Quote:
Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder
Sam Bennett could go and get a hat trick in 15 straight games, and it still wouldn’t lead to him getting more ice time or opportunity above JG or Tkachuk. It’s the glass ceiling on LW with the flames that IMO has led to him requesting a trade not that he doesn’t understand his role, I think it’s just frustration that he has no path forward no matter what he does.
He was electric in the playoffs but did he get anywhere near the amount of ice time as JG? The eye test was extremely obvious that he was our best player against Winn and Dal and yet no matter what he did his line didn’t get more ice time than the “1st line”.
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I'm a big fan of Sam Bennett, but he's never played a consistent game over an extended period of time to clearly justify a larger role. I think he could be a top three guy in comparison to who is currently on this roster, but he has to own at least some measure of responsibility for his current status on the roster. Clearly there have been sacred cows within the ranks, and the mediocrity of the team over the past five plus years would suggest that assuring guys of preferred duties has done little beyond create an attitude of complacency. Having said that has Sam Bennett kicked the door in, and by his play demanded that a center or two be relegated? At this point my eyes say the answer to that question is no.
If he wants to go, I don't blame him, but he does need to look in the mirror as he moves on if he wants greener pastures. The fact that the Flames have allowed a country club atmosphere to replace Hartley's "always earned," mentality does not totally explain the inability of Sam Bennett to become a core component of the team. At times he shows the potential to influence the game, and at other times he's merely throwing gas on a fire by expending energy with no obvious purpose. I suspect he goes elsewhere, finds an environment where a coach and a room welcome nothing beyond commitment, and he begins to thrive. Even in that environment Sam Bennett will need to learn to harness his efforts and not routinely carry the puck into scenarios where success is unlikely. When he's on, and plays the game in ten foot increments, he's that guy many have described as "Playoff Bennett," but too often he plays like he's stuck in midget level and can dictate the game to the other 9 skaters. Even McDavid has a hard time doing that.
It would be nice if he sharpened his focus and reshaped his approach, but that may be unlikely in Calgary. If moved, I hope he does develop into what he could be, and I also hope that Treliving would look to the future and begin acquiring future assets, because his habit of supplementing this core with seasoned professionals has done little beyond inviting annual team meetings, and eliciting resumes from coaching candidates.