Yes, I can already see the comments and people telling me that I am crazy for this one. But, at the very least, hear me out on why this could make some sense.
This season for the Calgary Flames has been a productive one. When it comes to the team’s future and the organization finally picking a lane in which they want to go (the rebuild, finally). The future hasn’t looked much better in a while. A ton of draft picks at the team’s disposal, a prospect cupboard that has both quantity and some quality, and a General Manager that everyone believes in. There will be some tough years ahead. But things for the Flames look as good as they have been in a long time.
There is just one thing missing right now for the Flames: a franchise-altering player that has superstar potential. The Flames have lots of quality prospects that look to be productive NHLers in the future. Guys like Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter, to name a few. However, outside of Parekh, I don’t think any of these guys have superstar potential attached to them. They don’t have any forwards who look to be game breakers, and none at centre.
It is hard to find that player. If you get that player, it has to be through the draft. With some luck this year, the Flames may finally get that franchise-altering forward they have been searching for. However, even with some luck in the lottery, there is no guarantee that the player they draft will pan out. Insert Connor Bedard and a potential offer sheet.
Why Bedard is worth offer sheeting
This answer is pretty simple: Bedard is without a contract for next year as of right now. He is sure to get a major pay raise after the year he has had in Chicago. He is having by far and away his best season to date, and he is really living up to the billing that he got before he was drafted. It’s not a surprise that he is performing this well, but it is really fun to watch.
From the point of view of the Flames, yes, it would take not only a huge amount of money to offer sheet Bedard. It would also require a ton of assets to go along with it. I am not sure what type of deal Bedard will be looking at this summer, but my estimate is an AAV of at least $12M. Seems big, but you have to remember that he is playing at a 98 point pace this season. And if it wasn’t due to the injury he sustained, he probably would have cracked 100 this year. He probably would have been on the Olympic team. This is a very special player with a very unique skill set; his shot alone is worth the price of admission. That is the type of player the Flames need.
He is going to be among the elite of the elite, and it could be as early as next season. You look at the lineup that surrounded him in Chicago since he arrived in the NHL, and it has been less than stellar. They have tried to surround him with some talent, but it always seems to backfire. Yet, he is still putting up elite numbers. Bedard is going to be that game-changer that every team dreams of having. At just 20 years old, he has plenty of time ahead of him to be one of the best in the league.
Why should the Flames consider this
As I mentioned above, the price tag would be high to get a Bedard offer sheet figured out. The chances are that no matter what the Flames threw in front of Bedard, the likelihood is that the Blackhawks would match it. However, let’s live in a fantasy world for a few moments.
Bedard would be the top-line, game-breaking centre that the Flames have needed for a very long time. He would instantly become the team’s best player. And he would continue to be the best player on the roster for a very long time. Bedard has everything the Flames need: an elite skillset and someone you could build a team around. He wouldn’t make the Flames a contender overnight, but it would certainly move this rebuild along much faster.
Yes, the price tag in both cap space and assets would be a lot. However, I believe it would be entirely worth it. Now, you might be thinking that four first-round picks for a rebuilding team would be awful to give up, but I think it wouldn’t be so bad. Sure, the Flames wouldn’t be a contender right away. And there is a chance that one of those picks could be a lottery pick.
However, what are the odds that one of those picks turns into a player better than Bedard? I would think the chances are slim. The Flames already have a ton of prospects that project as NHL-quality players; they also have two additional first-round picks beyond this year’s draft, courtesy of the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche, so they wouldn’t be lacking in that department. As I mentioned, they are missing that true franchise player; giving up those picks would be entirely worth it if you landed Bedard.
Again, let’s live in a fantasy world for a minute, imagine the Flames land the top pick in this year’s draft and get Gavin McKenna, then successfully offer sheet Bedard, that is your elite combo for hopefully the next decade plus. Not to mention the two are cousins. Taking that duo into the new arena in just over a year would be massive. It’s a long shot, but just imagine it.
Step outside the box to get things done
I know that this will never happen, mainly because I don’t imagine the Flames would have the appetite to give up that many picks and cap space. I also think the Blackhawks would match any offer if Bedard were to sign an offer sheet in the first place.
Thinking about it, it would be fun if they did. First-line centres don’t grow on trees, and the opportunity to offer sheet a player of Bedard’s calibre doesn’t come around every day either. Quite frankly, I’m shocked that the Blackhawks haven’t extended him yet. If the Flames had the go-ahead to do something like this, however, I would be all for it. I think it would make the franchise so much better in the long run.
