28 Feb 2021 18:46:02
Calgary trades:
Johnny Gaudreau
Sam Bennett

Philadelphia trades:
James Van Riemsdyk
Nolan Patrick

JVR is included to balance cap.
Philly moves both the youngest and oldest player in the trade. 22 and 31 vs 24 and 27 for Calgary.

Why Philly might do it:
Philly gets a player in Johnny they have significant interest in who really wants to play for them.
They move an older player who though he is having a good year is declining, is currently the highest paid player in the deal and on the longest contract.
They get the most skilled player in the deal.

Why Calgary should do it:
They get bigger.
They get a right shooting forward who can play center or wing (right shot RW being Calgary's most pressing need) .
If JVR continues to produce well his contract isn't all that bad and if he doesn't work out he can be bought out in a year or two.


The teams swap young centers capable of playing on the wing. Both are high picks who haven't met expectations. Patrick has been injury prone, Bennett has been inconsistent (poor in the regular seaons and great in the playoffs) . A change of scenery might be good for both players.

Calgary probably winds up with the better young player in the end but Gaudreau is still in his prime and a definite skill upgrade over a declining JVR.

1.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 19:57:10
Bad for Calgary which is surprising. Patrick while a lot younger and better then Bennet is very injury prone and JVR is a complimentary piece.

2.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 20:43:30
2 years isn't "a lot younger". Overall Philly actually gets younger by 2 years and Calgary 2 years older which again isn't a big difference.

Gaudreau is a complementary piece on the Flames and he's just going to sign with Philly in 1.5 years anyhow. This way Calgary gets something for him. A useful player in Patrick who could be either a top 6 winger or a 3rd line center right now and if he's over the injury bug still has the potential to be even better.

Bennett should fit right in Philly and might finally start approaching the potential everyone still sees in him.

Of course there's usually some risk involved for both teams in any good trade. Bennett and/ or Patrick might not be any better with new teams than they have been with their existing teams. Philly might not be big enough and mean enough to make more room for Johnny (I think they are though) . And JVR might drop off badly (I think he'll be ok for at least the rest of this year) . On the other hand it could work out very well for both teams and all the players involved.

3.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 20:55:58
Besides my initial thought was adding a Philly 2nd round pick or something to the deal. But with the way people are around here once they figure which team is your team they pretty much always without fail shoot down anything you propose for your team as too much. ;)

4.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 22:08:59
No from Calgary

5.) 07 Apr 2021
07 Apr 2021 01:37:46
Sorry, but Nolan Patrick isn't going to have a long career and JVRs is almost over.