Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Sam Bennett Value: Have the Flames held on TOO long? OR is he awesome?

Love · 02-10-2018, 04:27 AM

I think the organization failed Bennett. A whole season of suck and the highest pick in Flames history and he was the prize.

Just looking back at him fresh out of junior and he looks like a completely different player. Much more confident with his moves. He looks quicker too... maybe a bit too many bench presses and bicep curls?

We did not draft a bust, but we might have developed one. He should have been groomed to be a future star. Killer comparisons get thrown out all the time, but one I really liked was Toews. Fast, slick hands, 2 way threat and an allstar. He could have been that (and he may still become that, he isn't a finished product). Besides playing with Backlund where he saw his most success, he's never really not been the best player on his own line... Or it's always been close. This season he's seen nearly 50% of his even strength ice time with Janko & Hathaway. Hathaway is a fourth liner on most teams and Jankowski is an even less experienced rookie. Last season it was Brouwer & Versteeg. I strongly believe Bennett needed (and still now needs) his Hudler. Look what he did for Monahan and Gaudreau. Tkachuk got Backlund and got to stay there. The only move this organization did to help in Bennett's development was bringing in Brouwer... Other than that he's been playing with the leftovers since his rookie season ended.

Bennett was a better player than Draisaitl coming out of junior.

(http://www.mynhldraft.com/2014-nhl-d...pect-rankings/

Here Bennett is ranked ahead of Leon by every single main scouting service covering the 2014 draft)

Draisaitl looked like a mess and had to sent back to the WHL after falling flat on his face. Bennett returned from a major shoulder injury, played 20 games in the OHL and jumped into the NHL playoffs and not only not looked out of place, but he was exceptional. That next season the Oilers were smart and glued Draisaitl to Taylor Hall's hip. Bennett was solid too in his campaign beside Backlund. If that wasn't enough, Draisaitl then got an even better linemate the following season in McGenerational, while Bennett was downgraded to Brouwer. Bennett aside from a few stints with Gaudreau here and there, never has had the luxury of playing besides an elite linemate.

Some players can come from junior and be impact players, and some need to be lead in that direction. I truly believe Sam Bennett had that potential, he just didn't go to the right team that was able to help him utilize it.

02-10-2018, 04:27 AM	#225
Love Lifetime Suspension Join Date: Apr 2017 Exp:	I think the organization failed Bennett. A whole season of suck and the highest pick in Flames history and he was the prize. Just looking back at him fresh out of junior and he looks like a completely different player. Much more confident with his moves. He looks quicker too... maybe a bit too many bench presses and bicep curls? YouTube Video We did not draft a bust, but we might have developed one. He should have been groomed to be a future star. Killer comparisons get thrown out all the time, but one I really liked was Toews. Fast, slick hands, 2 way threat and an allstar. He could have been that (and he may still become that, he isn't a finished product). Besides playing with Backlund where he saw his most success, he's never really not been the best player on his own line... Or it's always been close. This season he's seen nearly 50% of his even strength ice time with Janko & Hathaway. Hathaway is a fourth liner on most teams and Jankowski is an even less experienced rookie. Last season it was Brouwer & Versteeg. I strongly believe Bennett needed (and still now needs) his Hudler. Look what he did for Monahan and Gaudreau. Tkachuk got Backlund and got to stay there. The only move this organization did to help in Bennett's development was bringing in Brouwer... Other than that he's been playing with the leftovers since his rookie season ended. Bennett was a better player than Draisaitl coming out of junior. (http://www.mynhldraft.com/2014-nhl-d...pect-rankings/ Here Bennett is ranked ahead of Leon by every single main scouting service covering the 2014 draft) Draisaitl looked like a mess and had to sent back to the WHL after falling flat on his face. Bennett returned from a major shoulder injury, played 20 games in the OHL and jumped into the NHL playoffs and not only not looked out of place, but he was exceptional. That next season the Oilers were smart and glued Draisaitl to Taylor Hall's hip. Bennett was solid too in his campaign beside Backlund. If that wasn't enough, Draisaitl then got an even better linemate the following season in McGenerational, while Bennett was downgraded to Brouwer. Bennett aside from a few stints with Gaudreau here and there, never has had the luxury of playing besides an elite linemate. Some players can come from junior and be impact players, and some need to be lead in that direction. I truly believe Sam Bennett had that potential, he just didn't go to the right team that was able to help him utilize it. Last edited by Love; 02-10-2018 at 07:33 AM.