Quote:
Originally Posted by yourbestfriend
Lets be objective about this and take the homer glasses off for a second.
Yakupov through 3 seasons had 88pts in 192games or 0.46pgp.
4 seasons in he was at 111pts in 252games or 0.44pgp.
Bennett through 3 seasons has 88pts in 240games or 0.37pgp.
I'm not an Oiler's apologist by any means, but why was the whole board declaring Yak a bust well before 252games, and yet we still keep giving Bennett a pass or make up excuses for him? I'm all for giving guys a chance, but it's stupid to have double standards just because Bennett is a Flame.
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Nothing says 'solid argument' liking pulling out the homer glasses card.
Yakupov showed a few things from day one:
1) very low hockey IQ. I know people say that about Bennett now, but he was considered to have elite hockey IQ when drafted. He hasn't figured it out at the NHL level yet, but there is more reason for hope than there was with Yakupov
2) Yakupov showed from day 1 that he wasn't keen on being coached - he wanted to do his thing, his way. Bennett is the opposite. He wants nothing more than to please the coach, and frankly, I think that is getting in his way right now. Once a coach can find a spot in the roster, and a role, that Bennett can settle into, I think we'll see the game slow down for him.
3) Yakupov was playing for the worst organization in the long and storied history of hockey. I, for one, still thought Yakupov was worth a reclamation project if he could get the stink washed off him. But alas, he could not.
4) Bennett has shown - in 2 different playoff seasons - that he can be a very useful forward in the playoffs. He was arguably the Flames 3rd or 4th best forward in both their playoff stints. Needless to say, there is no such comparison for Yakupov.