Quote:
Originally Posted by N-E-B
Can we stop using Backlund as an excuse for Bennett? Yes, it's very possible Bennett is just a late bloomer, but more often than not that's not the case.
Bennett was drafted 4th overall. He's expected to put up bigger numbers earlier in his career. Backlund was projected to take a while longer, hence he was drafted lower.
We all know Backlund worked out in the end, that doesn't change the fact that Sam Bennett isn't performing at the level he was expected to.
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This absolutely does not matter.
Your expectations of what a 4th overall should be at this stage are irrelevant. The organization is clearly saying he's a centre, and guess what? He's a 3rd line centre on a playoff team today as a 21 year old. Does he project as a 90 point centre? No, it wouldn't seem so. How many of those exist in the league anyways? Also, it's unlikely you're getting one at 4th overall. The only other centre taken ahead of him as been converted to a wing, and is now circulating in trade rumours - so that speaks to the quality of the draft, which AGAIN speaks to how utterly useless YOUR expectations are.