Sam Bennett Available

[LeafsGuy16]

The only thing Bennett's got going for him is a draft pedigree and some playoff success. For some, that's worth a shot. For others, they see a bust who can't do enough consistently to get a permanent fixture in the top 6. Either way, I think everyone would agree, for the right price, we have nothing to lose. He's not worth overpaying for though.

As a side note, I'd be more interested in targeting Tyler Motte. I don't know how the Nucks value him, but I can't imagine it'd be too high. I think he would be a great playoff add.

 

[Menzinger]

Folks need to let go of the "potential" element -the guy is what he is. Draft pedigree is meaningless when you're in your D+6. Quite frankly draft pedigree becomes near meaningless thr second their name is called by their team on draft day.

The question should be - can the team make use of the player he is TODAY and is it worth the cost to get him.

 

[jaric1862]

For people wondering why the leafs would be interested in him. He hits, he fights, he can play up and down the lineup and he’s good in the playoffs. Of course only interested at the right price.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Folks need to let go of the "potential" element -the guy is what he is. Draft pedigree is meaningless when you're in your D+6. Quite frankly draft pedigree becomes near meaningless thr second their name is called by their team on draft day.

The question should be - can the always make use of the player he is TODAY and is it worth the cost to get him.

Draft pedigree is important to some extent, some guys never get over the idea that they're destined to become great when they're picked top-5. That's where the issue is on Bennett for me, in his head he's the 2nd coming of Gilmour and wants the minutes and linemates to prove it. If you trade for him, how confident are you that you can convince him to idolize Hyman instead and accept that he's a middle-6 winger at best?

 

[Stephen]

Draft pedigree is important to some extent, some guys never get over the idea that they're destined to become great when they're picked top-5. That's where the issue is on Bennett for me, in his head he's the 2nd coming of Gilmour and wants the minutes and linemates to prove it. If you trade for him, how confident are you that you can convince him to idolize Hyman instead and accept that he's a middle-6 winger at best?

If you watch his 2019-20 playoff bubble highlight reels he kind of does a lot of those Hyman type things anyway, which is why I made the comparison.

-Hound on the puck along the boards.
-Aggressively forechecks, putting the body on the retreating defenseman.
-Goes to the net and engages the defenseman in physical contest to set up screens.
-Puts the puck on net and tracks for rebounds.
-Has a bit of an agitator/competitor streak, which is something Toronto has tried to add.

In terms of being a crappy player, there's nothing in his skillset that looks particularly deficient. Yes, he's not a top five pick worthy player but that wouldn't be our investment in this player and we aren't looking for him to slot on a top six role. Maybe he's getting a lot more attention than he would if he wasn't a high pick, but if he came from nowhere like an Andrew Mangiapane in the 6th round, the flip side is you'd think he was an interesting bottom six grinder with untapped offense.

 

[axlrose87]

Folks need to let go of the "potential" element -the guy is what he is. Draft pedigree is meaningless when you're in your D+6. Quite frankly draft pedigree becomes near meaningless thr second their name is called by their team on draft day.

The question should be - can the team make use of the player he is TODAY and is it worth the cost to get him.

Agreed. And I believe the answer to that questions is a definite yes!!
The leafs need more guys who elevate their game when the going gets tough.
Adding Simmonds and Bogosian was a good start. They still need more.

 

[Jmo89]

Agreed. And I believe the answer to that questions is a definite yes!!
The leafs need more guys who elevate their game when the going gets tough.
Adding Simmonds and Bogosian was a good start. They still need more.

Having another guy in the bottom six who can score a few goals come playoffs would be a big help. We've all been frustrated watching those games where the top 6 is shut down and the bottom 6 is next to useless.

It would obviously depend on cost and retention.

 

[Martin Skoula]

If you watch his 2019-20 playoff bubble highlight reels he kind of does a lot of those Hyman type things anyway, which is why I made the comparison.

-Hound on the puck along the boards.
-Aggressively forechecks, putting the body on the retreating defenseman.
-Goes to the net and engages the defenseman in physical contest to set up screens.
-Puts the puck on net and tracks for rebounds.
-Has a bit of an agitator/competitor streak, which is something Toronto has tried to add.

In terms of being a crappy player, there's nothing in his skillset that looks particularly deficient. Yes, he's not a top five pick worthy player but that wouldn't be our investment in this player and we aren't looking for him to slot on a top six role. Maybe he's getting a lot more attention than he would if he wasn't a high pick, but if he came from nowhere like an Andrew Mangiapane in the 6th round, the flip side is you'd think he was an interesting bottom six grinder with untapped offense.

Isn't he asking for a trade because he's not getting minutes at C or in the top-6? He's visibly disinterested so far this season. Odds are he has the same problems here and doesn't get much PP time, what's stopping him from moping again?

If he was a 6th round pick he'd feel lucky to be in the league and not demand a trade over not getting offensive minutes with stars. The skillset doesn't bother me as long as he's ok working on being a good third liner and we don't have another Ferris controversy in the summer.

 

[Cor]

Folks need to let go of the "potential" element -the guy is what he is. Draft pedigree is meaningless when you're in your D+6. Quite frankly draft pedigree becomes near meaningless thr second their name is called by their team on draft day.

The question should be - can the team make use of the player he is TODAY and is it worth the cost to get him.

Thank you. If Calgary wants to swap Engvall and Bennett and will retain to make the cap work, sure.

We shouldn’t be moving top 90 picks, Dermott or Kerfoot for Sam Bennett.

 

[ottomaddox]

Where there's smoke there's fire...

 

[Nylander88]

Our third line has been so hard to watch. I'm okay making a move for Bennett. Mikheyev I don't think will ever be a scorer in this league, but he hasn't scored since his freak injury. Looked good in the Leafs mini camp before facing Columbus but came out with nothing in the 5 game series. Now we're 12 games in and still nothing. Kerfoot hasn't been for us what he was in Colorado (points wise), and Vesey has been very average since entering the league with all the college hype around him. I think Thornton back helps that line, as he always seems to get his points. But Kerfoot is also a pass first guy, so Kerfoot and Thornton doesn't make a ton of sense together. If we can somehow get them to take a deal around Bennett for Kerfoot, I'd be all for it. Might mean an overpay by us like throwing in Dermott for them taking on more salary in the deal, but we have a logjam at defence and an expansion draft coming.
To Toronto: Bennett & a 3rd
To Calgary: Kerfoot & Dermott

We need some more zip on that third line, and it gets us out from under the Kerfoot deal which we all know will happen eventually as it did with Kappy and Johnsson. May not be Bennett, but we need a shot in the arm on that 3rd line imo

 

[sxvnert]

Would acquire him for Dermott (+ prospect if necessary). Perfect replacement should Hyman demand too high a price/term on his next contract.

Hyman Matthews Marner
Bennett Tavares Nylander
Robertson Spezza Simmonds
Mikheyev Thornton Boyd
Vesey/Kerfoot

Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Holl
Lehtonen Bogosian

 

[Nylander88]

Would acquire him for Dermott (+ prospect if necessary). Perfect replacement should Hyman demand too high a price/term on his next contract.

Hyman Matthews Marner
Bennett Tavares Nylander
Robertson Spezza Simmonds
Mikheyev Thornton Boyd
Vesey/Kerfoot

Need to be a different deal than that to make the cap work out. And Kerfoot and his 3.5mil per aren't about to be on the taxi squad lol I agree Dermott should almost be enough to get it done asset wise, but we'd need to add a contract and possibly have them retain a bit of Bennett's salary

 

[ToneDog]

To Toronto: Bennett@50%+2nd, Virtanen@50%+3rd
To Calgary: Kerfoot+Engvall/Anderson/Vesey
To Vancouver Dermott

 

[hockeynorth]

I want Bennett. Play him with JT and he goes around .5 points per game, and will play a Simmonds role.

Bennett @ 50% retained for Engvall + Rasanen + 4th so they get some potential out of it

 

[TMLAM34]

Kerfoot + Engvall or Anderson for Bennett? Common guys, I think Bennett would be a great pickup and even more now with the Simmonds injury but that’s just a terrible move.

Kerfoot for Bennett at 50% retention. Or Engvall and a pick for Bennett at 50% retention.

Trading Kerfoot though also opens up more cap space for a possible trade deadline move that’ll help put us over the top ideally. Not to mention Thornton will be returning from injury soon and can play the 3C position along with Engvall rotating in and out whenever needed.

 

[LeafChief]

To Toronto: Bennett@50%+2nd, Virtanen@50%+3rd
To Calgary: Kerfoot+Engvall/Anderson/Vesey
To Vancouver Dermott

I very much want Bennett. He would be very similar to Hyman here.

 

[ToneDog]

If you watch his 2019-20 playoff bubble highlight reels he kind of does a lot of those Hyman type things anyway, which is why I made the comparison.

-Hound on the puck along the boards.
-Aggressively forechecks, putting the body on the retreating defenseman.
-Goes to the net and engages the defenseman in physical contest to set up screens.
-Puts the puck on net and tracks for rebounds.
-Has a bit of an agitator/competitor streak, which is something Toronto has tried to add.

In terms of being a crappy player, there's nothing in his skillset that looks particularly deficient. Yes, he's not a top five pick worthy player but that wouldn't be our investment in this player and we aren't looking for him to slot on a top six role. Maybe he's getting a lot more attention than he would if he wasn't a high pick, but if he came from nowhere like an Andrew Mangiapane in the 6th round, the flip side is you'd think he was an interesting bottom six grinder with untapped offense.

Kid looks like exactly what we need. Has somebody forwarded to @zeke and Dubas ?

 

[ULF_55]

Any trade has to take cap into consideration, and the Flames aren't adding 2 million to their cap in a transaction.

 

[Stephen]

Kid looks like exactly what we need. Has somebody forwarded to @zeke and Dubas ?

Also scored a crash the net style goal on a bang bang play vs the Oilers last night. On the top line.

 

[ToneDog]

Also scored a crash the net style goal on a bang bang play vs the Oilers last night. On the top line.

Makes me think you are not getting him for a spare part like Barabanov, Engvall, Anderson and at 50% retained as some posters like to think.

 

[WatchOut]

Would be cool to get sam bennett, he is the type of player the leafs would benefit from adding. The only concern I have is he a rental for the year, maybe then i would stay away. I guess it all depends on his next contract demands. Hope we can find a way to keep kerfoot as well, him soup and bennett would make a great third line imo.

 

[Stephen]

Makes me think you are not getting him for a spare part like Barabanov, Engvall, Anderson and at 50% retained as some posters like to think.

If we don't get him for a cheap price, we don't touch it. I think with the continued cap crunch in the offseason you could expect Bennett to not get qualified, and we scoop in and give him the Vesey contract and a chance to be a Maple Leaf. Something like that.

 

[ToneDog]

If we don't get him for a cheap price, we don't touch it. I think with the continued cap crunch in the offseason you could expect Bennett to not get qualified, and we scoop in and give him the Vesey contract and a chance to be a Maple Leaf. Something like that.

He is going to be motivated to earn that next contract which is why I want him for this playoff run. I can't see being able to sign him for Vesey money if he plays well and there are interested teams.

 

[zeke]

Kid looks like exactly what we need. Has somebody forwarded to @zeke and Dubas ?

I'm only thinking of you guys.

I am trying my best to save you from the crushing disappointment of realizing that bennet is not tough, not big, not productive, and his low IQ aggressiveness backfires as or more often than it helps.