[News] All-encompassing Bennett trade discussions thread

[bigpete]

So if Bennett gets traded who becomes the new whipping boy? Besides Lucic of course. The D all seem pretty safe. My guess is Leivo. And then next year Backlund.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by bigpete

So if Bennett gets traded who becomes the new whipping boy? Besides Lucic of course. The D all seem pretty safe. My guess is Leivo. And then next year Backlund.

If a player is coming back in the deal, probably him. I can’t imagine the player we receive will be anything special.

[PepsiFree]

Nearly 800 posts about a player that is, apparently, a low-talent bottom-six guy with minimal value.

Classic.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

It sure is amazing how many people seem to believe Sam Bennett is this amazing talent that has been screwed over by the Flames. I've literally watched every NHL game hes played in except maybe 5 in his entire career.

I'm assuming he looked like Mario Lemieux in those 5 games I missed because something isn't adding up here.

It's like next level Oiler koolaid guzzling with Bennett. Kind of mind blowing.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I wonder how long Treliving will take to make a move here. Frolik's statement (which came through his agent) was a lot more 'forceful' than what is coming out from Bennett's camp. In fact, if Treliving hadn't been making the calls to trade Bennett, it most likely wouldn't be leaked at all. It sounds like somebody leaked it for a different organization. Friedman had to call Bennett's agent to confirm, and it was a fairly uncommitted confirmation (request vs demand).


IIRC, Bennett (and Jankowski) wanted a trade not too long ago, but it seemed to go quiet later on. Things can change. It sounds like Bennett just wants more of an opportunity - and opportunity that was talked up as him having earned it from Conroy, Treliving and Ward. To start the season, Bennett found himself on the 4th line. That's not an 'opportunity'.


I like Bennett. Didn't go out and publicly demand a trade. Didn't sulk. Didn't try to force the issue. Though his play hasn't been great, he is at least looking like he cares out there, especially in the last game when this got leaked.


Things may change. Injuries happen, and the Leivo/Simon experiments may come to an end, providing Bennett with more ice time and opportunity. Then it will be on him to show up (which I think he will).


I used to think like a lot of people here - that the NHL is not a developmental league, and that's what the AHL is for. I disagree now. You have to really not be watching hockey carefully season-over-season to see how basically every player develops over time. The ones that get better opportunities, usually develop better. The AHL is to get players over whatever hump it is that they need to get over to adjust to the NHL - physicality and defensive acumen usually. They need to meet that certain 'threshold' where they can enter the NHL and not be overwhelmed and prove that they can be trusted with some minutes without hurting the team.


Development is then accelerated in the NHL IMO. I think that Bennett has shown more than Mangipane did, and Mangiapane got glued on the line with Tkachuk and Backlund. Anybody want to argue that it didn't go a long way into helping Mangiapane develop?



This is an ongoing thing that I see happening with the Flames. I think the worst thing that happened is the Flames making it to the 2nd round that season. It seemed to just try and accelerate things. Since then, the Flames have done less 'developing' and more 'trying to win now'. IMO, players like Kylington who are way too good for the AHL stop getting enough ice time and rope to develop. Flames end up spending more assets to 'shore up' that position short-term, and then Kylington stops developing as well as he probably should because Forbort and Gustafsson are better than he is (but not in the long-term plans like Kylington is).



Bennett got kind of caught in that situation IMO. You have to really hate Bennett to not point and say at his playoff performances and think that he is so easily expendable. He helped give the Flames energy and solid 5on5 scoring - something that this team has a lot of trouble doing in the playoffs.



No, he is not the 2nd coming of Jagr, or Iginla. He is Sam Bennett - a middle-six player that can help your team win in the playoffs by his versatility and physicality. He is a nightmare to play against, and he will play that way even with an injury (as he did).


Flames without Bennett are that much physically less capable. It isn't because Bennett is THAT physical and gritty, it is because there is so little of that on the team.



As for playoff performances, the Flames also lost one of their consistent playoff performers in Brodie. He has been the Flames' best and most consistent defencemen in the playoffs. Compare his ice-time against MacKinnon vs the rest of the team, for instance. I value playoff performances, at least when they happen consistently. Nobody else has been consistently good in the playoffs other than Bennett and Brodie, which alarms me in some ways.


Getting a bit sidetracked now, but I know I will miss Bennett for what he brings to this team, and at the most important times. Maybe he isn't as skilled as some people want him to be. Maybe he isn't as good. Come playoff time, however, he is one of those players that you can count on to make those extra hits count, to come out with that swagger and that mindset to want to win at all costs.



Hopefully the return will be decent enough, and I hope that this team finds that extra gear in the playoffs like Bennett (and Brodie) had. I do worry about the majority of the grit disappearing off this team, and I really do think that it is an issue come playoff time.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CSharp

How is that different that what I pointed out? Possibly every trade or proposed trade with rumors of the Ducks making lowball offers has Bennett's name written into it. Just that no team wants to get a Bennett for 82 games a season just to have him show up in the playoffs.

You seriously don't see the difference between: "The Anaheim Ducks in particular have shown a ton of interest in him over the years"

and

"We all know Tre has been trying hard to unload Bennett as part of many packages, but each time, he had to pony up better players"

[GS Skier]

Originally Posted by bigpete

So if Bennett gets traded who becomes the new whipping boy? Besides Lucic of course. The D all seem pretty safe. My guess is Leivo. And then next year Backlund.

Since when was Bennett a whipping boy? Too many fans "fall in love" with players and Bennett has had far more love than most. Myself I stopped falling in love with players decades ago. Same as trade speculating...I'm never even close so stopped that game too. Now Hockey Pools I'm into!

Bennett can play but he didn't bring the offense advertised and as has been noted over and over Lindholm/Monahan/Backlund are all good centres with scoring pedigrees that Bennett has NOT outplayed. I like Bennett however as the as long the team benefits if and when he is moved no problem.

[CaptainYooh]

Perhaps, the time has come to remove Victor Mete reference from the thread title. Completely irrelevant to the discussion.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Nearly 800 posts about a player that is, apparently, a low-talent bottom-six guy with minimal value.

Classic.

You were under the impression only top 6 forwards warrant discussion on a Calgary Flames discussion board?

Now that’s a hot take for someone who has been on CP the internet for longer than a day.

FYI since you didn’t know, he’s the franchises highest ever draft pick.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

What’s even more amazing, is how you’ve found that many people who think he’s an amazing talent. And not just a potentially impactful middle 6 forward, like I’ve seen. “He can be effective”. “Why does everyone think he’s Mario!?”

When Sam Bennett makes a pass that actually connects some people claim he had a great period.

When Sam Bennett gets an assist some people claim he had a great game.

When Sam Bennett scores a goal some people claim he obviously should be playing with Matthew Tkachuk or Johnny Gaudreau.

Never acknowledging the countless other horribad things he did during that game.

The over the top narratives on a player who had TWELVE points last year and is on pace to have even less this year is ridiculous.

Now he wants out because he feels hes entitled to play with our top players for some odd reason instead of earning it? Really? Good. Let the door hit you real hard on the @ss on the way out.

Who wants a malcontent on this team? You think his teammates give a flying fork about an entitled, bad penalty taking, eternal minus player who wants out of Calgary Sam Bennett? Who would want to play with this guy on their line? He doesnt make any teammate better. Nevermind the fact that he makes 2.5 mil and has arb rights coming up so he gets a raise?

Oh the legend of Sam "oh poor me" Bennett just gets better and better.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by bigpete

So if Bennett gets traded who becomes the new whipping boy? Besides Lucic of course. The D all seem pretty safe. My guess is Leivo. And then next year Backlund.

My money would be on Hanifin

[CSharp]

What's weird is that most of the Flames showed up during most of the regular seasons then disappeared for the playoffs (injuries, getting too excited, or just not showing up or not showing any intensity). Maybe when the expected players that don't show up get overshadowed by Bennett's usual self, Bennett's plays in the playoffs get over-exaggerated. If most of the top players actually come to play in the playoffs, I don't think Bennett would get as much discussion in all the mega-threads that he's garnered. It's truly sad that the majority of the Flames underperformed leading up to and into the playoffs when the tough got going. If it's any consolation, Bennett performed as he has always been and everything about him is pretty much relative to how everyone performs at an instance in time - that is, if Bennett is the bar that sets the standard. That bar is actually really mediocre.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

What’s even more amazing, is how you’ve found that many people who think he’s an amazing talent. And not just a potentially impactful middle 6 forward, like I’ve seen. “He can be effective”. “Why does everyone think he’s Mario!?”

What’s wrong with a little humour? Unless you are suggesting OP actually believes someone said Sam is = to Mario.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by bigpete

So if Bennett gets traded who becomes the new whipping boy? Besides Lucic of course. The D all seem pretty safe. My guess is Leivo. And then next year Backlund.

Who ever plays like crap....just like Bennett?

I mean....3rd line wingers who average 26 points a year sure are hard to find.

Come in under that high bar and people will, for good reason, be all over that player.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

...Now he wants out because he feels hes entitled to play with our top players for some odd reason instead of earning it? Really? Good. Let the door hit you real hard on the @ss on the way out...

If that is what is actually what is happening, then sure. But so far we really have no idea what it is that Bennett wants or "feels he is entitled."

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by bigpete

So if Bennett gets traded who becomes the new whipping boy? Besides Lucic of course. The D all seem pretty safe. My guess is Leivo. And then next year Backlund.

Unfortunately that's the way it is. If Bennett was a 4th round pick instead of a 4th overall pick, we won't be that harsh on him.

So is Backlund. If he is making 2.5 instead of 5.2, he will be praised as gem!

[AC]

It's weird how much hostility Bennett gets.

He's clearly been disappointing, but people are acting like he went all Tony DeAngelo and fought a teammate.

He wants a bigger opportunity, especially given that it's a contract year and he had yet another strong playoffs. He even subbed in for Tkachuk and put up some goals on the 1st PP unit in his spot. He was then put back on the 4th line to start the year, largely because he wanted to play C and Lindholm was also moved to C pushing Bennett down further.

I don't think he is a top 6 forward unfortunately, but I completely get why he would want a better opportunity given his contract status.

I just don't get the outright vehemence some clearly have for him.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

If that is what is actually what is happening, then sure. But so far we really have no idea what it is that Bennett wants or "feels he is entitled."

We will never know, but it could just be business. Bennett is a good playoff player so he would be able to cash in more if he got more exposure. A long playoff run made a lost if dollars for otherwise marginal players. But with the Flames one round and out trend he has less opportunity.
Can't really blame him either.
I like Sam, he seems like a great guy and is always a pro. But he is not going to be missed on the ice.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 868904

What have Mangiapane, Simon, Leivo done for the top two lines?

Dube has done what you noted above, no matter what line he's been on.

Mangiapane had last year, but hasn't done anything this year. I'd argue Bennett has been just as effective as Mangiapane this year.

Mangiapane, as mentioned, has done a fair bit. The other two are new, so they gave them a shot to see. The Flames know what they have in Bennett, the other two, not so much.

And the top line performed well with Simon on it, by coincidence or not.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by AC

It's weird how much hostility Bennett gets.

He's clearly been disappointing, but people are acting like he went all Tony DeAngelo and fought a teammate.

He wants a bigger opportunity, especially given that it's a contract year and he had yet another strong playoffs. He even subbed in for Tkachuk and put up some goals on the 1st PP unit in his spot. He was then put back on the 4th line to start the year, largely because he wanted to play C and Lindholm was also moved to C pushing Bennett down further.

I don't think he is a top 6 forward unfortunately, but I completely get why he would want a better opportunity given his contract status.

I just don't get the outright vehemence some clearly have for him.

Ya it's odd.

Honestly I want to trade him as I think he'll do a lot better on another team. Put him on Buffalo or something and he'd do well in a 2nd line winger role.

Coaches seem to hate the guy, so why even bother keeping him.