Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle
I think the "no risk" move is getting blown out of proportion right now, and people simply jonesing for another one of our future all stars to join the team (or so are the expectations) is blinding some of the logic. I agree this is far more compelling a case than a Wolf or whoever call up, thus the debate.
But I think there are some serious risks to this potential call up that fans calling this a no brainer aren't taking seriously enough and at least pausing to consider. Thankfully, it appears the Flames are, which ever way they chose to go.
1. For Bennett there is the added risk of showing up in a playoff race, knowing the fans think you are the tits, knowing you just took someone's spot who's been playing hard all year away and then you don't deliver? What doe that do to his confidence? I don't think people are really worried about him being too successful and Svenning it. This risk is bad for his long term development.
2. Risk that he actually takes some time and doesn't play well, makes us worse and we miss. Missed opportunity for other young players to benefit from playoff action, so hurts the long term rebuild of the team. Short term bad for us fans and Flames business.
3. Potentially Bad for team culture and locker room dynamics if we jettison a player that's got us this far for an unproven rookie, especially if we miss. People seem to live playing here now, tough thing to gamble on unless you are sure he's an upgrade because team culture is a huge reason they've come this far.
I get everyone is saying he made it out of camp, and no doubt he did...sort of. Obviously his injury game the Flames a bit of an out on how to handle him, but I don't doubt for a second that he at the very least based on what I saw earned his 9 game cup of coffee From there TBD. But a lot has changed since then, he was injured all year long, and this team turned out to be better than we ever imagined with out him, and now we have 4 games left and sit 1 point up on the playoffs. Have to re-evaluate given all the changes.
Don't get me wrong, I also know that one of the outcomes is he comes in and provides an instant extra threat, or is at the very least on par with the likes of Colborne and Raymond. I just think there is a LOT at risk and to consider with this move, and it's not the "no brainer" with no downside many are suggesting, there are many potential and realistic outcomes with this decision that run the spectrum IMO.
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Count me in the camp of you blowing this out of proportion.
In the off chance he doesn't make any kind of impact, I find it hard to believe he makes us worse with the amount of no-shows we've had in the bottom 9 as of late.
Not making an impact is one thing... making us worse through limited play is another, and he could easily be benched if that unlikely scenario were to play out.
As for team culture, there have been forwards in and out of the lineup all year. If someone was upset Bennett slots in there would be a pre-existing problem in that area.
Seems to me like you've now taken the devil's advocate stance and are banging that drum.