Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
I know it sounds like im anti-Bennett and im really not, but there is a very simple explanation for this....
His skills are ok, always have been.
His hockey IQ simply isnt though and that is why he has been so abysmal offensively. He doesnt think the game well enough to be where he needs to be nor adjust to be effective. He is STILL trying his go to junior move on NHL defensemen and predictably it just doesn't work. His boneheaded penalties (that he has cleaned up so far this year) are another indicator.
It's the same reason he has been an abject failure at C. The thinking part of that position, particularly in the 200' sense, is a big level above playing the wing.
I really doubt it changes for him either as im not sure IQ can be taught to any degree that it makes a substantial difference.
What you see is what you get with him...a (maybe) 25-35 pt banger/crasher 3rd line guy. Playing him on the 2nd line and expecting him to break out offensively is a reach IMO.
Hope i am dead wrong though.
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Hockey IQ is the same knock on Virtanen.
I do agree with you though, You can tell Bennett doesn’t make the smartest plays out there or see the ice particularly well but it shouldn’t prevent him from being a point producer as he’s still getting into scoring areas, he just doesn’t have an NHL shot and release which is why I’m wondering why he and his team (agent and supporters) haven’t identified this yet and worked on it. Virtanen did.