The 2025 Offseason thread.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Bennett would be far from the worst UFA add while also adding an element we don’t really have here. With that said, 7x7 just doesn’t seem reasonable for a 40-50pt guy on this team right now.

We lack star power
We lack finish
We lack elite centers

Bennett doesn’t check any of those boxes long term.
With that said I’d move out some contracts to make it work.
Would you move on from Coleman or Sharky to make room? How about Backlund?
We don’t necessarily need to move contracts now, but we would have some significant bottom 6 bloat.

I’m going to inquire on this one, I haven’t heard anything but I know both Jarome and Conny were pretty high on Bennett before he was traded.

I hope there is nothing to this. The Flames need to look forward to answers, not backward to compound one of their biggest blunders in how they handled Bennett.

In every way possible I would rather see the Flames offer-sheet Bourque and see if he can break out with more opportunity. That risk / reward looks way better than signing 29 year old Bennett to a 7 year contract.

Hopefully Bennett goes to the Bruins instead.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I hope there is nothing to this. The Flames need to look forward to answers, not backward to compound one of their biggest blunders in how they handled Bennett.

In every way possible I would rather see the Flames offer-sheet Bourque and see if he can break out with more opportunity. That risk / reward looks way better than signing 29 year old Bennett to a 7 year contract.

Hopefully Bennett goes to the Bruins instead.

Francis and Steinberg just reiterated that the Flames are very interested in pursuing Sam Bennett.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by traptor

Francis and Steinberg just reiterated that the Flames are very interested in pursuing Sam Bennett.

In that case... I hope this is a case of Francis making something out of nothing for clicks. Failing that, I would hope that Sam Bennett has no interest in coming back here after asking to be traded away.

I don't know which other teams might be in on Bennett but I would have to assume that there are at least a handful of teams that would be interested and not have the history / baggage that the Flames have with him.

[dammage79]

Gotta think something's changed with Kadri.

[Royle9]

From what I’ve heard Kadri was pretty proud of the team this season, especially the young guys. He’s still very much happy to be here and wants to win in Calgary.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

The question is, is Bennett going to be a better centre than Kadri, Frost, or Zary? He's a perfectly decent #2 C, but the Flames already have plenty of candidates for that job. He is not and never has been a #1, and as such, doesn't fill their biggest need. I see no sense in wasting money and cap to bring him back on a retirement contract.

That was my thought as well. We have middle 6 centers and adding one more doesn't help a lot and we saw what happened last time when Bennett couldn't out produce Monahan or Backlund for top 6 ice-time and didn't like being shuffled to the wing.

Considering the size of the contract he would likely get, I don't think the risk or upgrade he might provide is worth it.

[Ryan Coke]

I don’t get this at all. Not in the age range we need, and not an elite offensive guy.

I would have concerns getting a guy like Marner, but he would move the needle on scoring goals. Bennett is “post apex” and not an offensive catalyst.

It’s a move that would be disappointing.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Gotta think something's changed with Kadri.

That’s your conclusion? Versus Francis and Pat are full of ####?

[prizefighterinferno]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

That’s your conclusion? Versus Francis and Pat are full of ####?

There is a pretty huge gap between "Kadri must want out" and "Francis and Pat are full of ####".

If you leave your personal opinions about both individual team reporters and the player in question to the side for a minute-

You could easily imagine a scenario where this management team could talk itself into wanting to have TWO cup winning centres, both not offensively elite but guys with edge and drivers in their own way, especially when your highest paid player has a history of success with the one you could be looking to bring in. Oh, and that guy has a history with the team and many in the org loved him, and absence has only made the heart grow fonder.

I have no reason to suspect these guys would be speaking so authoritatively about it unless they had essentially heard it from the horse's mouth. And it very well could all mean squat if Benny just re-ups in FLA (or chooses another team in FA). Maybe we should just debate the merits of the move should it happen or detail a position about why his spot in the lineup would make the depth chart as we currently know and understand it extremely confusing/overcrowded and what the team could potentially be thinking in this contingency.

[iggyloob12]

Why would Bennett want to come back? It won’t be to win another cup. Flames would have to overpay big time.

[Sandman]

One thing to think about in regards to signing Benny is the success he had with Huberdeau, and vice-versa (if it hasn't already been mentioned).

Even still, I really like Bennett, but I just can't see things working out for him here.

EDIT: Already mentioned.

[dammage79]

Oh, I'm sure Bennett would want assurances of his planned usage before putting ink to paper in returning to the Flames.

He only wanted put because he felt misutilized by the coaching carousel he went through prior to finally clicking with Sutter.

Other than that, I'd love to see Bennett back. He was a favorite of mine. But it also doesn't add up that the Flames should want him back with any sort of gusto like it has been reported by the biggest media heads around the Flames.

Say that Kadri does stay, then you're lining up at center
Kadri
Bennett
Frost
Backlund.

That removes Rooney and keeps Zary (I still think he's a center in the NHL than a winger) at wing. Which leaves the wings even more stacked on the left side with Pops, Zary, Sharkbait, Farabee and Lomberg. No room for graduates.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Oh, I'm sure Bennett would want assurances of his planned usage before putting ink to paper in returning to the Flames.

He only wanted put because he felt misutilized by the coaching carousel he went through prior to finally clicking with Sutter.

Other than that, I'd love to see Bennett back. He was a favorite of mine. But it also doesn't add up that the Flames should want him back with any sort of gusto like it has been reported by the biggest media heads around the Flames.

Say that Kadri does stay, then you're lining up at center
Kadri
Bennett
Frost
Backlund.

That removes Rooney and keeps Zary (I still think he's a center in the NHL than a winger) at wing. Which leaves the wings even more stacked on the left side with Pops, Zary, Sharkbait, Farabee and Lomberg. No room for graduates.

If you think people are complaining now about potentially re-signing Andersson, I can only imagine how things will look here in a couple of years with 37 year old Kadri and 31 year old Bennett eating up $14+M of the cap.

I do not see how this is at all a good idea for the direction the team is going. I would rather see Bourque come in on a $3.5M contract.

Start the season with either Bourque on 4C or riding Backlund's wing:
Kadri (35yo)
Frost (26 yo)
Backlund (37 yo)
Bourque (24 yo)

By the end of the season Bourque likely passes Backlund (hopefully with the help of Backlund's mentorship). Then in a couple of years you have a chance of either Frost and/or Bourque passing Kadri while the team tries to bring some new rookies online.

If Bourque fails to climb then you let him walk in a couple of years without it hurting your salary cap situation but if Bennett fails to be what he is on the Panthers right now... you are stuck with another big contract eating up cap space.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Wolven

If you think people are complaining now about potentially re-signing Andersson, I can only imagine how things will look here in a couple of years with 37 year old Kadri and 31 year old Bennett eating up $14+M of the cap.

I do not see how this is at all a good idea for the direction the team is going. I would rather see Bourque come in on a $3.5M contract.

Start the season with either Bourque on 4C or riding Backlund's wing:
Kadri (35yo)
Frost (26 yo)
Backlund (37 yo)
Bourque (24 yo)

By the end of the season Bourque likely passes Backlund (hopefully with the help of Backlund's mentorship). Then in a couple of years you have a chance of either Frost and/or Bourque passing Kadri while the team tries to bring some new rookies online.

If Bourque fails to climb then you let him walk in a couple of years without it hurting your salary cap situation but if Bennett fails to be what he is on the Panthers right now... you are stuck with another big contract eating up cap space.

Hey, my ideal 25/26 center line up is
Kadri
Frost
Bystedt
Backlund.

I'm strictly talking about the idea that the Flames want Bennett back in my last few pists. Since that's the rumor of the day.

If they want Bennett back and get him. That's what it'll be. But, it's also why I posit the idea that maybe things have changed with Kadri. Because it's not ideal for the Flames to have 14m tied up long term in 2 over 30 centers, not including the Captain.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Hey, my ideal 25/26 center line up is
Kadri
Frost
Bystedt
Backlund.

I'm strictly talking about the idea that the Flames want Bennett back in my last few pists. Since that's the rumor of the day.

If they want Bennett back and get him. That's what it'll be. But, it's also why I posit the idea that maybe things have changed with Kadri. Because it's not ideal for the Flames to have 14m tied up long term in 2 over 30 centers, not including the Captain.

Bystedt? Hell to the yeah!!!

[Vinny01]

Bennett and Huberdeau had chemistry in the past and Kadri has shown chemistry with a lot of players mostly out younger ones. I don’t think Bennett will want to come back here and I see him staying in Florida or going to Toronto if they don’t re-sign Marner.

If they did sign Bennett and had him, Kadri, Frost, Backlund down the middle that is a solid group basically 2 second line and 2 3rd line centers.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Bennett and Huberdeau had chemistry in the past and Kadri has shown chemistry with a lot of players mostly out younger ones. I don’t think Bennett will want to come back here and I see him staying in Florida or going to Toronto if they don’t re-sign Marner.

If they did sign Bennett and had him, Kadri, Frost, Backlund down the middle that is a solid group basically 2 second line and 2 3rd line centers.

You could say the same thing about Bennett's chemistry with Duclair. Hopefully the Islanders sign Bennett for that reason.

[Sandman]

If Edmonton can clear some cap space, they will surely go after Bennett. They could use a guy like Benny, and he has strong ties to McDavid.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Sandman

If Edmonton can clear some cap space, they will surely go after Bennett. They could use a guy like Benny, and he has strong ties to McDavid.

No chance. Roughly $15M to sign Bouchard and 5 more guys.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No chance. Roughly $15M to sign Bouchard and 5 more guys.

That's what we always say, and then it happens. GM's have a way of making things happen.