The highest the Calgary Flames have ever picked in the NHL Draft was fourth overall back in 2014. The team took centerman Sam Bennett at that position and many assumed the team had found its next franchise player.
Safe to say things didn’t work out that way.
Bennett’s career transformation
Despite bursting onto the scene with the team, Bennett could never find his footing with the Flames. He never scored more than 20 goals, never posted over 40 points, and never was really given a top-line opportunity with the team’s stars at the time.
That all changed in his career when he was traded to the Florida Panthers. He finally became that player many expected him to be, while also establishing himself as a playoff performer that many would dream over.
With Bennett’s championship game performance in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team Canada, the Calgary Flames need to do whatever they can to bring Bennett back in the summer.
Bring Bennett “Home”
There is of course a large “if” here when it comes to Bennett and that is whether or not he makes it to free agency this summer. The Panthers are defending Stanley Cup champions and would of course want to bring him back, but they are going to run into cap issues despite the increase coming this summer.
Next season, the Panthers have Carter Verhaeghe’s extension kicking him that will pay him $7M a season, up from his $4.17M this season. They also have pending UFA and 2014 first-overall pick Aaron Ekblad to re-sign as well. Add in RFA Mackie Samoskevich, the Panthers are going to run out of space quickly.
Enter the Calgary Flames.
The Flames have so much money to spend they don’t even know what to do with it. Bennett’s performance in last year’s Stanley Cup run as well as the 4 Nations Face-Off is only going to increase his value on the open market.
A Calgary Flames and Sam Bennett reunion
The 28-year-old centerman is going to be highly coveted by several teams, including the Flames who simply have one of the worst centremen charts in the entire league. Bennett could be given a boatload of cash and the opportunity to be the team’s number one centerman. Add in the fact he could be reunited with Jonathan Huberdeau as his linemate and the situation just seems perfect.
Now would Bennett want to move back to Calgary after his first tenure with the team? Would he take less money to stay with the Panthers and extend their Cup window? Bennett would likely opt for the latter, but crazier things have happened.
Regardless, the Flames need to be all over this one and a more veteran Sam Bennett could be just what everyone in Calgary is looking for.
