Quote:
Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus
Consider that a shoulder can take a lot longer to heal than what the actual recovery time is listed as. There's a mental aspect to it in addition to a strength and range of motion concern that will likely be a non factor by now. Its something that is going to be totally dependent on the player and yes, it is not a stretch to say that a young, smallish rookie who is coming off a major injury is a re-injury risk. Shoulder recurrence or other injuries can pop up due simply to lack of playing time and overall fitness levels. This is nothing new, you see it all the time in this league when players have been out long term.
Obviously Bennett will be medically cleared to play but there's no way to be NHL ready at this point in the year if you haven't been playing games anywhere. For a raw rookie to jump in and take away a top 9 spot from one of the established players on this team (who are all playing very well) would be nothing short of a miracle at this stage in the season.
I for one think we have seen enough proof up north to reinforce the notion that it's a much safer and effective to er on the side of caution with your top prospects instead of putting them in a position to fail. Bennett isn't going to be the difference between the Flames making the playoffs or not in 2015. Why not set him up to play a ton in the CHL and move him along from there as needed? This is the time he needs to be playing a lot of hockey.
|
I think he deserves at least a chance to make the team this year, at the very least get in his nine games. I don't see how TWO WEEKS in the AHL hurts him at all.