Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Why do I hold the view I do? Because Sam Bennett has done very little since his rookie season. Because 26-27 points doesn't impress me. Because I don't think Bennett is a very good two-way hockey player and he is continually getting outscored by significant margins. Mostly I'm tired of the hype. I'm tired of the belief that Sam Bennett will suddenly find something in his game that is obviously missing. He has 312 games under his belt. He is done developing. It's not like he's going to magically become a smarter player or develop some new skill. Sam's best trait is his willingness to play physically and try really hard. I'm also really tired of hearing about a stretch of five games when the whole team shat the bed. I'm sorry, but I don't look past a real mediocre season just because a guy played hard during a very short playoff appearance. Mike Smith played really hard during the post season as well and I couldn't be happier to see him in an Oilers' jersey, because he was really mediocre to poor all season and the team is better without him. Bennett is in the same boat IMO. He's a player we can easily improve upon. I think we will miss his physical play, but that is a skill we should be able to go out and get if Treliving seriously thinks that is a problem.
And no, I didn't see any great strides under Peters. He's still the same player that has a muffin of a shot, that has plays die on stick, can't convert glorious opportunities, has a penchant for dumb penalties, and is on the ice for too many goals against. Bennett is a guy that should be looking over his shoulder because Dillon Dube and Andrew Mangipagne are looking for a full time gig, and Bennett's lack of production make him an easy target to be replaced. I would not be surprised to see Treliving deal him if there is an opportunity to fill a gap elsewhere on the roster. The sum of Sam Bennett's parts are underwhelming and the only reason he gets the latitude he does in these parts is because of his draft pedigree.
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Dude I don't have a problem with you talking back the Bennett just needs a chance crowd; honestly makes sense to me.
But you are in real danger of being equally on the rumble strips on the other side of the highway.
Bennett has third line production, and towards the top of that tier, ... an average #9 guy. His metrics suggest better things happen when he's on the ice, but he and his linemates don't finish for whatever reason. Could be a terrible shot, bad vision, bad luck or a combination.
But your need to make him replacement level in arguments is taking away from your point.