Calgary has never retained on a contract and they won't start now

So were giving a potential top 4 defenseman and a 4th for a guy who can barely play on the third line?

You have to stop this stuff dude

calling Bennett a 4th liner is like calling Dermott a 7th D. Both are better than those labels but are in a tough position to succeed

Are you kidding me? Let me guess, any other guy from Toronto that adds value to a player being born in Ontario. If Dubas entertained this crazy idea for a second he should be fired.

you seem to overrate Liljegren a tad.

You've had enough to drink. Go to bed.

Liljegren's ceiling is a mediocre 2nd pair D. Reality is probably solid 3rd pair D. Low end is no NHL. I'd say its more likely that he doesn't make the NHL consistently than him making the top pairing consistently, I'll put it that way.

Bennett on the other hand has been good when he gets a real opportunity. Was lights out in the playoffs last year when he got some good minutes.

I think you are missing the bigger picture.

And what's that? 3rd line C/W being traded (with retention) for a struggling to make the NHL defenseman?

A struggling nhl defenseman? He's also only 21... He's young and will get much better. Bennett is 24, and he might get a bit better, but is entering his prime, and so far has disappointed.

Bennett's 24. Same age as Nylander for reference.

Don't get me wrong, I would do Bennett (no retention) for something around Liljegren and a 3rd or something. But not for that

Ya, I found that out after. I was being lazy when I first wrote the post. I edited it after.

The retention really kills it that much for you? It's 1 million for a year. Maybe worth the 4th rounder.

1M less cap space is 1M less cap space. Flames are at the ceiling and competing for the cup, find someone else to retain.

Ok, I'm sure the sens or redwings would retain.

For one season? I think if it helped them maximize his trade value (which in a flat cap world it definitely should), they shouldn't/wouldn't be opposed to retaining.

Flames have multiple owners its not a GM decision there

I think the flames need a forward or a good pick back. They are quite deep at defense.

What happened to bob ryan guys? I think he would be more of a fit.

I guess, yeah, but with how little money it would actually be (becomes less and less the further the season goes on), you'd hope they'd be willing to just eat it and take the best deal. Owners suck, man.

When do you think Lillegren will be ready to play in the NHL and do you see him as top 4?

The word was he had a really good training camp this year. With Bogosian only here on a one-year deal and Holl or Dermott likely going to Seattle, I'd say he and Sandin will both be here next season playing much like Dermott and Holl did when they came up. I think he has all the tools to be the best offensive D-man on the team, he's defensive play will likely hold him back from being a true number one/two. I think he's slots easily into a 3/4 role and ends up the QB on PP2.