Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
I'm skeptical Bennett can translate his playoff success into being a productive 2C or 3C over a full season.
Most of his goals were scored with a ferocious forecheck and by crashing and banging around the net. It's extremely difficult to maintain that kind of relentlessness for 82 games.
The game is refereed differently in the playoffs vs regular season. Bennett would take a couple minors a game if he played that way all the time.
The role of an NHL center is to maintain possession of the puck, use vision and smarts distribute it to wingers, and backcheck down low when he doesn't have the puck. Bennett still doesn't do those things. He's still not a very good passer, and he's not great without the puck.
You have to ask yourself why a guy with his wheels, who plays in the bottom 6, has not been entrusted to kill penalties. It's because his anticipation, patience, and discipline are lacking.
He's fun guy to watch, and his style of play is well-suited to the compressed intensity of the playoffs. But I just don't see him as a line-driving NHL centre.
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I actually agree with a lot of your takes. Bennett’s game has always seen an incredible uptick in the playoffs because his intensity increases significantly in the post season. Playoff Sam Bennett is absolutely a real thing.
I have my doubts that he can keep this level of play in the regular season as well much like Micheal Ferand. But I think with Lucic and Dube as his new linemates, can still be be a very effective line. He also showed some powerplay prowess in front of the net. I’ve said it before, but I think he needs to start learning how to tip in pucks like Tkachuk does, as it could make him a handful to deal with in front of the net.
Ultimately, if he doesn’t excel in the regular season, but can do it in the playoffs, that’s still tremendously valuable as the Flames’ still need the players to get them through the playoffs. Hopefully this team will still have enough players to get the team to the playoffs though in the end.
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