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Value of: Sam Bennett as a UFA

bossram said:
There have been basically zero reports of Florida's brass having any inkling of re-signing or negotiating with Bennett/Ekblad.

In advance, they signed Lundell long-term to essentially be the future 2C. They just brought in another big-money RHD (Jones) to essentially replace Ekblad's future role on the team.

It is very obvious this was all pre-planned and part of their management's group vision going forward.
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Incorrect.

They brought in Jones to shore up the second pair, they have 20 mil to spend and will look to bring Ek back. Like othered they’ll see if the money works.

Bennett is a big part of the identity of the team, Lundell is young and was Zito’s first pick, of course they re-signed him. Being atrong down the middle is imperative. If they can bring Bennett back, they will. Like Jones with Ek, Marchand has nothing to do with Bennett. He’ll let a winger walk over a center.
 
I'm convinced that after years of him bullying the Bruins, Don Sweeney is going to pay through the nose for his toughness, and then will have another Matt Belesky boat anchor contract on his hands when he inevitably rapidly declines with age due to his playing style
 
BHawk21 said:
I bet. How can you pay him close to what other teams would?
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A. Despite what certain northern fans think, Zito is great at his job. The Panthers have 20 mil to spend with the increase and guys coming off the books. They can use the no tax “advantage,” (which exists but it’s not as simple as others insist it is), and Bennys played on a shit team before. He helped get Tkachuk here by raving about it. If Bennett wants to stay, and the numbers work, he will.
 
I think he ends up back in Florida on a bit of a discount, but if he gets to FA and is simply chasing the biggest payday I think things could get silly. I honestly wouldn't be shocked by a $60+ million contract if he's going to Chicago or a team in a similar spot with more cap space than they know what to do with.
 
There will be a long line of teams who want this guy.

My guess is he stays in Florida. Outside shot to Toronto if they bust in the playoffs again and they let Marner and Tavares walk to shake up the core.....
 
I still believe he only walks if he wants to move closer to his original home.

Our owner loves him, and he fits Maurice system very well. He's not needed to be a point producer to be noticeable out there. He's great at zone entries with the puck, plays physical-on the dirty line here and there, and is decent defensively.

No clue what he gets if he does hit UFA, as the cap ceiling is showing strong gains the next few years.
 
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They should just pay Marchand and let him walk. Bennett is a high risk expensive signing in my opinion.
 
I Hate Philadelphia said:
Guy has never even hit 50pts in a season.

This contract is going to be David Clarkson level bad.
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Could be, but you're paying him for his playoff success and playoff suited game.

Over his last 6 playoff runs, he is .72ppg and .29gpg, doesn't sound like anything special, but I'll compare him to two other guys from my team. Nylander is .79ppg and Marner is .19gpg, neither of them hit/fight/go in the corners or are some heart and soul guy. Nylander just got 11 and could easily get 12-13 if he were on the market. Marner would probably get 13-15 mill.

You need different types of players to succeed and he is absolutely the sort of player you need in the playoffs when the game gets tougher and tighter. I don't think it's fair to use just his season stats to tell the story.
 
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He has a fairly simple choice. Florida is now making it clear that they want him, but not at full market value, especially following the cap bump this July.

If he decides to stay, it'll probably be 8 years and an AAV that starts with a 6. In free agency, I could see him pull down seven years and a number starting with an 8, potentially even a 9, if there's a real competition for his services.

The thing is, 8x$6.75M ($54M) versus 7x$8 ($56M) isn't so very far apart -- and the Florida money comes with tax benefits, in a desirable place to live, on a winning club. It's a powerful set of incentives... You know, when people talk about reforming the system, they don't talk enough about the exclusive ability to offer that eighth year to re-sign your own players. They only talk about taxes. Florida's ability to go to eight years is a real advantage here.

To make a real difference, he'll need to be confident that he can find a destination offering him 7x$9M ($63M) or better to ensure meaningfully better wages somewhere else versus in the place he knows, where has fit in nicely, and had tremendous success with the potential for more for years to come. Staying for max term on a deal that is less than $7M makes sense to me.
 
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Drake1588 said:
He has a fairly simple choice. Florida is now making it clear that they want him, but not at full market value, especially following the cap bump this July.

If he decides to stay, it'll probably be 8 years and an AAV that starts with a 6. In free agency, I could see him pull down seven years and a number starting with an 8, potentially even a 9, if there's a real competition for his services.

The thing is, 8x$6.75M ($54M) versus 7x$8 ($56M) isn't so very far apart -- and the Florida money comes with tax benefits, in a desirable place to live, on a winning club. It's a powerful set of incentives... You know, when people talk about reforming the system, they don't talk enough about the exclusive ability to offer that eighth year to re-sign your own players. They only talk about taxes. Florida's ability to go to eight years is a real advantage here.

To make a real difference, he'll need to be confident that he can find a destination offering him 7x$9M ($63M) or better to ensure meaningfully better wages somewhere else versus in the place he knows, where has fit in nicely, and had tremendous success with the potential for more for years to come. Staying for max term on a deal that is less than $7M makes sense to me.
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I'd assume any contract will have some signing bonus too, to have most of the yearly money paid out only in Florida to limit higher taxed income for the 39 games outside of the state.
One thing I would think gets him re-signed here is the 8th year deal. Probably have it front loaded too.
 
It's going to be a doozie if he hits the open market.

He may not produce a ton but I know some teams will pay through the nose for drive like that.


My money is on a reasonable extension with Florida though.
 
UrbanImpact said:
Canucks will throw huge money at him for sure.

They lack toughness and dont have a 2C. They are probably hoping that EP40-Bennet can be a shadow of Henrik Sedin-Kesler as 1-2 down the middle.


Cant say ive watched Bennet too much since he moved to Florida. Can he carry and drive a 2nd line? PK, PP?

I wouldnt be shocked if Canucks go 7 yrs - 8.5-9mil AAV per. Pretty much the money they opened up moving Miller.
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The guy only figured out his game after he left Calgary. He thrived once he was out of the Canadian spotlight. I can't imagine he has any desire to come back to a market like Vancouver.

The salary it would cost to get him there plus the reality that he's never been more than a 50-point player is an awful mix for high-expectations with little results to back it up. He would be chewed alive by the local media and fans. It's a recipe for disaster that both player and club are likely smart enough to recognize.
 
GIN ANTONIC said:
Feeling this he could be the most sought after C on the UFA market. Assuming he doesn't take some sort of Florida discount, what does Sam Bennett get on the open market?

He'll be 29 at the start of the season and over the past 4.5 seasons with the Panthers he has paced to about 27G and 55P for an 82 game reg season. He tends to miss 10-15 games due to injury, although he's been healthy this year. Plays a physical 2C and is on the PP1 unit and his playoff numbers are pretty much on par with that stat line as well.

How much and what teams would be most interested?
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Agree with the below. Florida has so many levers to pull in order to facilitate re-signing Bennett long term that the assumption he won't remain with that core is implausible.
spockBokk said:
I don’t see a world where the Panthers let him go. He’s so integral to their team and they always find a way to keep who they need to.

If he inexplicably makes it to UFA, 31 teams will be throwing money at him.
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Barkov, Reinhardt, Tkachuk, etc., is such a well-thought out, skillfully acquired group, I don't know what the attraction would be for Bennett, in his prime, to leave that situation.

And unlike Marner, I think Bennett drives his interest with greater assertion, perhaps even in spite of Ferris. If he didn't and doesn't, I'd be shocked.

And if Bennett does so, my oh my, won't we on the Leafs boards have something to dine on.
 
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