[Huntingwhale]

I honestly don't care much if Bennett never puts up decent point totals. That ship has long sailed and I'm at peace with it. Luckily, he's developing other valuable assets in his repertoire. The Flames have had very few open ice big hitters since Phaneuf and recently Ferland left, as well since the league has been slowly shifting away from those kind of players.

Bennett had an adjustment period trying to figure out what kind of player he needed to become to stick around. It must have pained him to realize it wasn't going to be a top line point producer, or even a C for that matter. Not every player is going to translate their offensive game from Jr, no matter how hard they try. History of chock full of those type of players.

However the ones who go on to have a long career and find success are the ones who find a way to adapt and change their style when it's clear what got them drafted in the first place is no longer suitable. I'm as disappointed as anyone that he'll never be the franchise C he was projected to be. But right now, I'm overjoyed he's turning into a physical beast and someone who can play up and down the lineup.

The emergence of Elias Lindholm has certainly helped to offset the lack of scoring from Bennett. But the Flames also needed toughness and grit in the bottom 6. When you look at it through that lens, Bennett emerging as this kind of player is still one of the elements the team needs to have success. I'd say all things considered, if this is Bennett's destiny and the role he needs to play to have success, he's doing an excellent job at it.

Goals are fun to watch and celebrate. But I also love old school style hockey, and Sam Bennett is old school. I'm loving this style of play, and I know he feels good about it too.

Not too shabby for a kid who couldn't do a single pull-up at the combine.