Quote:
Originally Posted by ComixZone
No young player gets given bad players the way Bennett was. Go look at recent comparable top picks, and look at their linemates. What the Flames did with Bennett is not what good teams do with young promising players. Expecting young players to step in and carry linemates as bad as what Bennett got is unrealistic and damaging, and it's one of many reasons why this organization has sucked as long as it has. They make stupid decisions.
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ALL young players are generally eased into a lineup, not given top line/best linemates off the hop.
As has been pointed out, he was no better than usual when he was with the top line.
Blaming linemates for Bennetts regression and subsequent lack of consistency in his offensive game is just ridiculous. Top picks are top picks not because they get to play with certain players...they are the certain players after some time. His time has already been underway for at least a year.
The guy has been a pro for 4 years now. Do you see ANY progression? Maybe he bucks the trend and has a break out year, but watching his game, I certainly don't see it. Hell, he is still trying junior moves on NHL dmen every game and getting embarrassed when he does, yet he continues to do so. Just not very smart when it comes down to it.
His compete level fluctuates shift to shift at times. He can be a bulldog one moment and completely invisible for the next 2 periods when he then will take a foolish penalty 200 feet from his net. Again, hockey IQ is very questionable.
He looks like he will be a good to great PKer though, and that is something for sure. Just not what a 4th overall should become as a ceiling.
I will agree most all the tools are there, but then there is that unavoidable toolbox part of the equation. Thus far the guy simply hasn't shown any ability/willingness to adjust what he does to be both more successful offensively and in turn be an asset to his team.
Again, if he needs to be part of a package that upgrades where he was supposed to already be, then BT pulls the trigger in a heartbeat IMO.