Originally Posted by
MisterJoji 
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You conveniently ignored the fact that Backlund was often injured following his rookie season. He went from 0.34 -> 0.27 -> 0.50 -> 0.51 points per game. Bit of sophomore slump but he still progressed nicely afterwards. Bennett has gone from 0.47 -> 0.32 -> 0.30 points per game.
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Bennetts ice time and quality of linemates also dropped because the Flames didn't have anyone to put with him, while Backland's improved.
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Also age doesn’t equal NHL experience. I give more leeway to an older guy like Foo because he played 3 full years in the NCAA (improving every year) and a full year in the AHL (similar to Jankowski) where as Bennett is going on year 4 in the NHL. We haven’t seen what Foo can do at the NHL level which gives him more potential. Sam has now given us multiple years of underperforming (relative to draft position) at the NHL level.
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I would agree that makes his potential more unknown. But is "younger and has already accrued more "NHL Experience" with flashes of dominance like when he had a 4 goal game" not a better bet for who has the higher potential overall?
Foo's potential is a nice narrative, but realistically if he ends up anywhere near the level Bennett already is, it is a major win. Age is useful tool to know if they are likely to improve, stay the same, or loose a step. Foo is farther along that curve then Bennett and so more likely to be what he is.
Also I feel like there is a lot or room still between underperforming 4th overall expectations and overperforming for someone who was undrafted.