Quote:
Originally Posted by cannon7
I don't know why this team won't give Bennett a extended look on either Monahan's or Backlund's line. He gets a few shifts, at most, then back to being saddled with Brouwer. Sure, you could make the argument that he needs to earn that ice-time, but given how that doesn't really apply under Gulutzan -- why not give it a shot?
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Brouwer is a turd but blaming him for all of Sam Bennett's woes is just silly. If Bennett is a true top 6 talent, which I don't agree with at this point and time, he wouldn't be going through prolonged stretches of games where he generates nothing shot wise, takes brutal penalties and doesn't seem able to keep the puck on his stick long enough to even make a play. None of this is on Troy Brouwer. Bennett, more often than naught, can't even seem to beat a defenceman out on routine puck battles - he is incredibly weak. Even so, he probably should have been given the second line assignment when Frolik went down in order to see where he stands, but this is telling as to how the coaching staff sees him if they were willing to promote Brouwer instead of him. He certainly has no business usurping Ferland or Frolik from a top 6 role when this team is in the midst of a playoff chase until he proves he can achieve more than the odd game of NHL calibre offensive play.
As it stands now, he is probably the 8th best forward on the team (behind Jankowski). If the team needs to coddle him to produce 30 points, he isn't really helping anyone and should be cut loose via trade (if there is even a taker at this point). If they can get him going to a point where he is contributing 40-50 points and can move up and down the lineup, then yes, you have an asset worth keeping beyond this year imo.