Bennett scratched from Flames’ lineup after agent says he wants trade

WINNIPEG – Flames forward Sam Bennett was scratched from Calgary’s lineup days after his agent revealed he wants a trade.

Head coach Geoff Ward said before Thursday’s game in Winnipeg against the Jets that Bennett was a “healthy scratch” and confirmed Bennett participated in the pre-game skate.

“For now, we’re going to get some fresh people into the lineup tonight,” Ward said. “Sam’s going to be the guy that’s scratched.

“We’ll see what happens in the game tonight and take it from there.”

Bennett wants the Flames to trade him, according to his agent Darren Ferris.

Removing him from the lineup could be interpreted as a trade is imminent, but Ward said the move was a “coach’s decision”, and not management’s.

Bennett has played both centre and right-wing during his six NHL seasons.

In his two games since his wish for a trade became public Saturday, the 24-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., at times played on the right side of centre Sean Monahan and left-winger Johnny Gaudreau.

Bennett has one assist and is minus-five in nine games to start the season.

He was the fourth-overall pick by Calgary in the 2014 entry draft.

Ward would not assess Bennett’s play this season when asked to do so on a media conference call

“That’s between Sam and myself,” the coach said.” I’m going to keep that between us.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2021.