I remember watching Bennett play in Penticton after being drafted. I think it was Gaudreau's 2nd year at the tournament and he was just streets better than the other Flames prospects at the time.
But I distinctly recall one offensive play where Bennett managed to slip the puck to Gaudreau in the slot for a great scoring chance, but it was such a slick play that Gaudreau was taken by surprise and couldn't finish it - something that had happened time and again during the tournament with Gaudreau's passes to other players. I thought we had another prospect on the team with the skill and vision to keep up with Johnny.
That's about the last flash of high end brilliance I can recall seeing from Bennett. Whether he got great opportunities or not, high calibre players always at least show flashes of brilliance here and there. Why Bennett stopped showing them I'll never know. Maybe he just finally found himself in a league where his skill and vision rose only to (or below) the mean, and he simply couldn't develop his game to compensate. Whatever the case, I have no doubt we'll never see him become much more than he is today - there are just no flashes of anything great skill or magic in his game.
That said, Bennett isn't unique in being a player who excels in the playoffs but not the regular season. Back when the Flames regularly made the postseason we all knew this: there were guys you kept on the roster because they rose to the big games. Most of us likely tend to forget that given the sporadic appearances the Flames have made in the playoffs lately.
So I'm happy to see him move on, but the Flames needn't rush. If they can get back to the playoffs this year they'll be glad to have him, even if it's only for a handful of games.
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