Quote:
Originally Posted by PepsiFree
Bennett’s development and handling by the team actually reminds me a lot of Galchenyuk. That can be a bad thing but there’s also a chance it’s a good thing, it really depends on how things move forward.
Either way, I think it’s far far too early to make definitive claims about what Bennett is or isn’t, and to state his potential is dried up. At newly 21 I’m still confident he has plenty of time. He won’t be the first top 5 pick not to make an impact right away, and he won’t be he last. He’s not even the only one in his draft class. I’m happy to wait, I like the good things he’s shown, and I think the bad is still coachable.
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I generally agree with this. I think that if you want Bennett to develop as a centre he needs a line driving, control the play winger like what Gaudreau does for Monahan. They kind of forward who can control the puck through the neutral zone and make a controlled zone entry where they either attack off the rush or start a cycle. Guys like Tkachuk and Monahan, although greatly skilled, need the puck brought in for them.
Right now Bennett has been paired with Versteeg and neither one of them is a line driver - they both need someone else to carry the mail. Now Bennett might be able to do that. Gulutzan has said he believes Bennett will drive a line but we just haven't seen it consistently.
So I think if you want to develop Bennett properly you either find him a winger or you decide to develop him as a top 6 forward instead of as a centre and play him Backlund. You could play him as a centre with Gaudreau but then what do you do with Monahan?
This impacts Jankowski's development as well. Maybe he's that 3C who can drive a line. It seems like he does that in Stockton.
So Bennett's and Jankowski's development by the team is concerning to me right now.
The big issue with the Flames is that they only have two forwards who can drive a line consistently right now: Gaudreau and Backlund