Quote:
Originally Posted by Kovaz
So, last year, the narrative with Bennett was that he was dragged down by his linemates. I dug through his stats this year to see if that was the case. Originally I was trying to argue that Bennett-Jankowski-Lazar was an effective line, but what I found was that Bennett's been pretty effective with most of his linemates - the one exception being (surprise surprise) Troy Brouwer.
Bennett's stats, away from Brouwer (112.32 minutes):
xGF/60: 2.52
xGA/60: 1.60
xGF%: 61.1%
Bennett's stats, with Brouwer (18.11 minutes):
xGF/60: 0.76
xGA/60: 6.33
xGF%: 10.7%
In the game-and-a-half of ice time Bennett has spent with Brouwer this season, he's been the worst player in the NHL by a country mile. Offensively, nobody in the league is below Victor Antipin's 1.03 xGF/60. And defensively, nobody is above Boone Jenner's 4.03 xGA/60. The Bennett-Brouwer combo has generated a good 30% fewer chances offensively than anyone else in the league, while also conceding 50% more than anyone else. Small sample size, but those are horrific numbers. They'd be below-average numbers on the penalty-kill, yet they happened 5v5.
However, in the other 90% of his ice time, he's been well above average. His 2.52 xGF/60 would rank 5th on the team, while his 1.60 xGA/60 would be first. Those numbers would be impressive for the 3M line, let alone a draft bust who should be healthy scratched.
There are obvious caveats to all this. Brouwer has been a lot better since being put on the 4th line, and despite his solid possession stats Bennett is largely to blame for his inability to finish. But the point I'm trying to make is, even in the midst of the least productive stretch we've seen from him, there are still good things happening. Bennett's lines have generally had the puck more often than not, and they haven't allowed a ton of chances against. Unlike last year, where the 3rd line was a tire fire that bled goals against - this year they've at least been solid defensively. Keep the Bennett-Jankowski pair together, throw Jagr on their RW once he's healthy, and the results will come.
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So zero points in 12 games mostly playing without Brouwer? Pretty effective stats you have there.
Last year I can count maybe 5 games and 1 playoff game where I remembered he was a lottery pick and got excited. The rest of the time I feel that being a lottery pick is the only reason he's not in the AHL. He went long stretches without points and dumb penalties like the start to this season.
So far he's more Griffin Reinhart (also 4th overall pick) or if we go way back another Rico Fata or Daniel Tkachuk (6th overall picks) which buried the Flames for years. Good junior players who couldn't match that in the pros.
He's no Monahan or M. Tkachuk. Fortunately for the Flames 2 out of our 3 recent top picks are really good. Bennett is on a short leash as this has been going on more than just this season. You have to be patient but for how long?