NHL Rumors: Flames not Sam Bennett control situation, destinations for Mattias Ekholm, and Maple Leafs passed up on MacKenzie Weegar
Anthony Scultore
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Yesterday Calgary’s GM Brad Treliving spoke about Sam Bennett and his trade request in a radio interview on Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
We’ll determine – whether it be Sam Bennett or anybody else – what their scenery is and when it’s going to change, and until such time, Sam is a member of the Calgary Flames and he’s like every other member of the Calgary Flames.
Brad Treliving via The Score
Those comments were then followed by a -2 performance and a third period benching for Bennett. As the Oilers won the Battle of Alberta last night 2-1.
After the game, Flames head coach Geoff Ward was asked about Bennett’s grand total of 6:30 of ice time. “We’ll keep that internal,” he replied refusing to comment on the third period benching.
NHL Rumors: Four possible landing spots for Mattias Ekholm
Mattias Ekholm is not being shopped at the moment. Pierre LeBrun wanted to make that abundantly clear before opining on the four teams that would likely chase the defenseman if he was.
Let me preface this by stressing there’s no evidence to suggest the Nashville Predators are shopping defenseman Mattias Ekholm… Predators beat writer Adam Vingan did earlier this week, that the Predators might listen to offers for Ekholm given the need for the franchise to start thinking rebuild, retool or reset. It needs young assets either way.
The Athletic
As for the four contenders that would be willing to possibly give up a first round pick to acquire the 30 year-old, LeBrun lists:
- Boston Bruins
- Washington Capitals
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Winnipeg Jets
The Bruins have already been mentioned in the Ekholm rumor mill. For the Predators, pitting them against the Capitals and Flyers would be the play. Considering that three are all in the same division and battling for position, it would be wise for David Poile to use it to his advantage.
NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs rejected a trade for MacKenzie Weegar
There is nothing like riling up Toronto Maple Leafs fans. That’s exactly what Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek did yesterday.
On Friday, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talked about a deal that was apparently on the table between the Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. The Panthers were willing to move Weegar to the Leafs but wanted Travis Dermott and Andreas Johnsson. The two analysts are reporting that GM Kyle Dubas said no.
NHL Trade Talk
MacKenzie Weegar is playing well for the Florida Panthers, and Leafs fans are now scratching their heads as to why he isn’t in Toronto. If the noted exchange is true, Andreas Johnsson was moved to NJ for Joey Anderson whose played just one game. Travis Dermott could also become one of the Seattle Kraken’s expansion picks.
Ouch!