[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

^ people trot it out but it’s BS.

His linemates and productivity by season quarter are here
https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/players/sam-bennett

He needs to seriously consider for what he is paying his agent

If I'm reading this right, this link says he played 24% of his even strength icetime with tkachuk and backlund last year, where he produced 33% of his offense.

Tkachuk and backlund played 17% of their minutes last year with Bennett and produced 11% of their points in those minutes.

So that's about 20 games in the spot mangiapane has been in. Bennett predictably saw his point totals shoot up, but he was a drag on his linemates.

This year mangiapane has played 40% of his minutes with them and produced 38% of his points there. Backlund has played 34% of minutes with mangiapane and produced 51% of his offense with him.

What's best for Bennett and what's best for the team are often in conflict which is why Bennett gets the leftover minutes; there are better performing line combos that take priority over getting Bennett icetime.