Per Andy Strickland - Sam Bennett Blues Target

[callitwhatyouwant]

This is per Strickland

https://x.com/STLBluesChirp/status/1922291146857861582

"Andy Strickland said on his podcast today that Sam Bennett is "on (the Blues) list" and that he won't sign with a Canadian team.
#stlblues"

here's a Toronto rag

https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles ... 0_41907796

Always funny. Toronto thinks every free agent is going there. 101 brought up an interesting scenario. Not necessarily who would you rather have but what type of player. Would you rather have a Tavares for 3-4 years, or a Bennett for 6? Which one actually fits the window correctly.


I don't think the Blues are ready for a Sam Bennett style player. He is going to bring you a lot of heat. You add that player to the team when you think you are Stanley Cup ready. I think the Blues are now playoff ready, but we still need to see consistency from the young guys to prove we enter a window of playoff hockey. I think we proved ourselves vs the Jets, but we still came out on the losing side despite playing better hockey and winning more periods and overall score. What does that tell you? Tells me we aren't ready. If Dallas does what I think they will do, it might be a close game tonight and then they will beat the breaks off that Jets team.

[smilinjoefission]

He will be overpaid, but he does show up in the playoffs

[Pierre McGuire]

Exactly what we need.....be prepared for some much needed cheapshots! I love it!

[skilles]

That seems like a weird logic to me, adding players is how you get to the next level isn't it?


I'd be ok with the idea of signing Bennett and trading Dvorsky in a package for Nemec.

I think when it comes to a guy like Bennett its probably more about whether he wants us than if we want him.

[SRV1990]

Exactly what we need.....be prepared for some much needed cheapshots! I love it!

The thing about "cheapshots" is, if you want to win a Cup, you have to play on the edge. I'm not talking about cross checks to the face, but you have to walk that very thin line and be the hunter and not the hunted. The Blues did it in 2019, Florida did it last year. Hunters win Cups, the hunted do not.

[callitwhatyouwant]

That seems like a weird logic to me, adding players is how you get to the next level isn't it?


I'd be ok with the idea of signing Bennett and trading Dvorsky in a package for Nemec.

You definitely want to add players, but Bennett is a player that is going to get paid in that 6-7.5m range and he instantly paints a target on your teams back. Not that I'm saying it's a bad thing cause he will dish it out. But the rest of your team better be ready to handle it. It's a polarizing style of pickup. Again, I'm not against it, and the Blues can afford that contract because of the Krug money, but would you rather have a skill facilitator like Tavares on that Holloway/Kyrou line, or a Bennett?

[TheJackBurton]

That seems like a weird logic to me, adding players is how you get to the next level isn't it?


I'd be ok with the idea of signing Bennett and trading Dvorsky in a package for Nemec.

I think when it comes to a guy like Bennett its probably more about whether he wants us than if we want him.

Nope, Dvorsky for all intents and purposes needs to be untouchable.

Other youngsters or a package of youngsters I'm good with.

Young, 60-70 point(potential) center ice men you just don't let go.

[DawgDad]

Is there a Florida top-9 center who wouldn't be a good fit on the Blues? How about Neighbours-Lundell-Bolduc?

[Frank Underwood]

Of this year’s free agents, he would have to be our #1 target and it isn’t even close. I know Ekblad fits a need, but he will definitely get overpaid (so will Bennett), and maybe I’m alone in this opinion, but I just don’t really like Ekblad as a player. Big and fairly physical, which is good, but slow and always seems to be dinged up physically. If there is a free agent that won’t age well, I think it’s definitely him.

[skilles]

That seems like a weird logic to me, adding players is how you get to the next level isn't it?


I'd be ok with the idea of signing Bennett and trading Dvorsky in a package for Nemec.

I think when it comes to a guy like Bennett its probably more about whether he wants us than if we want him.

Nope, Dvorsky for all intents and purposes needs to be untouchable.

Other youngsters or a package of youngsters I'm good with.

Young, 60-70 point(potential) center ice men you just don't let go.

Sure you do when the potential of what you are getting is way higher.

[TheJackBurton]

That seems like a weird logic to me, adding players is how you get to the next level isn't it?


I'd be ok with the idea of signing Bennett and trading Dvorsky in a package for Nemec.

I think when it comes to a guy like Bennett its probably more about whether he wants us than if we want him.

Nope, Dvorsky for all intents and purposes needs to be untouchable.

Other youngsters or a package of youngsters I'm good with.

Young, 60-70 point(potential) center ice men you just don't let go.

Sure you do when the potential of what you are getting is way higher.

Nope. I make others available, but not him. Center is on average the highest paid position in the league. When you can get one who has the potential Dvorsky has, can be cost controlled for 5-7 years, you simply don't trade it until he proves he's a bust.

Find some other way to get Nemec.

[TBone]

You definitely want to add players, but Bennett is a player that is going to get paid in that 6-7.5m range and he instantly paints a target on your teams back. Not that I'm saying it's a bad thing cause he will dish it out. But the rest of your team better be ready to handle it. It's a polarizing style of pickup. Again, I'm not against it, and the Blues can afford that contract because of the Krug money, but would you rather have a skill facilitator like Tavares on that Holloway/Kyrou line, or a Bennett?

I caught the tail end of the 101 conversation on the topic and they mentioned Tavares is 60% on the dot.

You mentioned the dollars on Bennett but for how many years? And what are ballpark years and term for Tavares?

[skilles]

That seems like a weird logic to me, adding players is how you get to the next level isn't it?


I'd be ok with the idea of signing Bennett and trading Dvorsky in a package for Nemec.

I think when it comes to a guy like Bennett its probably more about whether he wants us than if we want him.

Nope, Dvorsky for all intents and purposes needs to be untouchable.

Other youngsters or a package of youngsters I'm good with.

Young, 60-70 point(potential) center ice men you just don't let go.

Sure you do when the potential of what you are getting is way higher.

Nope. I make others available, but not him. Center is on average the highest paid position in the league. When you can get one who has the potential Dvorsky has, can be cost controlled for 5-7 years, you simply don't trade it until he proves he's a bust.

Find some other way to get Nemec.

Well its tough to average the pay of #1 d men but its a lot

I get it center is valuable but Bennet+Nemec coming in is a very big deal and IMO a no brainer.

[STL fan in MN]

I’m on the fence with a player like Sam Bennett. On one hand, he’s a heck of a player, especially in the playoffs. But here are some concerns.

•He’s going to get paid bank. He is perhaps the player most likely to get paid too high of an AAV and/or too long of a term this summer. A 6 year deal would be buying his age 29-34 years. The max 7 and it takes him to age 35. Lots of miles on him already. I just don’t see him aging well.

•His career high is 51 pts. He’s eclipsed 41 twice ever in his career. He is no offensive dynamo. His value would be more in the style of game he plays.

•He was somehow -15 on a Panthers team that had a +29 goal differential this year. How is that even possible? I’ll be the first to say +/- can be a flawed stat but that’s an insane outlier.

•I just don’t like the guy. Again, I’m on the fence here though. I absolutely love those plays with an edge types of players but this one goes over the line constantly. In terms of being dirty he’s probably worse than Kadri and there’d be a riot if the Blues ever signed/traded for Kadri.

•I see the need for an upgrade at 2C but would prefer one that’s not going to require a 6-7 year contract. Dvorsky won’t be ready for the 2C role next season but I also don’t want to completely block him.

Would signing him instantly make the Blues better? Yes. Would it be a good idea though? No, probably not IMO. This would be a big risk and I’d prefer the Blues spend their money elsewhere to try to find an upgrade.

[britishblue]

I guess you sign him with the idea he is your #2 center for maybe 2 years, after which Dvorsky takes that role and he drops down to the 3rd line.

I like him as a player, im just not sure i want the blues to be the team to overpay him in free agency.

We would be a very fun team to watch in the playoffs though.

[blues2112]

I’m on the fence with a player like Sam Bennett. On one hand, he’s a heck of a player, especially in the playoffs. But here are some concerns.

•He’s going to get paid bank. He is perhaps the player most likely to get paid too high of an AAV and/or too long of a term this summer. A 6 year deal would be buying his age 29-34 years. The max 7 and it takes him to age 35. Lots of miles on him already. I just don’t see him aging well.

•His career high is 51 pts. He’s eclipsed 41 twice ever in his career. He is no offensive dynamo. His value would be more in the style of game he plays.

•He was somehow -15 on a Panthers team that had a +29 goal differential this year. How is that even possible? I’ll be the first to say +/- can be a flawed stat but that’s an insane outlier.

•I just don’t like the guy. Again, I’m on the fence here though. I absolutely love those plays with an edge types of players but this one goes over the line constantly. In terms of being dirty he’s probably worse than Kadri and there’d be a riot if the Blues ever signed/traded for Kadri.

•I see the need for an upgrade at 2C but would prefer one that’s not going to require a 6-7 year contract. Dvorsky won’t be ready for the 2C role next season but I also don’t want to completely block him.

Would signing him instantly make the Blues better? Yes. Would it be a good idea though? No, probably not IMO. This would be a big risk and I’d prefer the Blues spend their money elsewhere to try to find an upgrade.

All of this X 2,112.

Better ways to spend money than on a 40-point center too close to 30.