Quote:
Originally Posted by Love
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. |
To me, the player has the responsilty thrusted upon them to be the best they can be every night. What we saw in December vs what we’re seeing from him now is night and day. He literally has reverted back to his old ways at a time when we need him the most.
The thing that scares me about Bennett is that he doesn’t really possess an outstanding quality. He does a lot of things well, but he doesn’t have that one attribute that gives him an edge in game. He doesn’t have great puck control or vision like Johnny, he doesn’t have the size or finish of Monahan, he doesn’t have the shot or hockey sense that Ferland has, he doesn’t play a heavy game like Tkachuk does, he doesn’t skate as well as Backlund nor can he defend as well as him and Frolik.
I just don’t see an outstanding quality that he brings to the table that can supplant one of our top 6 players. On top of that he takes a ton of bad penalties that hurts the team and negates a lot of his positives he brings on a nightly basis. Maybe one day he’ll be the player that everyone thinks he can be, but I’ll bet the patience is running thin from upper management.