from ESPN Insider
2. Sam Bennett | C | Kingston (OHL)
DOB: 6/20/96 | 2013-14 stats: 57 GP, 36 G, 55 A, 118 PIM
It's hard to find a specific part of Bennett's game that is weak; he's simply a fantastic all-around forward. He's a really fast and energetic skater who can play at a high pace and embrace a pressure style with high amounts of effectiveness. However, Bennett's best quality is his hockey IQ. He sees the ice really well, and can dominate the puck in terms of possession due to his hockey brain on top of his speed and puck skills. Bennett has flashy elements to his game, while also being able to generate chances through work ethic and instincts, and has an impressive shot as well. Bennett battles well for pucks, with what one NHL exec coins "superb natural balance" in terms of his center of gravity in board confrontations. He also embraces the physical game, can lay some quality hits and is a fine defensive forward. He could get stronger, improve his positioning a little, and maybe not try to force the tough plays, but for the most part he's the complete package.
Ranking explanation: Bennett, Sam Reinhart and William Nylander were in the same tier for much of the season, with Bennett pushing ahead in the past few months. As opposed to the much more complex explanation of Ekblad versus Bennett, this one is more straightforward. While Nylander is a much better puck handler, with better vision and hockey IQ, Bennett has the positional edge and is a better skater than Nylander, with more defensive value as well. Bennett carries notably less risk in my eyes, with a marginally lower ceiling.
Prospect analysis: He's a fantastic all-around forward, a really fast and energetic skater that sees the ice well and can dominate the puck in terms of possession by comb combining all his physical talents with a high hockey intellect. Bennett battles well for pucks, with what one NHL exec coins "superb natural balance" in terms of his center of gravity in board confrontations. He also embraces the physical game, can lay some quality hits and is a fine defensive forward. -- Pronman
Team fit analysis: In picking Sam Bennett, new Calgary GM Brad Treliving's first major player transaction was a good one, as he added a player that, despite his problems with the chin up bar, had been mentioned as a possible 1st overall selection in this 2014 Draft. Calgary now has a good, young one-two punch at center ice (Bennett and Sean Monahan) that seems to be the blueprint around which many of the top teams in the NHL are currently constructed. -- Provenzano
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