Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Nope. I fully expect him to play out next season in the OHL.
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1.6 PPG as a 17 year old. No way he plays in the OHL as a 19 year old.
Can anyone think of any examples of guys that actually did that? (that kind of production as a 17 year old and still be there at 19)
I don't think you realize what we have in Sam Bennett. Here are some comparative stats as 17 year olds:
MacKinnon: 44G 32G 43A 75P 1.70PPG
S. Bennett: 57G 36G 55A 91P 1.60PPG
And MacKinnon was on a powerhouse team, in the Q, where he was 5th in scoring (2nd in PPG). They had 7 guys over 1PPG. Bennett was the leading scorer by a wide margin and only two other players on the team managed 1 PPG. He also had did that with a bum shoulder.
Bennett was a late bloomer. He only had 40 points in the prior year, in 60 games. MacKinnon had 78 in 58. The point here is that Bennett's progression was incredible - a jump of 139%.
And now he has spent the past 4 months with the Flames, and working out with the trainers. He will continue to spend the next couple months working out with the trainers and he will start to skate, and eventually practice, with the team.
He is now a pro mentally. And in a couple months he will be in the best shape of his life. The chances of him being in the OHL, 2 years after putting up 1.60PPG are between nil and none.