Treliving: Flames, not Bennett or his agent, will decide player's future

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving wants to make one thing clear about Sam Bennett's desire for a trade: The team controls where the forward plays.

"Sam's agent decided to have a conversation with the media in talking about changes of scenery and all that," Treliving said Friday on Sportsnet 960 The FAN. "We'll determine - whether it be Sam Bennett or anybody else - what their scenery is and when it's going to change, and until such time, Sam is a member of the Calgary Flames and he's like every other member of the Calgary Flames.

"We think Sam's a hell of a player, and we expect him to be a real good player here, and we'll go from there."

In late January, Bennett's agent, Darren Ferris, said his client would like Calgary to deal him. Two days later, the team said Bennett and his camp hadn't approached the Flames with a trade request.

Calgary made him a healthy scratch shortly after his public request. The Flames moved him into their top six alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan after Bennett returned to the lineup. However, he's since been relegated to fourth-line duties.

Bennett logged only six-and-a-half minutes of ice time and didn't play in the third period of Calgary's 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. He remained on the bench, and Flames head coach Geoff Ward declined to elaborate postgame, stating only that the team would "keep that internal," according to TSN's Salim Valji.

The 24-year-old has played well in the playoffs, but his regular-season struggles have continued in 2021. Bennett has collected only two goals and an assist in 16 games this season.

Bennett has spent his entire career with the Flames, who drafted him fourth overall in 2014.