Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
I don't buy the lack of opportunity of good linemates excuse. In the NHL, you're given more responsibility and ice time once you prove that you're reliable defensively. You don't turn the puck over, you always pick up your man, you make the smart, low-risk plays. Once you've proven that, you get more ice time and better linemates.
Bennett is still a work in progress, but he's being treated fairly.
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The line mate excuse is valid because he's spent a lot of the season playing with bottom 6 talent and he's not McDavid good where he can turn 3rd liners into 20 goal scorers. I feel though that's more due to circumstances than anything to do with responsibility as the Backlund line has been the one consistent line all season and Monahan and Gaudreau are a staple together so really there's not much option for the coaches but to put him with bottom six guys. I actually feel that Chiasson has been a better fit with Bennett because he's more of an energy player than Brouwer and Versteeg and Bennett needs to play with better skaters. It's not like Bennett looked out of place on the Backlund line when Tkachuk was out so it's just a matter of time as Bennett is only 20 and eventually guys like Frolik will move on and he will get his chance.