Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Sayings 'it's too soon' is a time-honoured tactic on this forum used by posters who don't like to hear negative comments about players. It's too soon to be disappointed in Bennett. A year from now it will still be too soon. The year after that (if he still hasn't shown significant development), we'll be told 'why can't you just move on?' and talking about Bennett will be considered a Debbie Downer subject.
In other words, there's no legitimate time to express concern abut a player's development. It's either too soon, or it's dwelling on the past.
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That's not true at all. Drafts cannot be accurately judged for the first few years. Takes about 5-6 years to see players fully develop. Some step right in, some take more time. Every player is different.
Bennett was drafted in 2014. By 2019/2020 we should know what type of player he is. Right now? It's too early to tell.
It's currently 2017. Therefore we're starting to have a very good idea about the players drafted in 2011 and 2012.
Here's 2011
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2011e.html
As an example of why its dangerous to try and close the book on players too early please note the example of Mark Scheiffele. His points totals went from 34 in 69gp, to 49 in 82gp, to 61 in 71, to 82 in 79gp. Note that he hadn't peaked 5 years post draft. Bennett was drafted in 2014, this is 2017. So if you judged Scheiffele at the time people are trying to say they know that Bennett will never turn into X you would have made a grave mistake.
JT Miller broke out from a 10 goal scorer to a 20 goal scorer 4 years after being drafted.
Rickard Rakell went from 10 goals, to 20 goals to 33 goals. Look at when he did.
It's silly and dangerous to try and pigeonhole the upside of young players based on their early careers.
Heck we don't even know yet what we have in Jankowski and he was drafted 2 years before Bennett!
People preach patience because its necessary. People say its too soon to write off his offensive upside because it is too soon. Look very closely at the last 10 years of drafts and when various players broke out and it will become clear to you as well.
If Bennett fails to show offence this entire year then yes I'd say its a worrying trend. But a few games into the season? To be saying stuff like he doesn't have the hockey sense to be a top 9 player? That's an extreme overreaction to a limited sample size. It should be called out as Jay Random did because those types of statements are premature, shortsighted and quite frankly stupid. They show a lack of understanding of how long it takes some young players to develop into their full NHL potential.