Sam Bennett Available

[axlrose87]

Should the Leafs make an offer? Does he make sense as a 3rd line center (assuming money in/money out is worked out)? What should the offer look like?

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[Michael HOMERUNing]

Having Bennett as a third line center is not ideal

 

[MattySnipes]

We should get him. He reminds me of Lanny. Get him just for his stache

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Hes good, I like em. Bit of a warrior; we'd all like em

Kerfoot + Dermott

 

[hockeynorth]

yes

but we don't give up Kerfoot for him

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Hes good, I like em. Bit of a warrior; we'd all like em

Kerfoot + Dermott

I would do this if we get a B prospect / pick back.
I really think Bennett would flourish here

 

[Mickey Marner]

He'd be decent in the bottom-six, but he makes 2.55 AAV, is not expansion exempt, needs to be qualified at 2.55 and is arbitration eligible. Oh, and his agent is Darren Ferris. I'd be fine trading Engvall or Vesey for him, but I wouldn't give up anything of value.

 

[Ciao]

/ You lost me at Darren Ferris.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

of course he's available. he's a bad player who makes too much money

 

[JSn0w93]

of course he's available. he's a bad player who makes too much money

The thing with him is he was developed horribly and clearly has been playing in an organization that hasn't been on the same page as him. He's young and you have to wonder if he can turn it around and become a very good complementary piece.

 

[HarryLime]

I love the grit/determination he shows. most high picks don't change their game like he has to help his team when things don't work out.

 

[6ix]

He seems to play his best hockey during the playoffs. Could be a decent pickup.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Few things that need to be laid out right away:

1) He's overpaid for what he brings, and we will certainly require major retention if they want anything.
2) He is not a center, and I highly doubt he will ever be a center.
3) Even with retention, we'd have trouble fitting him into our cap structure and we'd need to send a guy with some salary back.
4) I would not count on him being anything more than a 4th liner here. That is not to say he could not become more, but anything more than 4th line should come as a surprise.

With that laid out, see what it costs to get him with 50% retention. I wouldn't put Dermott on the table and Calgary doesn't really need him. They need forward depth more, and we could offer Barabanov or Engvall on top of some mid-tier futures. Engvall is probably more intriguing to them, since he can immediately fill Bennett's spot, but they wouldn't get much on top of him.

However, I doubt Calgary moves him to a Canadian team without an overpayment. Why would they when they know we have to play against him a whole lot?

 

[6ix]

Few things that need to be laid out right away:

1) He's overpaid for what he brings, and we will certainly require major retention if they want anything.
2) He is not a center, and I highly doubt he will ever be a center.
3) Even with retention, we'd have trouble fitting him into our cap structure and we'd need to send a guy with some salary back.
4) I would not count on him being anything more than a 4th liner here. That is not to say he could not become more, but anything more than 4th line should come as a surprise.

With that laid out, see what it costs to get him with 50% retention. I wouldn't put Dermott on the table and Calgary doesn't really need him. They need forward depth more, and we could offer Barabanov or Engvall on top of some mid-tier futures. Engvall is probably more intriguing to them, since he can immediately fill Bennett's spot, but they wouldn't get much on top of him.

However, I doubt Calgary moves him to a Canadian team without an overpayment. Why would they when they know we have to play against him a whole lot?

I’d move Mikheyev for Bennett 50% retained. Mikheyev does nothing but skate fast. Soft as butter. Can’t hit the side of a barn and was a nobody in the playoffs.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I’d move Mikheyev for Bennett 50% retained. Mikheyev does nothing but skate fast. Soft as butter. Can’t hit the side of a barn and was a nobody in the playoffs.

Leafs should not, and almost certainly will not, move Mikheyev. Especially not for a guy like Bennett.

Mikheyev's contract alone makes him significantly more valuable than Bennett, even with retention for the rest of this year.

If Engvall or Barabanov does not interest them at all, then they are not getting a roster guy from us... And we'd need to find a way (possibly a third team) to handle our cap. More than likely they'd find a better offer elsewhere, and also would not have to deal within the division.

 

[zeke]

Bennett would be a nice get for the Marlies.

 

[leafsfan2point0]

Engvall and Dermott for Bennett +retention to make it work?

 

[zeke]

Bennett is bad.

 

[trellaine201]

Is he considered a BUST? Or just a disappointing top 5 pick.

 

[Griffin76]

Remember when people wanted us to trade up to get one of the Sams to be our franchise #1C that year?

 

[Dragao6]

of course he's available. he's a bad player who makes too much money

But his contract ends this year
Could extend at less?
I’m curious about this player, had potential

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

yes

but we don't give up Kerfoot for him

I like Kertfoot but yes we do, if for no other reason than to clear cap space

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Remember when people wanted us to trade up to get one of the Sams to be our franchise #1C that year?

Calgary kind of f***ed his development up

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Bennett is bad.

No he's not, not if you have actually watched him, and no that doesn't just mean the 2 games VS Calgary this year

 

[BertCorbeau]

Is he considered a BUST? Or just a disappointing top 5 pick.

I'd say bust .. getting a 4th liner winger from a #4 OA draft pick who was a centre is beyond disappointing.

Given the Leafs limited cap space, I don't see it anything making sense. Would rather save that cap space for a more impactful top 9 winger.