Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
You're leaving out the circumstances completely though.
Last year he was up and down the roster in a 5 game series where the Flames were getting worked.
This year he was a center (not a wing), on a line with consistent linemates and was a consistently impactful player.
That doesn't guarantee anything at all, and I certainly understand the reluctance to assume he's turned a corner, but it's food for thought and a change in circumstances that warrant a look next year in my opinion.
The two playoff years aren't really comparable in my mind, other than his consistency to show up at playoff time.
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I have long since moved on from the idea of trading Bennett, he'll obviously get a look because who the hell else is there? Janko Experiment is over, Ryan looks meh and if you'd give me a choice between who plays 3rd line C between ryan and bennett I'd say Bennett if only to keep Ryan as fresh as possible for heavy PK minutes (which bennett doesn't play).
ALso I feel like bennett was up and down the roster this year as well, it just happens his first shift on the top line he took a hooking penalty, but he was getting #1 PP minutes some games it felt like, and saw time on lines 1, 2 and 3.
he had one game against the jets where he played more than 14 minutes and then played over 14 minutes in every single game against the Stars. once Tkachuk was out bennett was playing ~18 minutes per game.
Seems like he was pretty up and down the lineup.