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Sam Bennett Available

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I like playoff Bennett, he’s Kadri level intense (hopefully without the suspensions)

Having said that, we have Jumbo and Robertson coming back eventually, will there be room? Maybe 4th line left winger. I think it would be a mistake getting rid of Kerfoot for him.

Jumbo Matthews. Marner
Hyman. Tavares. Nylander
Robertson kerfoot. Mikheyev
Bennett Spezza. Simmonds
 
Quick Shifts: Could a Maple Leafs trade for Sam Bennett make sense? - Sportsnet.ca

1. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the trade market for a forward.

The Calgary Flames have a forward who wants a change of scenery.

So, fans are wondering, is there a match? Is there a path to lure GTA native Sam Bennett back to his home province?

Well, it’s complicated.

From the point of view of Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, who has reportedly expressed some level of interest, Bennett fits the profile of an attractive target: Local guy. Top-five pick with something to prove. Significantly elevates performance in the post-season (from 0.35 to 0.63 points per game). Hard to play against. No cross-border quarantine. Not a pure rental (Bennett will turn RFA in the off-season). Versatile enough to be tried at left wing alongside John Tavares and William Nylander or centre a checking third line.

Despite Bennett’s sluggish start — one assist, minus-5 rating, healthy scratch — there’s intriguing upside here.

There is more than one hurdle to overcome, however.

Toronto is tight to the cap, and Bennett carries a $2.55-million hit. That’s significant when you consider all the bargain depth Leafs — Travis Boyd, Wayne Simmonds, Jimmy Vesey, Nic Petan, Adam Brooks, Jason Spezza — already outproducing Bennett.

While Dubas has shown a willingness to trade the future (i.e., first-round picks) to help the present, Calgary GM Brad Treliving must also win now.

Treliving would prefer a roster player in return, which explains Larry Brooks’ report that he’s doing some due diligence on the Rangers’ Tony DeAngelo. And we’d have to assume Treliving will be wary of dealing Bennett within the division, lest he come back to bite the Flames (see: Tyler Toffoli versus Vancouver).

Travis Dermott’s name has been thrown out there, but I don’t like that move from Toronto’s perspective. The Leafs still aren’t comfortable with Mikko Lehtonen in the six spot. And with blue line injuries inevitable, there is no need to subtract from what appears to be the deepest Leafs defence corps in years.

(Stray thought: Would Treliving take a chance on Pierre Engvall?)

Bottom line: If Treliving keeps his asking price for Bennett high, Dubas might be better off accruing cap space and waiting to spend a draft pick or prospect in the rental market, which won’t heat up until late March.
 
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Fonzieleaf said:
If they want him gone that badly, then they know damn well they will have to retain. I like his sandpaper and motor.
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We’ll see if they scratch him tonight in a battle Alberta game. If he’s out thats it for him there likely I’m guessing to. There was a article suggesting that anyways
 
Fogelhund said:
From a defensive perspective, the Hanifin/Tanev pairing, is one of the best in the league so far in this young season. Hanifin in a little younger, and has four years (including this) left on a reasonable $4.95 mil contract. This is probably the rationale behind such a move being suggested.

I haven't watched enough of Calgary's games, to really pay attention, and see if Hanifin has greatly improved, or known defensive expert Tanev is the one doing the great job here.
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I wouldn't bet against this being a big factor. Quinn Hughes is in shambles without Tanev to cover his ass, as several of us predicted would be the case.
 
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zeke said:
Yep they've had a nice start stats wise against secondary qoc, while their top pair has struggled against the top matchups.

Doesn't mean he doesn't still stink tho.
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Trashing every top 10 draft pick the Leafs didn't end up with during the Nylander, Marner and Matthews drafts isn't necessary.
 
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4thline said:
I wouldn't bet against this being a big factor. Quinn Hughes is in shambles without Tanev to cover his ass, as several of us predicted would be the case.
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Quinn Hughes is a bit like a Marner on defense. Even when his defensive game goes to pieces or he's struggling shift to shift, he still puts up some monster assist totals.
 
Stephen said:
Trashing every top 10 draft pick the Leafs didn't end up with during the Nylander, Marner and Matthews drafts isn't necessary.
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Hanifin has been legit garbage for his career so far.

If he turns it around this year finally then I will give him credit.

In general, noticing when 24yr old top 5 picks are mediocre depth players at best isn't trashing them.
 
The more I think of it the more I want Bennett. I'd like to go into the playoffs with a new LWer with PK ability to replace Vesey higher in the lineup. Wouldn't mind someone with C versatility either so we could shift Kerfoot to LW when needed.
 
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Pierre Engvall+4th for Bennett @ 50% would probs be the best leafs could do. I’m sure someone could beat that offer
 
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jaric1862 said:
Pierre Engvall+3rd/4th for Bennett @ 50% would probs be the best leafs could do. I’m sure someone could beat that offer
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In hindsight, I think a Sam Bennett retained for Andreas Johnsson would have been a fair deal. If the plan there was to downgrade from Johnsson to save on cap space and to eventually manufacture a useful bottom six player, Bennett is better than Anderson and even if he's a little more expensive, I could see him filling a role better than Jimmy Vesey has. Don't really want to give up multiple assets for Bennett like player plus pick.
 
zeke said:
I don't know how to say this nicely but Bennett stinks and if it wasn't for his draft position he'd be out of the league by now.

He is bad at hockey.
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Honestly man, I think you have just dug your heels in on this for some reason.
I’m willing to bet you haven’t even watched him play much with the 10:00pm starts.
 
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cesareborgia said:
Can someone explain to me why we care that he's available? Doesn't he suck? And isn't he the guy that couldn't do a single pull up?
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Mcdavid couldn’t do a pull-up either. People need to relax.

Edit: I see now that he was able to do a few...... but tons of top prospects have not been able to. Lots of these guys come in with loads of lower body strength and little upper body strength at age 18
 
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Overpaid, is a glorified 4th liner. Didn't live up to the hype of his draft position. Next.
 
zeke said:
Hanifin has been legit garbage for his career so far.

If he turns it around this year finally then I will give him credit.

In general, noticing when 24yr old top 5 picks are mediocre depth players at best isn't trashing them.
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Reports out of Calgary have been very positive this year. Maybe he turns out to be a TJ Brodie level defenseman for many years on the left side. A guy like Tanev certainly has a way of elevating young defensemen. Is he going to be a franchise defenseman? No. Did Toronto make the right call picking Marner over him? Yes. No need to continue to dunk on the guy. What’s next, Dylan Strome stinks too?
 
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DaWatcher said:
Overpaid, is a glorified 4th liner. Didn't live up to the hype of his draft position. Next.
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If it doesn't cost much he's worth a gamble, maybe change of scenery, maybe maturity, maybe late bloomer. Look at puljajarvi, he was bad for awhile, its early but looking better now.
 
axlrose87 said:
Honestly man, I think you have just dug your heels in on this for some reason.
I’m willing to bet you haven’t even watched him play much with the 10:00pm starts.
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Hey don't take it from me, take it from the Flames who have given him every chance to become a good forward but are always forced to drop him down to the 3rd and 4th lines because he's so bad.

People understand that the Flames play Leivo and Simon and Dube on their top lines over Bennett, right?
 
Stephen said:
Reports out of Calgary have been very positive this year. Maybe he turns out to be a TJ Brodie level defenseman for many years on the left side. A guy like Tanev certainly has a way of elevating young defensemen. Is he going to be a franchise defenseman? No. Did Toronto make the right call picking Marner over him? Yes. No need to continue to dunk on the guy. What’s next, Dylan Strome stinks too?
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I like Strome. He's legit good, even with a very bad team situation.

Until this year, though, Hanifin has been a highly overrated sheltered borderline top 4 dman.

And I take "reports out of my calgary" with plenty of salt. Their reports claimed that Hamonic was a good dman.
 
zeke said:
Hey don't take it from me, take it from the Flames who have given him every chance to become a good forward but are always forced to drop him down to the 3rd and 4th lines because he's so bad.

People understand that the Flames play Leivo and Simon and Dube on their top lines over Bennett, right?
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Hyman was playing on our third line until Thornton got hurt. After his best season.
I don’t think you are looking at the team as whole. Just trying to justify your arguments after you dig your heels in.
 
axlrose87 said:
Hyman was playing on our third line until Thornton got hurt. After his best season.
I don’t think you are looking at the team as whole. Just trying to justify your arguments after you dig your heels in.
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Hyman has been a fixture on top scoring lines from day one, and has made it impossible for coaches to drop him down the lineup. Keefe dropped him to the 3rd line this year for the first time to try and HELP the 3rd line.

Bennett is the exact opposite - a top prospect who has been handed opportunity after opportunity and always ended up on the 3rd and 4th lines due to ineffectiveness. They don't play him on the 3rd line to boost that line - heck, he's on the 4th line half the time.

The Flames badly need help on their top 2 lines - but they would rather give Leivo and Simon those opportunities rather than Bennett.
 
zeke said:
Hyman has been a fixture on top scoring lines from day one, and has made it impossible for coaches to drop him down the lineup. Keefe dropped him to the 3rd line this year for the first time to try and HELP the 3rd line.

Bennett is the exact opposite - a top prospect who has been handed opportunity after opportunity and always ended up on the 3rd and 4th lines due to ineffectiveness. They don't play him on the 3rd line to boost that line - heck, he's on the 4th line half the time.

The Flames badly need help on their top 2 lines - but they would rather give Leivo and Simon those opportunities rather than Bennett.
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How do you know that was the reason Hyman was there?
Let me guess, they moved him back cause Thornton stinks.
 
axlrose87 said:
How do you know that was the reason Hyman was there?
Let me guess, they moved him back cause Thornton stinks.
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They moved him back because Thornton and Robertson were injured and vesey was flopping.

But even in the early games where he was officially on the 3rd line, he took many of the top line defensive zone starts instead of Thornton, and was getting more ice time than Thornton.
 
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