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Originally Posted by GioforPM
I got news for you - The Flames aren't winning the cup this year, which is what we are talking about.
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Not what I'm talking about. If Bennett can make a demonstrable contribution to getting the Flames into the playoffs under such circumstances that do not jeopardise his long-term value to the team, then it is something the team should consider.
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Originally Posted by GioforPM
As for "earned" - tell me - what has Bennett done to earn the displacement of a current roster player? And who do you get rid of (don't give me guys who have to be waived to make it happen because this is reality)?
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According to the GM and the coach, he already "earned" the right to play on the team with his exceptional training camp. As for "displacement," this is all contingent upon how ready he actually is, and how much of an improvement he provides over other players.
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Originally Posted by GioforPM
There is plenty of potential harm in throwing an 18 year old kid with a recently injured shoulder into games at the crucial part of an NHL season (teams play a bit harder than in October).
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Who said anything about "throwing" him into games? I, and several other posters in this thread have been consistently advocating for a
measured approach that includes close monitoring of Bennett's progress, a conditioning stint in the AHL, and the possibility of easing him into the lineup. This is what I referred to as "due diligence" on the team's part.
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Originally Posted by GioforPM
Look at what happened to Monahan in LA. That Regher hit on a Bennett shoulder is something he wouldn't face in the AHL, in all liklihood.
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Which is why I think the team should send him to the AHL. Having said that, Bennett is not some porcelain waif who will crumble upon contact. Yes, he is undersized, but not so much that he is guaranteed to suffer catastrophic injury upon exposure to NHL-level hitting. I'm sure the Flames training staff will have his best interests at heart, and are well aware of his physical limitations following surgery. I'm just not entirely convinced that those limitations are intrinsically as static as you seem to presume.
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Originally Posted by GioforPM
Let's do Red Wings development, not Oiler development.
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Wrong on both counts. The Flames should follow their own instincts, and make the decision about where Bennett should play the balance of the season upon considerations of what is best for him and the team. That decision could very well have him playing NHL playoff hockey in the Spring.