Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
And that, right there, is the rub with where he can play. Its why he has to be limited to the minutes he plays in a game and why he simply isnt a 2nd liner. His hockey IQ is flat out low.
Same silly junior move that turns the puck over repeatedly, same stupid penalties.
This is year 5 now....and same things he was given a "rookie pass" for even as late as last year. Not good enough to play the PP and certainly unable to help on the pk. He has been given "better line mates" as was the refrain from many. Same results.
So where does he slot in realistically? 10-12 minutes a night at ES and very little more? Thats bordering on 4th line duties.
I honestly dont know what to do with the guy but I do know that less is more with him. Problem is they have little choice in moving him down because anyone else that would take his spot is even worse offensively.
I still wish they would let him watch 2 or 3 games from up top and make him practice his way back into the lineup. Let Czarnik take his spot. It couldnt be any worse, though whoever has to carry Lucic on that line will look worse than they are, but it is what it is and they have to adapt.
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You're a lot more anti-Bennett than I, and we've gone back and forth on this for years so that shouldn't come as a surprise.
As you can see by my game comments I'm certainly not a Bennett apologist, yet nor am I looking to move the guy to the fourth line or just give up on him.
He's a good third liner, probably Calgary's best third liner after Derek Ryan when Ryan gets through his usual cold October. He's an effective player when he stays in his lane, and I think that's the key for the coaching staff. He came in with ideas of moving up the lineup and it hasn't happened. His desire to contribute creates both the need to push the issue and take silly penalties and the toe drags to create individual scoring impact that can keep him with better players.
He has to let up on that. Be the two way guy that's tough to play against. Focus defensively. Don't take penalties. Get pucks deep and get in and get them.
Do that and he will build trust and then maybe just maybe he can be the Frolik guy on a second line that provides honest, accountable minutes.