Quote:
Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan
Sam Bennett put up 91 points in 57 games in his last full year of junior, was physical, could skate, and played center. And was ranked highly by pretty much everyone. If they passed on him to draft someone else because of a gut feeling they would have looked like idiots.
Some high picks just don't pan out. It happens every single year. These kids are 18 years old, it's impossible to look into a crystal ball to see what they look like when they've developed years down the road.
I don't blame the Flames at all for that pick. Just sucks it didn't work out.
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If I recall correctly, the two alternatives to Bennett most frequently floated around leading up to that draft were Nick Ritchie and Valeri Nichuskin.
We would not have been much better off with either.
Flames pretty much went the consensus route at the time and it just didn't work out.
I remember Loubo suggesting they take a look at Horvat. Smart guy. Would've been a great pick and he would be the 2C at this point in all likelihood.