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?

tvp2003 · 04-10-2018, 10:26 PM

I went back and watched some highlights from 16/17 (thanks AC!) and then all of his goals from 17/18:

Nov 13 - backhand rebound in front of the net goes in five hole
Dec 2 (#1) - sharp angle shot from the goal line squeaks through the goalie
Dec 2 (#2) - partial 2 on 1, snap shot top corner
Dec 9 (GWG) - stickhandles into the slot, backhand blocker side
Dec 17 - 3 on 1, snap shot, far blocker side
Jan 11 - Pass deflects off a stick and in (PP)
Jan 30 - 2 on 1, centering pass slides through the five hole
Feb 13 - alone in front of the net, snapshot low blocker
Feb 22 - in the slot, deflects a centering pass top shelf with his backhand
March 7 - corrals a loose puck in the slot, roofs it over the sprawling goalie
March 9 - shovels in a backhand from in close, off his own rebound

Only a handful are what I would call "goal scorer" goals -- the two bolded ones above were basically him versus the goalie on an odd-man rush. His GWG against Vancouver was also a nice individual effort that showcased some of this other skills. However, I just don't see the goal scoring ability there other than pouncing on rebounds around the net -- AC's video is littered with scoring opportunities where he just isn't able to finish.

Fortunately he still has above average speed, vision, passing, and puck handling. He also plays with an edge, isn't afraid to throw the body, and can play a 200 ft game. Once he can figure how to stop taking dumb penalties, his floor will be a reliable effective third line player on a contending team. He's got one year left on his contract to hopefully show he has more to offer.

Edit: Bennett reminds me of the “young” James Neal in this piece. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s quite that easy to learn how to score goals at the NHL level: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en...edators-sniper

04-10-2018, 10:26 PM	#406
tvp2003 Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Exp:	I went back and watched some highlights from 16/17 (thanks AC!) and then all of his goals from 17/18: Nov 13 - backhand rebound in front of the net goes in five hole Dec 2 (#1) - sharp angle shot from the goal line squeaks through the goalie Dec 2 (#2) - partial 2 on 1, snap shot top corner Dec 9 (GWG) - stickhandles into the slot, backhand blocker side Dec 17 - 3 on 1, snap shot, far blocker side Jan 11 - Pass deflects off a stick and in (PP) Jan 30 - 2 on 1, centering pass slides through the five hole Feb 13 - alone in front of the net, snapshot low blocker Feb 22 - in the slot, deflects a centering pass top shelf with his backhand March 7 - corrals a loose puck in the slot, roofs it over the sprawling goalie March 9 - shovels in a backhand from in close, off his own rebound Only a handful are what I would call "goal scorer" goals -- the two bolded ones above were basically him versus the goalie on an odd-man rush. His GWG against Vancouver was also a nice individual effort that showcased some of this other skills. However, I just don't see the goal scoring ability there other than pouncing on rebounds around the net -- AC's video is littered with scoring opportunities where he just isn't able to finish. Fortunately he still has above average speed, vision, passing, and puck handling. He also plays with an edge, isn't afraid to throw the body, and can play a 200 ft game. Once he can figure how to stop taking dumb penalties, his floor will be a reliable effective third line player on a contending team. He's got one year left on his contract to hopefully show he has more to offer. Edit: Bennett reminds me of the “young” James Neal in this piece. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s quite that easy to learn how to score goals at the NHL level: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en...edators-sniper Last edited by tvp2003; 04-10-2018 at 10:38 PM.