The Florida Panthers have acquired forward Sam Bennett and a 2022 6th round draft pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and a 2022 2nd round pick.
Yeah, the value is not great for the Panthers. At best, Bennett is a third line center. He is really a fourth liner, though, and he makes $2.55 million on a deal that will get higher when he becomes a restricted free agent after this season. A former 4th overall pick, Bennett did not bring much offensive production when he first came into the league, and that has dipped even more over the past two seasons. The best he has ever played was in the most recent postseason, when he scored five goals with three assists in eight games. A second round pick for Bennett, a physical player who often takes penalties, is too much on its own. Then they added Heineman, their second round pick from last year. Bennett does make their team harder to play against, but that does not change the value from being rough.
Bennett, 24, has scored four goals with eight assists for 12 points with 79 hits in 38 games for Calgary this year. In his NHL career, all for the Flames, Bennett has scored 67 goals with 73 assists for 140 points with 678 hits in 402 games.
It was unclear if the Flames would move on from Bennett, as even though they are out of the playoff picture, the team still has some hope for next year, while Bennett is an RFA, not a UFA after the season. But after this offer from Florida, it makes sense why GM Brad Treliving made a move. A second round pick is solid, especially in a deep draft next year. Heineman is a Swedish winger who is playing professionally overseas right now. He is still a teenager, and his draft position last year shows that he has promise.
Heineman, 19, has scored seven goals with six assists for 13 points in 43 games for Leksands IF in Sweden this year. In his SweHL career, Heinenman has those 13 points, plus two extra assists in 54 games.
CarterHud 