The Flames may pursue Sam Bennett in free agency

This offseason will be pivotal for the Calgary Flames as they look to navigate this retool. While it makes sense for the team to sell off more players, would they also be in the market for big-name free agents this summer?

It’s been a hot topic of conversation within the market about whether the team would be open to adding. With an abundance of cap space and trade assets, the Flames can be aggressive if they choose to. However, just because an option is appealing doesn’t mean it’s the smartest one.

As for Calgary, they’ve been in the rumour mill being connected to many players who are set to become UFAs this summer. Among those names is Sam Bennett, a former Flame and the highest draft pick in franchise history. With the Flames’ centre woes and flexibility in cap space, could we see a reunion with Bennett?

The Flames will be monitoring Bennett’s contract situation

It’s been well known for a while that the Flames are continuing to look to improve down the middle. While they did address that by bringing in Morgan Frost, another centre is still on the Flames’ wish list.

Regarding Bennett, the Flames are reportedly interested in a potential reunion with the 29-year-old. If he decides to test free agency, expect the Flames to make a run at him, according to Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg. This point is addressed by Steinberg in the Flames Talk podcast.

I do think if Sam Bennett becomes available in unrestricted free agency, I do think that the Flames will go hard after him. They will put one of the better offers on the table to Bennett in free agency, and I think they (Flames) will try to see if they can convince him to come back to Calgary.

Bennett is expected to get a raise this summer, and while the Florida Panthers have cap space to work with, will it be enough to bring back the same team? Bennett is bound to get more than $7M on the open market, and if there’s one thing the Flames can leverage, it’s money.

Reasoning behind a Bennett reunion with the Flames

Now let’s be completely honest here: the idea of the Flames bringing back Bennett is a very tough sell. Sure, he’ll provide an upgrade at the centre position, but there’s the obvious outlier being his age.

With Bennett being 29, he doesn’t exactly fit into the long-term plans Craig Conroy has talked about. If the Flames were competitive, the addition would make sense, but the team is nowhere near that contender status.

Would it be smart for the Flames to add another veteran to a big contract? No, it wouldn’t be. If the Flames are looking for another centre, they’re way better off acquiring someone younger through trade or even an offer sheet.

Bringing in Bennett would be rushing the process

The idea of signing Bennett is, therefore, ludicrous. Bringing in a free agent like him would signal to Flames fans that the team is looking to rush the process. Bennett doesn’t fit the timeline, and it makes no sense for this team to bring in another veteran on a big contract for the sake of competitiveness.

There’s also the elephant in the room: would Bennett even entertain a return to Calgary? I guess that he wouldn’t. He didn’t exactly have the best start to his career with the Flames, as he truly established himself when he was traded to the Panthers. If he were to come to Calgary, what would guarantee that he flourishes within Ryan Huska’s system? The Panthers play a much different style than the Flames, one that’s more offensively minded.

As mentioned, bringing in Bennett would go against everything Flames management has shared about their plans. Finding a younger centre that fits in long-term is the obvious move here. The only things the Flames can offer to Bennett are money and an increased role. Even then, the Flames are nowhere near their competitive window yet, and lack the elite talent to persuade players to sign.

Rushing this current phase the Flames are in would be a huge mistake. The only justification to sign Bennett would be if the team traded away one of their other centres like Nazem Kadri or Mikael Backlund, which likely isn’t happening.