressed I would say trade him to Detroit. No reason other than they are years away from the playoffs and I wouldn't have to listen to the ridiculous "playoff Sam Bennett" stuff any more.

Sam, Dube and someone else might make a good line. Agree that Lucic would bring them down until the playoffs. My question about other teams was meant to be a stylistic question about the ideal line mates not which team he’d be happier with, maybe not clear though.

[TherapyforGlencross]

I’d say Bennett can leave if he went to an American team. Trade him in the off-season or something. I don’t mind him on the top line, to be honest!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TherapyforGlencross

I’d say Bennett can leave if he went to an American team. Trade him in the off-season or something. I don’t mind him on the top line, to be honest!

Keep in mind, if you are trying to avoid rivals, the North division is temporary. So if he went to Montreal, say, it’s just this season you play home more than once.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by New Era

12 points last year. 1 point this year. Worst +/- on the team. Demanded a trade. Every commentator in the world laughing at Bennett and his demand, basically telling him on national TV to shut up and play and worry about producing if he wants to make demands. Yeah, I'm so unhinged. So I guess that makes all of them unhinged as well. Good company to be in I guess.

So it doesn't matter to you that he had 8 points in the bubble (tied for the most on the team) and was a +4. It also doesn't matter to you that he's a .63 point/game player in his playoff career. Hmm...

Remember back in 2002 when Marc Savard was traded away because it was felt that he wore out his welcome here? He went on to become one of the most prolific players in the NHL. Maybe this management group doesn't want to see history repeat itself...

[TherapyforGlencross]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Keep in mind, if you are trying to avoid rivals, the North division is temporary. So if he went to Montreal, say, it’s just this season you play home more than once.

Eh, there's always a chance that we play against him in this years playoffs, and I'd rather not have that occur.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TherapyforGlencross

Eh, there's always a chance that we play against him in this years playoffs, and I'd rather not have that occur.

Meh, he’s better in the POs but it’s overstated.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

So it doesn't matter to you that he had 8 points in the bubble (tied for the most on the team) and was a +4. It also doesn't matter to you that he's a .63 point/game player in his playoff career. Hmm...

Nope, it doesn't because the same regular season player keeps showing up. I was hoping that playoff Bennett would show up to start this season, but also recognized his history, so the expectation and prediction was easy to make. Therein lays the problem with Benny, no consistency. The only consistency he displays is an inability to play with any consistency during the regular season. I wish it was different, I really do. Do you know how much better this team would be with an additional top six player? It's everything the team needs, but they aren't getting it out of Bennett.

Remember back in 2002 when Marc Savard was traded away because it was felt that he wore out his welcome here? He went on to become one of the most prolific players in the NHL. Maybe this management group doesn't want to see history repeat itself...

Remember it quite well. Was leader of the Branch Savardians that argued for him to stay and Gilbert to be fired (ah the good old days). Now, I hope to god you are not trying to compare Sam Bennett to Marc Savard? Savard had years of 22g and 53p then 23g and 65p before getting Greg Gilberted. The two situations are not even remotely similar. If management is afraid of that repeating they should get out of the game. It is more likely that they are not going to extend a qualifying offer to Bennett than he turn into a player that is one of the most prolific in the NHL. That's what really has you worried? And I'm the unreasonable one?

[btimbit]

wrong thread

[DoubleK]

Wish he would have scored tonight. The Flames really need him to keep upping the trade value.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by New Era

Nope, it doesn't because the same regular season player keeps showing up. I was hoping that playoff Bennett would show up to start this season, but also recognized his history, so the expectation and prediction was easy to make. Therein lays the problem with Benny, no consistency. The only consistency he displays is an inability to play with any consistency during the regular season. I wish it was different, I really do.

Well then you should have the same kind of concerns about most of the players on this team, as the first round playoff exits year after year would suggest that they can't seem to carry over their regular season play into the postseason. (Acquiring Markstrom and Tanev addresses this to some extent, but still...)

Remember it quite well. Was leader of the Branch Savardians that argued for him to stay and Gilbert to be fired (ah the good old days). Now, I hope to god you are not trying to compare Sam Bennett to Marc Savard? Savard had years of 22g and 53p then 23g and 65p before getting Greg Gilberted. The two situations are not even remotely similar. If management is afraid of that repeating they should get out of the game. It is more likely that they are not going to extend a qualifying offer to Bennett than he turn into a player that is one of the most prolific in the NHL. That's what really has you worried? And I'm the unreasonable one?

Relax, no one is calling anyone unreasonable here. I'm certainly not equating Bennett to Savard or anything close to it, but I could see Benny scoring 25 or maybe even 30 goals for someone if put in an ideal situation.

My point about "history repeating" is that Savard was traded for a bag of pucks; it would be a damn shame if the Flames didn't get a decent return for Bennett. If they can't get any good offers for him, I think it makes sense to hang on to him and try to get the most out of him this year. Once the offseason comes, assess the situation and make a decision at that time.

Bennett is not a top-tier forward in the NHL, but he's not a scrub either. He absolutely does bring his game to another level in the playoffs, and that counts for a lot IMO.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Wish he would have scored tonight. The Flames really need him to keep upping the trade value.

He already has been, goals or not. He’s shown he can hang with the best, as long as he isn’t the play driver on the line.

[FlamesAddiction]

He had at least one scoring chance if you are being conservative on what you consider a scoring chance.

And that is not bad if he is also bringing his physical game and not taking dumb penalties. A player like him will always get penalties, and that is fine. But he needs to continue refraining from the lazy ones which so far he has been.

As a Bennett detractor, I will gladly eat fresh organic crow (none of that junk food crow).

And it is worth mentioning that Monahan and Gaudreau are still getting their points as well, so maybe at worst adding Bennett is chemistry neutral with the potential to get better over time.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

He had at least one scoring chance if you are being conservative on what you consider a scoring chance.

And that is not bad if he is also bringing his physical game and not taking dumb penalties. A player like him will always get penalties, and that is fine. But he needs to continue refraining from the lazy ones which so far he has been.

As a Bennett detractor, I will gladly eat fresh organic crow (none of that junk food crow).

And it is worth mentioning that Monahan and Gaudreau are still getting their points as well, so maybe at worst adding Bennett is chemistry neutral with the potential to get better over time.

This is how I see it. Bennett hasn’t found his footing on that line - he just seems to not be on the same page as the other two. But he’s no worse than Simon or Leivo on it and he has more energy than them. So it’s neutral at worst and could work out better if he starts to get a better feel for where to go for a pass and where to pass to. He really needs to look for Monahan, who likes to head for soft spots in the coverage.

[Red]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Wish he would have scored tonight. The Flames really need him to keep upping the trade value.

His trade value is going bad from worse.

Before, he actually had an excuse, playing in a checking role and all. There was always the "what if he played with better payers" mystery.

Not anymore.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Red

His trade value is going bad from worse.

Before, he actually had an excuse, playing in a checking role and all. There was always the "what if he played with better payers" mystery.

Not anymore.

He’s got 1 goal in 3 games.

What are your expectations? About .5ppg should be about the absolute max. Micheal Ferland scored 25 points and 41 points in seasons he played with Johnny and Sean.

Bennett is not a Lindholm-quality player. He’s a Ferland quality player. He’s the third wheel. He’s the complimentary player.

In the 3 games, I think he’s been solid enough. It’ll be interesting to see what it looks like after a 10 game sample. If he has 4 points, that’s pretty good. 3 points while the team keeps piling up the wins and his two line mates continue to produce? Good enough.

[Toonage]

Friedman said this morning that things have "quieted down" with Bennett and the Flames. Between the player being given more opportunity and the difficulty in making a trade along with Treliving's patience, there isn't much smoke anymore apparently.

[Stanley]

I feel like the way the lines are at the moment you can simply swap Bennett and Mange interchangeably throughout the game and not disrupt anything

I would have liked to see some stronger board work and I think Mange can get to open spots for a Johnny pass better than Benny can, but I don't think Mange with Johnny line is a good idea long term

[Red]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

He’s got 1 goal in 3 games.

What are your expectations? About .5ppg should be about the absolute max. Micheal Ferland scored 25 points and 41 points in seasons he played with Johnny and Sean.

Bennett is not a Lindholm-quality player. He’s a Ferland quality player. He’s the third wheel. He’s the complimentary player.

In the 3 games, I think he’s been solid enough. It’ll be interesting to see what it looks like after a 10 game sample. If he has 4 points, that’s pretty good. 3 points while the team keeps piling up the wins and his two line mates continue to produce? Good enough.

You'd have to think that GMs around the league are watching him play and not just stat watch. They are scrutinizing his every shift to look for what impact he is making on the ice. Is he passing well, is he in good scoring positions, does he drive play, does he make his linemates better etc.
Any player can score a goal at some point. I mean Froese has as many goals as him in less games.