[united]

The more I watch Sam Bennett the more I'm reminded of Benoit Pouliot.

Both were top-five picks (both fourth, actually).
Both are players with solid frames.
Both play with an edge without being dirty.
Both have good hands.
Both are decent skaters.
Neither has good vision.
Neither has a great release.
And what reminds me most is both take a ludicrous amount of needless offensive zone penalties. It's just one after another.

I'm not saying Bennett is Pouliot, because Bennett is better offensively and has a higher ceiling still...but Pouliot was never able to overcome his lack of hockey IQ despite good attributes in many other areas, or "on paper". I sure hope Bennett can turn things around but it seems like his decision making is declining instead of improving. I said on this forum I thought this would be his 50-point breakout year, but barring a nice mid-season run, he's been mostly a disappointment. Two immensely frustrating players.