As far, as I remember, that Backlund development wasn't exactly a gradual steady process. It was more like he was well on his way to bust and then some incident, like a shouting match with Playfair, turned him around. So, if Bennett is indeed following Backlund's trajectory, it doesn't mean that Bennett is alright. It may very well mean, that Bennett needs some serious kick in the nuts or some other external disturbance to turn him around.
Edited:
I have found it. It wasn't exactly patience, that turned Backlund into what he is now. If anything, it was the opposite of patience. And if the way the Flames have brought around Backlund is the way to go wtih Bennett, maybe it's time to stop being patient with Bennett and give him something like this:
"He was this close to my face,'' Mikael Backlund is recalling, holding the palm of one hand up to touch the tip of his nose. "And he was yelling at me. I mean, yelling at me.
"I don't know how long it lasted. Felt like 10 or 15 minutes.
"'Spoiled! Never make it to the NHL!' All that. He really ripped into me.
"I was devastated."
https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...ey/c-286642406