Quote:
Originally Posted by pepper24
The biggest reason for Bennett’s decline after rookie season wasn’t Gulutzun but not playing with Backlund who sheltered him and propped his stats. GG’s first season Bennett was moved to center to carry his own line and build off rookie year. Backlund then helped groom Tkachuk. Bennett’s decline is more on player than coach.
|
Every player is affected by their linemates.
Monahan and Bennett had similar first years playing with quality line mates.
Year 2, Monahan draws Gaudreau (a superstar level player who was a top player out of the gate) and Hudler (a 55-60 point pace guy), top line minutes, PP time, and flourished
Year 2, Bennett gets guys like Brouwer, Versteeg, Chiasson, 3rd line minutes, no PP time
How can people continue with the argument that it is all on him and not on the coach / line mates / situation / opportunity?
As I said, unless he physically took the lineup card and crayon away from Gulutzan, he was not going to be put in a position to succeed.