Quote:
Originally Posted by kevman
This.
Go back to the draft thread, lots of optimism with this pick as long as he was developed properly. Unfortunately for Bennettm, the Flames Oilers'd him. I think Bennett needed AHL seasoning but there was too much excitement around him at the time. His 4 goal game, etc. didn't help this. Then, by the time it was apparent he needed to be sent down, it was too late and there was no way he'd go through waivers.
I think he's far too young to write of completely. However, I don't know how to get him to the next level playing 3rd line minutes with scraps in the NHL.
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Looking back we can say that we rushed him, but throughout the process, he didn't give the team a reason to be send down.
Right after he was drafted, he looked great in training camp and would have made the team. Upon returning from surgery he proceeded to put up 2ppg and a 1gpg in the OHL. Followed by a great performance in the 2015 playoffs where he was at times the best player on the ice.
Following year he put up a very respectable 18/18 rookie season playing wing with Backlund/Frolik which we all thought was be a great developmental role for him - by sheltering him with two great 2way forwards he could learn to play defense at the NHL level.
Next year the goal was for him to take the next step at C with our new truculent RW RS consistent 20/20 UFA riding shotgun. And in all fairness, Bennett and Brouwer looked great in training camp together that year. His woes were largely attributed to a sophomore slump and the need to get stronger.
At the beginning of this year, following a sophomore slump and a full summer of training and getting bigger/faster as well as a bridge extension, expectations were sky high from everyone. I remember Tre saying that he believes this was the year Bennett would truly break out. For whatever reason it didn't materialize.
The best time to send him down would have been last year. I remember there was a lot of discussions about sending him down vs. keeping him up and having him figure it out up here. Hindsight is 20/20 but hey what can you do? I think this might be some of the reason why we are over marinating a few of our other prospects.