The 2025 Offseason thread.

[dino7c]

7M isn't a really big contract anymore...that tweet seems like clickbait though

[prizefighterinferno]

Originally Posted by dino7c

7M isn't a really big contract anymore...that tweet seems like clickbait though

If you've had a chance to listen to the last couple days of Flames Talk, or kept up with the show over the last few months, you'll have heard Pat state his firm believe (in yesterday's Offseason Mailbag episode, for example) that IF Bennett makes it to free agency, he is of the strong belief that the Flames will be aggressive in trying to bring Sam back to Calgary.

[Roof-Daddy]

Highest draft pick in flames history
Doesn't really pan out here
Traded for mediocre return
Has his best value prime years while on another team
Competes for multiple cups on deep runs with that team
Looking for someone to pay him a big contract as he exits his prime years
Re-enter the Flames haha

[Major Major]

I wonder if Bennett or the flames would entertain a deal with less term and a jacked AAV. I would bring Bennett in at 4 years 9 million, for example.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I wonder if Bennett or the flames would entertain a deal with less term and a jacked AAV. I would bring Bennett in at 4 years 9 million, for example.

He’ll definitely be looking for max total dollars I would imagine. 7x$7 million will get him more than 4x$9million. Maybe if they signed him to a 5th year at $9 million.

[Bonded]

Steinberg just really wants to sign Bennett. I think Bennett will get more than 7x7

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by stemit14

He’ll definitely be looking for max total dollars I would imagine. 7x$7 million will get him more than 4x$9million. Maybe if they signed him to a 5th year at $9 million.

Maybe that's what it would take but if we are using 7x7 as a baseline, 4x9 would be a great deal for Bennett. He would need to make up 13 million in his next 3 years with a rising cap and still be in his early 30s. Good chance he gets another 4×7 at that point.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Highest draft pick in flames history
Doesn't really pan out here
Traded for mediocre return
Has his best value prime years while on another team
Competes for multiple cups on deep runs with that team
Looking for someone to pay him a big contract as he exits his prime years
Re-enter the Flames haha

Plus he demanded a goddam trade which hurt his value as well. If he struggles again at some point, you don't want a guy like that around.

[Lewis_D]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Plus he demanded a goddam trade which hurt his value as well. If he struggles again at some point, you don't want a guy like that around.

Yeah, I imagine that also wouldn't look great from an optics standpoint after Conroy has been going on about signing guys who want to be here if the guy in question has already requested a trade out, even if it was different management at the time who we all know were complete donkeys.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Seems more like steinburg trying to create click back content for viewers. He’s thrown out a bunch of ridiculous ideas. Dube 6x6 t

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Seems more like steinburg trying to create click back content for viewers. He’s thrown out a bunch of ridiculous ideas. Dube 6x6 t

He threw out Dube for 6x6?? Where did he say this?

[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.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by chummer

He threw out Dube for 6x6?? Where did he say this?

I didn't hear when he originally said that, but I happened to be listening to his show the next day when he was defending the idea against the inevitable blowback.

[CFO]

Need remember there's a high chance he may not play full season due to way he plays and injuries.

[Wastedyouth]

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.

Bennett, while he brings intangibles, isn't that good possession wise.

He isn't bad, but it's not like he's taking on the heavies either and gets pretty cushy zone starts.

I don't see a need for him on the Flames.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I didn't hear when he originally said that, but I happened to be listening to his show the next day when he was defending the idea against the inevitable blowback.

Ok thanks yeah there would be huge blowback, sounds like something the Oilers would do.

[Savvy27]

I don't think they would even need to move out contracts for Bennett.

By the end of the first year they would have $4.5M (Backlund), $2.0M (Lomberg), and $1.88M (Markstrom) coming off the books. Bean and Miromanov will likely be gone too. Obviously those positions would need to be replaced but I think that allocating money for a top 6C is way more critical than filling out the bottom of the lineup, especially given the promising prospects they have coming who can fill out the bottom 6 with ELCs.

After year 2 Coleman will be coming off and after year 3 Sharangovich and Farabee would be up. Overall the Flames are probably in the best position to add a UFA right now that they will see for a while. Unfortunately it isn't a great crop of UFAs, but Bennett is a guy I would love to see them bring back.

[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.

[traptor]

I don't like them going after Bennett. Aren’t we "sticking to the plan," which is to get younger without tanking? Picking up Bennett feels like a "win-now" move.

He’s not an offensive game-changer, and we already brought in Frost to solidify our middle-six centers.

If the goal is to try and win now, I can see the logic, he had some chemistry with Huberdeau. But overall, I don’t think this path leads to long-term success.

I just hope the organization doesn’t let being close this year get into their heads and start trying to rush things along again...

[dammage79]

1.Bennett
2.Frost
3.Zary
4.Backlund

I can live with that.

Maybe moving Kadri is in the cards despite all the surrounding information says he wants to stay.

Has he given any post season interviews? Maybe something's changed.