Quote:
Originally Posted by browna
Likely figured it was going to be too easy too soon. 36 points as a rookie, to 26, then a contract holdout, now 0 points.
Change of scenery not long after Christmas if he doesn’t pick it up, and before his confidence and stock declines too far.
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Before his stock declines too far?.....uh, prepare to be disappointed.
Had high hopes from the very start with the player, but it is just not working here. For whatever reason; the coaching, the way the organization handled him, his line mates, Bennett himself, it's becoming more clear everyday and evergame Sam's just not a fit on this team right now. It would be astonishing if he were to even match his rookie point total thus season at this point. There is little to zero signs of life here.
It's probably best for Bennett and the Flames that they move him. Perhaps he can salvage his career elsewhere. For the Flames it is particularly disappointing because they clearly wanted the kid to push Backlund into the 3rd line C role, thus making him expendable and moving forward with monahan, Bennett, and Jankowski down the middle. It would have set em up for years
Best the Flames can do now is move the asset for an equally struggling forward, or a 2nd round pick. A year ago (even a month ago) I would have laughted at such a trade proposition, and in fact I did when a friend mentioned it. but again it is not working here for Bennett. They're almost certainly going to be dealing from a point of weakness. Then again, from what I've seen so far, I'm not convinced Bennett can be an impact player at this level. He doesn't seem to have the hockey IQ to be a true top 6 forward in this league. As much as Flames fans like to point out the short comings of the Oilers organization, they're not idiots & there's a reason they took Draisatl. The Oilers did not miss that time.
Some other team will get to decide where to play him.