Could Sam Bennett receive an offer sheet?
Sportsnet: The Calgary Flames will have limited cap space available once they sign forward Matthew Tkachuk to a new contract this off-season.
Sam Bennett is due a raise and to be qualified he is due a 10 percent raise which will give him a salary of $2.145 million. With Tkachuk likely getting $8-9 million/ year, that will leave the Flames with around $4 million in cap space to re-sign goalie David Rittich and re-sign or replace UFA netminder Mike Smith. The Flames also have decisions on RFA Andrew Mangiapane, and UFA Garnet Hathaway.
The Vancouver Canucks have $30 million in cap space and can afford to offer sheet Sam Bennett with a salary of $3.5 million/year and only cost them a 2nd round pick if Calgary cannot match.
The Canucks like the grit Bennett offers and he has significant upside, feistiness, versatility, and a history of playoff peaking. And Bennett is only 22.
Will the Winnipeg Jets make a trade offer for Nazem Kadri?
Winnipeg Sun: Ken Wiebe reports the Winnipeg Jets should target Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri. The Jets need a hard-nosed forward with skill and Kadri’s cap friendly salary interests the Jets.
Kadri would fill an important role for the Jets and help provide a spark to a team that will be working to put the disappointment of a first-round exit behind them.
Kadri has already been part of an organization that underwent a rebuild and is trying to take the next step and get over the hump come playoff time.
Kadri remains an important player for the Leafs, but with so many high wage earners once Mitch Marner signs his new mega deal – and needing to add talent and depth to the blue line – GM Kyle Dubas probably can’t afford the luxury of paying his third-line centre north of $4 million.
What would it take to pry Kadri out of Toronto?
The Maple Leafs aren’t going to give him away and the deal could be a tad complicated.
Wiebe suggests a package that involved Jack Roslovic and a draft pick?
This off-season will be very interesting with so many teams dealing with salary cap issues that great deals can be made with the right team.
