Rumor: Trade interest picking up around Sam Bennett!

Rumors are swirling across the NHL - after the signing of Andreas Athanasiou, and the trade of Riley Sheahan to the Pittsburgh Penguins, talks are shifting to the likes of Alex Galchenyuk, Jake Muzzin, Evander Kane, and more.

One name that has been garnering interest since the beginning of the season is Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett.

Drafted 4th overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft, the center has had difficulty cementing himself as a star player in the league. With two seasons under his belt, and only 63 total points to show for them, he was offered a cheap two-year contract extension over the summer - and now it's his time to prove that he's worth more than the $1.95 million he was awarded per year.

A big center, selected 4th overall to boot, is a valuable asset on any team. Especially on that contract, Bennett has value to other teams, but with 0 points in 8 games played so far, his value for the Flames is beginning to drop, and with the interest around the league, it is expected that Calgary begins to take trade talks more seriously - lest they let his value sink and hope he turns things around down the road.

According to Kent Wilson of The Athletic, "[For] now, interest will still be high for Bennett, but it will begin to wane rapidly over the next season or two if his performance doesn't pick up."

Flames may make the decision soon to move him, before he becomes virtually worthless in a trade deal.