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Brad Treliving’s Worst Trades Prior to Joining the Toronto Maple Leafs

By Jeff Borsuk

General manager Brad Treliving of the Toronto Maple Leafs, while he was with the Calgary Flames February 27, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
General manager Brad Treliving of the Toronto Maple Leafs, while he was with the Calgary Flames February 27, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Sam Bennett #9 of the Florida Panthers checks Zach Whitecloud #2   (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Treliving’s 4th Worst Trade

In April of 2021, Treliving had decided he was through with waiting for Sam Bennett to reach his potential. The Flames believed that Bennett was going to be a top player on the team when they drafted him fourth-overall in 2014.

Bennett looked good during the 2015-16 season. He recorded 18 goals and 18 assists in 77 games. His play then began to decline as did his production. When Treliving chose to cut bait on Bennett, the centre from Holland Landing, Ontario had played in 38 contests that season. Over that span, he scored just four goals and eight assists.

Bennett was traded to the Florida Panthers where he immediately transformed into the player the Flames always hoped he’d become. In the 10 remaining regular season games in 2021, Bennett recorded 15 points on six goals and nine assists. He was also a point-per-game player in those playoffs where he notched five points in five contests.

The strong play continued the following year when Bennett tallied 28 goals and 21 assists. This past season, Bennett once again reached the 40-point mark but his best output helped lead the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Finals. The center collected 15 points in 20 games in the playoffs. They came on five goals and 10 assists.

In exchange for Bennett, the Flames received Emil Heineman’s signing rights and a second round draft pick that was used to select David Goyette. While Goyette is still playing in the OHL for the  Sudbury Wolves, Heineman was placed on loan to Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League. He will likely be playing for the Laval Rocket in the AHL this coming season.

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