Quoting: PhatRas
You’re both wrong. He should not get paid 2.5 but he is effective in the post season, there’s no reason to move him for a 5th when he can be selected to Seattle this off season he’s an ideal piece to leave exposed and if the playoffs roll around for the Flames he’s too valuable to move for a 5th.
The idea that he can play 3C is a really really bad one, he is something like 39% on draws and can’t play in the defensive zone to save his life, his effectiveness with Monahan and Gaudreau is well overblown because really he’s getting tap in’s off the rush. Bennett cannot sustain zone time and is where pucks go to die, his defensive play is mediocre at best and it’s scary when he gets d zone starts.
His value is probably a little higher than a 5th at a trade deadline but not in the off season but he’s worth more to the Flames in the playoffs than any deal they’ll get for him, won’t see him move this year.
odds CGY makes the playoffs are almost 0.
Seattle isn't taking him for the same reason CGY isn't going to QO him.
He's not worth the QO, that's all there is too it. Like many RFA this summer, who weren't worth their QO in a flat cap world, he'll turn into a UFA.
At least you realize his play sucks. No one is giving up much of anything for a rental with struggling play. People can complain about it all day, but it is what it is.
He's 2.5+ million that could go somewhere else in FA. In a flat cap world that goes much further.
Given the TDL market will be pretty robust I don't think many teams will be in on him. There will be 10 better forwards on the market come trade deadline and less than 10 teams looking.
Guys like Palmieri and Hall for sure. Sutter, Pearson, Stepan, you might see Getzlaf, , maybe Brassard, maybe Iafallo,, Bonino, Granlund, Haula, Ryan, Cogliano,, Eric Staal,.
Hell that's 14 guys right there, not even touching guys like Virtanen who will probably be available.
So yeah, he's not getting much, and he's not worth CGY keeping as he'll walk and everyone knows it. As signing a contract like his current one is bad news for CGY. They are better off brining in new blood with that money.