The best thing for Bennett would have been to go back to Juniors at the start of the season (I mean, not having this injury in the first place). Missing a year of development at his age definitely sucks.
However, at least he is surrounded by good vets and is getting first-hand knowledge at how hard NHL players have to work - and Calgary works much harder than your average NHL squad. Good for him to be around that environment. I also hope he has managed to work on his lower body/core strength since the surgery, but maybe he hasn't been able to yet.
I am betting his junior career is done. I think the Flames would have returned him to junior if he was back early enough for the WJC tournament. However, sounds like he is another month away at best. I think the Flames ramp him up slowly to the NHL this season. 3rd/4th line minutes for a couple of games. Sit out a game or two. I bet Bennett shows that he deserves to stay in the lineup past those 9 games, and with the Flames hopefully in the thick of a playoff hunt, it does make it more difficult to send him down.
I am 100% sure that the Flames will do what is best for Bennett. I just think they handle him slowly and carefully, and end up finding out that they simply can not send him back to Kingston.
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