Todd Cordell: Ranking Calgary Flames contracts: Part 1

Go Flames!

Thanks Todd!!!

At 4.85 mil for 4 more years, Lindholm should be #1 on this list. JH is the better talent, no doubt, but value wise, Lindy is on one of the best contracts in the entire league.

At 4.85 mil for 4 more years, Lindholm should be #1 on this list. JH is the better talent, no doubt, but value wise, Lindy is on one of the best contracts in the entire league.
- redseerpf

Yup the guy is a complete player!

- I find that the JH trade speculation is that of armchair gm’s. I get that he’s a one-dimensional player but at the contract he’s on I don’t think it really matters.

- lindholm was mediocre during his time with the canes but since coming here has really taken off. I wanted Calgary to draft him over monahan in 2013 and I’m glad to say he’s become one of my favourite players here. As well I think he has more room to get even better, ideally I would like to see us pick up another top six winger and run him-monahan-backlund down the middle.

- DO NOT TRADE MONAHAN! I get we probably need a shake up but at this point his trade value is at an all time low. Look to Edmonton to find out what trading players like hall, Eberle, Schultz, and petry while their values were their lowest will do to a team.

- Ryan I really like as a bottom six player, although I fear he will be a cap casualty.

- playoff Bennett is a beast and a fan favourite. It would would be tough to lose a player like that but he excelled when we put him at Center for a few games this year and I think it would be best for his career to move on to somewhere that can give him a better opportunity.

At 4.85 mil for 4 more years, Lindholm should be #1 on this list. JH is the better talent, no doubt, but value wise, Lindy is on one of the best contracts in the entire league.
- redseerpf

no problem with that!

- I find that the JH trade speculation is that of armchair gm’s. I get that he’s a one-dimensional player but at the contract he’s on I don’t think it really matters.

- lindholm was mediocre during his time with the canes but since coming here has really taken off. I wanted Calgary to draft him over monahan in 2013 and I’m glad to say he’s become one of my favourite players here. As well I think he has more room to get even better, ideally I would like to see us pick up another top six winger and run him-monahan-backlund down the middle.

- DO NOT TRADE MONAHAN! I get we probably need a shake up but at this point his trade value is at an all time low. Look to Edmonton to find out what trading players like hall, Eberle, Schultz, and petry while their values were their lowest will do to a team.

- Ryan I really like as a bottom six player, although I fear he will be a cap casualty.

- playoff Bennett is a beast and a fan favourite. It would would be tough to lose a player like that but he excelled when we put him at Center for a few games this year and I think it would be best for his career to move on to somewhere that can give him a better opportunity.
- RedC21

Bennett notoriously fares well in short bursts, he also earned his shift back to the wing and down the lineup because he can't play like that for 82 games. Physically, he can't. $2.5M is borderline overpaying for a guy like Benny IMO. Don't think he finds 1C or 2C role in his future, I think he is what he is. A decent 3rd/4th liner.

Bennett notoriously fares well in short bursts, he also earned his shift back to the wing and down the lineup because he can't play like that for 82 games. Physically, he can't. $2.5M is borderline overpaying for a guy like Benny IMO. Don't think he finds 1C or 2C role in his future, I think he is what he is. A decent 3rd/4th liner.
- rmull905

I agree with you on what Bennett is, and that if he wasn’t a 4th overall pick he would probably have a .5-.75 smaller cap hit.

I think there could be a few teams empty down the middle/rebuilding willing to try a chance on him as a 2/3 tandem C. Similar to the reclamation project Ottawa did on duclair this year. He is only 23 years old, only a year younger than mangiapane who we view as a guy with a lot of room to grow.

I agree with you on what Bennett is, and that if he wasn’t a 4th overall pick he would probably have a .5-.75 smaller cap hit.

I think there could be a few teams empty down the middle/rebuilding willing to try a chance on him as a 2/3 tandem C. Similar to the reclamation project Ottawa did on duclair this year. He is only 23 years old, only a year younger than mangiapane who we view as a guy with a lot of room to grow.
- RedC21

Seattle

I agree with you on what Bennett is, and that if he wasn’t a 4th overall pick he would probably have a .5-.75 smaller cap hit.

I think there could be a few teams empty down the middle/rebuilding willing to try a chance on him as a 2/3 tandem C. Similar to the reclamation project Ottawa did on duclair this year. He is only 23 years old, only a year younger than mangiapane who we view as a guy with a lot of room to grow.
- RedC21

I don't know that Duclair ever fit the bill as a reclamation project, his biggest problem has been staying healthy, not that he regressed or slumped in a major way:

2015/16 - 20 goals
2016/17 - 5 goals (sophomore slump + inury?) - on pace for 7
2017/18 - 11 goals - on pace for 16
2018/19 - 19 goals, pace for 21
2019/20 - 23 goals - pace for 29

It's just this was his best year to date. Bennett's never approached the 16-25 goal consistency that he should have by now. Yes, one can argue that it's his place in the lineup, but he's seen spurts with top lines and just hasn't shown that he can keep up.

AM is a different case and has shown the ability to produce regardless of where he is in the lineup. He also went through a more natural development progression, so that might help his stock a bit. More was expected of Benny - don't think that means we should continue to expect more at this point in time...

Seattle
- DEDDIE

They will take Lucic and they will LIKE IT!

More likely, they take a dman off our FA list

I don't know that Duclair ever fit the bill as a reclamation project, his biggest problem has been staying healthy, not that he regressed or slumped in a major way:

2015/16 - 20 goals
2016/17 - 5 goals (sophomore slump + inury?) - on pace for 7
2017/18 - 11 goals - on pace for 16
2018/19 - 19 goals, pace for 21
2019/20 - 23 goals - pace for 29

It's just this was his best year to date. Bennett's never approached the 16-25 goal consistency that he should have by now. Yes, one can argue that it's his place in the lineup, but he's seen spurts with top lines and just hasn't shown that he can keep up.

AM is a different case and has shown the ability to produce regardless of where he is in the lineup. He also went through a more natural development progression, so that might help his stock a bit. More was expected of Benny - don't think that means we should continue to expect more at this point in time...
- rmull905

I agree with your opinion on Bennett, I just wouldn’t be surprised if some gm of a weak team will wanna look like a genius by buying a player low that they think may have untapped potential. A change of scenery has helped develop players with less skill than Bennett

I agree with your opinion on Bennett, I just wouldn’t be surprised if some gm of a weak team will wanna look like a genius by buying a player low that they think may have untapped potential. A change of scenery has helped develop players with less skill than Bennett
- RedC21

I think they hold onto Bennett. Having him on the bottom 6 hurts a lot less than him going somewhere and cracking their top 6.

I think they hold onto Bennett. Having him on the bottom 6 hurts a lot less than him going somewhere and cracking their top 6.
- DuranDuran

I agree (although it would be nicer if it was at a lower cap hit), but I always like what’s best for the player as well. Its not likely he will breakout with us anyway and at this point in his career it’s not like we would be selling low after a rough year or something like that.

I agree (although it would be nicer if it was at a lower cap hit), but I always like what’s best for the player as well. Its not likely he will breakout with us anyway and at this point in his career it’s not like we would be selling low after a rough year or something like that.
- RedC21

Unfortunately, the Flames WILL have to sell low on Bennett if he doesn't rebound next season.

Otherwise, either he'll sign his qualifying offer and bolt as a UFA the year after, or the Flames just won't qualify him because he'll cost too much for his contribution and he'll become a UFA a year before expected.

Either way, Flames are screwed. Better hope he scores 20 in 2020.

The only problem with the Tkachuk contract is it gives him way too much power when it ends. It could easily turn out the same way the Stone situation turned out in Ottawa.

The only problem with the Tkachuk contract is it gives him way too much power when it ends. It could easily turn out the same way the Stone situation turned out in Ottawa.
- Hunkulese

Yep. Him asking for that kind of contract screamed "I'm out of Calgary ASAP"

Unfortunately, the Flames WILL have to sell low on Bennett if he doesn't rebound next season.

Otherwise, either he'll sign his qualifying offer and bolt as a UFA the year after, or the Flames just won't qualify him because he'll cost too much for his contribution and he'll become a UFA a year before expected.

Either way, Flames are screwed. Better hope he scores 20 in 2020.
- redseerpf

Is it really selling low on a player who’s value has never really been above what it is now for the past 2.5-3 seasons. Sure in his rookie/sophomore year we could have gotten more for him due to where he was drafted but it’s not like he’s ever really been a better player than what he is now. He never really progressed nor did he regress he’s just kind of been what he is since he came into the league.

I’ll admit he was on track for a career worst this year but let’s not pretend like the difference in value between a player that put up a 19 point pace vs a 31 point pace over 82 is much different at all. His trade value last off season, this off season and next off season is relatively the same barring an extremely unlikely breakout next year.

I would probably be more disappointed in our 4th overall pick from 6 years ago busting if we were perennial bottom dwellers but as that’s not case I am satisfied with the player Bennett turned out to be.

Either way I really don’t think we’re screwed if we lose him for nothing. Like I said I like him as a player but at the end of the day it’s not like it would be a detrimental loss to our current roster

Is it really selling low on a player who’s value has never really been above what it is now for the past 2.5-3 seasons. Sure in his rookie/sophomore year we could have gotten more for him due to where he was drafted but it’s not like he’s ever really been a better player than what he is now. He never really progressed nor did he regress he’s just kind of been what he is since he came into the league.

I’ll admit he was on track for a career worst this year but let’s not pretend like the difference in value between a player that put up a 19 point pace vs a 31 point pace over 82 is much different at all. His trade value last off season, this off season and next off season is relatively the same barring an extremely unlikely breakout next year.

I would probably be more disappointed in our 4th overall pick from 6 years ago busting if we were perennial bottom dwellers but as that’s not case I am satisfied with the player Bennett turned out to be.

Either way I really don’t think we’re screwed if we lose him for nothing. Like I said I like him as a player but at the end of the day it’s not like it would be a detrimental loss to our current roster
- RedC21

I love Bennett 10 games a year. Wonder what the (frank) he is thinking for 20 games, and am ambivalent about his play for 50. Playoffs are when he shines but we need to make it into the second round to see if he disappears there as well!

Yep. Him asking for that kind of contract screamed "I'm out of Calgary ASAP"
- redseerpf

How so? The signing for 3 years puts him still in RFA status when it's over, meaning he's still Flames property no matter what.

If anything, the 3 year deal favors the Flames when it's over and done with. There will be fewer market comparisons, as only a few guys signed 3 year deals. The cap situation will be in a better spot, as Gio's deal will be over, Luc will have 1 year left, which becomes move-able and Johnny is the only other major deal (right now) that needs to get done that year.

He has power, yes - he has power though because he's our most valuable player right now and deserves to have that power. Treliving, or whoever is the GM at the end of 2022, still has the RFA hammer that they can swing and the ability to deal him if a long term contract can't be sorted out.

I agree with your opinion on Bennett, I just wouldn’t be surprised if some gm of a weak team will wanna look like a genius by buying a player low that they think may have untapped potential. A change of scenery has helped develop players with less skill than Bennett
- RedC21

Yeah, fair - I just haven't seen a lot of skill in his game in the past couple of years.

Might be worth the Flames giving him some looks on the PP in the future to see if there's a Cammallerri type niche for him to elevate his production, but I have my doubts.

IMO, I think his ceiling is 3C/2LW and nothing more.

Every chance I get, I'm gonna reiterate that we should have traded him (or at least tried to) for Hoffman 2 years ago... His absolute ceiling at the time was Hoffman's production, and there were too many signs that he was never going to reach that ceiling then. We could have also flipped Frolik out when his value was higher and the Flames would have a much better/deeper lineup right now. Bygones be bygones... but man, imagine:

Johnny Mony Lindy
Chucky Backs Hoffman

as your top 6, with 2 deadly power play fwd sets.