NHL Trade Rumors: Top 5 offer sheet candidates this offseason
4. Sam Bennett
On paper, the Calgary Flames have cap space. They’re $14 million under, according to CapFriendly. Surely the Flames will be able to afford restricted free agent Sam Bennett, right? Not so fast, cowboy.
Calgary also has to sign fellow RFAs Matthew Tkachuk and David Rittich. The former is likely getting a long-term deal and the latter’s likely getting a bridge deal. Conservatively, they should get about $10 to $11 million combined.
Also, the Flames would probably like to add a goaltender since Mike Smith is likely leaving in free agency. That leaves very little money for Bennett and the other RFAs, Alan Quine and Andrew Mangiapane.
A Travis Hamonic or T.J. Brodie trade would likely free up enough cap space for the Flames to be able to afford everyone. But it’s not hard to see how a team could target Bennett with an offer sheet on July 1.
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If nothing else, force the Flames to choose – either trade a quality defenseman and get back pennies on the dollar or lose Bennett, who has at least 25 points in each of his last three seasons. Calgary’s lacking in terms of internal replacements for him too. And it might feel like he’s been around forever, but Bennett’s about to turn 23 years old.
It wouldn’t even take a significant offer sheet to make the Flames sweat. Something around $3 to $4 million a year would likely do it. That would fall under the second-round pick tier.
Would you trade a second-round pick to get Bennett on a two-year or three-year deal? Some team might be willing to take that chance. Case in point – the Flyers just traded a second-round pick (and a third rounder) for Justin Braun!
Chances of an offer sheet: I could see a team loaded with cap space, such as the New Jersey Devils or Carolina Hurricanes, doing it. But you can probably find a player who can give you more value. That said, Bennett’s still young enough to be an interesting candidate.