Quote:
Originally Posted by yourbestfriend
That is the only pro-Bennett argument there is. Most reasonable people would say that at ~250 games into their NHL careers, a player has more or less defined what kind of player they will be. Players who pull a Karlsson or Wheeler are the exception and not the norm and furthermore it's unfair to put those expectations on a player who just averaged 26points his last 2 seasons.
Who could of imagined or expected that Karlsson would go from 6goals and 25pts to 43goals and 78pts? Nobody, because it never happens.
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No. Just no. A 28-year-old who has played 250 games is entirely different from a 22-year-old who has played 250 games. It's actually the 22-year olds that do make a big splash who are the exception rather than the norm. A 22-year-old who's played 250 games is still early in his development and arguably would have benefited from more time in the minors. Hockey players generally don't hit their peak until their mid to late twenties, which in Bennett's case is 3-7 years from now. Unfortunately, sending Bennett to the minors was not an option for the Flames, so he stayed up and was placed in a lesser role with weak linemates.
Let's not forget that Jankowski is 2 years older than Bennett. Would it have been a good move 2 years ago to trade him for a 4th round pick?