Quote:
Originally Posted by nik-
Of course they can. He had major surgery and hasn't played all year those are two pretty major reasons which make a good preseason kind of irrelevant.
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Irrelevant to you perhaps, but do you really think it is irrelevant to Bennett, or even the Flames? It is was a gauge as to how NHL-ready he was then, and hasn't played since then (so he hasn't had the opportunity to fail).
Nobody - and unless I missed a post - absolutely nobody is saying that Bennett should stay up with the Flames this year. It seems the counter-argument to yours is that he should be simply given the respect he deserves by being provided an opportunity to tryout for the team. Just a real chance, and nothing more. I don't think he is well-served just being dismissed without an opportunity. I would say he has earned an opportunity, and the culture of the team 'demands' he be given a shot.
Now what is the tryout? Maybe once he is cleared for contact, it means he practices for 'x' amount of time, and if Hartley feels he is not ready, he gets sent down to the OHL. Perhaps he passes that benchmark, and the organization feels a training stint in the AHL is warranted. If he fails there, he gets sent to the OHL. If he passes, he gets a game or two in the NHL. If he fails there, he gets sent to the OHL.
I think Bennett merely deserves the 'chance'. Nobody is saying he should be on the team. I just think he has earned that chance, as every single other prospect/player in the organization received, especially after he was outshining nearly every other prospect in the system (and arguably most vets) during the training camp/preseason. A fair shake is all he has earned or deserves. Nothing more, nothing less.
I do agree that he is PROBABLY best served in the OHL this year, but we are all fooling ourselves if any of us knows for sure. I just think he should get the opportunity (like every one else) to compete for a spot, and that is all.