NHL Rumors: Will Flames trade Sam Bennett to the Leafs, Phillip Danault wants to stay with Canadiens, and a Tony DeAngelo buyout very much on the table
Anthony Scultore
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The latest DGH NHL Trade Bait Board was released yesterday and Calgary’s Sam Bennett was #3 on the list. Requesting a trade is one thing, but when you couple that with being a healthy scratch, you know a trade is inevitable.
“I didn’t see it coming. I walked in and I was on the taxi squad and not skating with the team,” Bennett reacted to being scratched.
Yup, a matter of time.
NHL Rumors: Will the Flames trade Bennett to the Leafs
Sportnet’s Luke Fox took a deeper dive into the rumors that the Toronto Maple Leafs are after Sam Bennett. The real rub, cap issues for the Leafs aside is if the Flames GM would trade Bennett within the division.
Which is why Fox believes there’s credence to the Tony DeAngelo (#1 on the list) for Sam Bennett swap.
RELATED: FLAMES DOING DUE DILIGENCE ON DEANGELO
NHL Rumors: Latest on Phillip Danault
Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault was added to the top 12 (#11). That was due in large part to the news that the two sides ceased contract negotiations and he’s due to become a UFA at season’s end.
“At the beginning (of this season) everything changed as soon as I came here … contract-wise, everything,” Danault said. “So all the stuff that was going around it was definitely an adaptation on my game and mentally. Those things, too, I don’t want the team to get affected, so that’s why I don’t talk about it.”
Montreal Gazette
It sounds like the Habs center would like things to work out with Montreal as he enjoys playing there.
NHL Rumors: Tony DeAngelo buyout a real possibility
Per Cap Friendly, the Rangers would only face a $383,333 hit in 2021-22 and a $883, 333 charge the season after. Teams looking to trade for him should understand that, and realize Jeff Gorton does not have his back up against the wall as initially believed.
“Here’s the rub, the New York Rangers plan B would be if they don’t trade him is to buy him out at the end of the year,” McKenzie noted recently. “In other words, the Rangers are not prepared to retain a huge amount of salary, the Rangers are not prepared to take on a huge contract the other way.”
From a financial standpoint, the Rangers could retain some contract for this season and next year to make a deal work. Of course, because he’s 25 a 1/3 buyout is also possible which means lesser cap penalties. That’s why if need be, they are in no rush to make a bad deal.