Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
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If you mean shot metrics,
The only reason Bennett's so-called "advanced stats" look weak overall is because he played with Brouwer, a lot more than he should have.
Bennett also had elite shot suppression and goal-against metrics on the penalty kill:
Per this article. |
And this is why I argue that Bennett has taken a massive forward step in his development last season. It isn't just the offence that we should concern ourselves with when it comes to Bennett, but his overall game.
I think he really does need at least a winger with skill who can play with said skill at top speed. It will create turnovers and put other teams on their heels a bit. His offence will come, and it was never a concern of mine.
What I was concerned about was his defensive acumen as I thought he was shockingly awful. He has become a MUCH, MUCH better player in 2 out of the 3 zones. Now it is a matter of making it click offensively while maintaining (and hopefully, continuing to improve) the defensive side of things.
That is why I think Jankowski ends up a winger - at least in the shorter term - because Bennett has been progressing really nicely, and his speed and non-stop motor really help him at both ends of the ice. People want to see his grit and his speed on the forecheck more, but I argue that his speed and grit are better utilized on the back check and then to jump up in the rush or lead the rush as a center.
I imagine him as the type of center to knock a guy down in the corner while punching him without the ref noticing, or simply crushing a guy in open ice, and then taking the puck and zooming the opposite way and create a scoring chance. That's the Sam Bennett I see developing. He has options now that he has never really had before - Foo, Lazar, Jankowski, Poirier (I bet he gets NHL time this year) - all guys that can pretty much stay in the play by matching Bennett's speed and have the skill to make plays themselves at that speed.
Jankowski won't replace Stajan on the 4th line unless Gulutzan wants to scrap a 4th line and just start rolling 4 scoring lines. When there is an injury to a center, you just rotate Janowski off the wing. If he ends up being a better center in time over Monahan, Backlund or Bennett, then you adjust at that time. You don't keep Jankowski down in the AHL waiting for it if he is NHL ready (which I would say he is).
It is getting really damn hard not to be excited to see this team again.