Quote:
Originally Posted by calgarywinning
I myself was wondering if Bennett needed some time down below to tear it up and develop more. Not to say that we don't see the potential, just a development issue which needs to be addressed for the players sake.
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Sam Bennett, even with his stretch of "bad games" (if you can even call it that), is on an approximately 40 point pace. Not Monahan numbers at 19 years old but Bennett also doesn't get time with Gaudreau or Hudler on a career season. In my mind, it's quite incredible how fast he's developed...especially coming off that injury after being drafted.
Bennett has development points to work on for sure. He's not always strong enough to do what he actually wants to do and he could always work on his defensive game to generate turnovers (though he generates enough on the forecheck). But he's capable of playing top 6 minutes in Calgary and doesn't look bad in the bottom 6 spots either. I'm pretty sure he gets all the development time and attention that he could ever want and his points are quite indicative of incredible success at his age. Tearing it up in the OHL would make no sense and, if memory serves, he can't go to the AHL due to his CHL status if that's where you wanted to send him.
I feel he's very much in Monahan's position during his first year as a Flame: good secondary player in Calgary (Monahan was 2nd line centre?) and has the right personnel around him to develop his skills to become better in Calgary than elsewhere.