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SuperMatt18 · 01-19-2022, 08:43 PM

I think If they handled Bennett right here he’s probably not even traded TBH. I’ve said for a long time that Tkachuk-Bennett should have been paired together, and the lines in 16-17 should have been:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Bennett - Versteeg
Frolik - Backlund - Brouwer
Bouma - Stajan - Chiasson

I do get why they tried to have Brouwer and Versteeg as Bennett’s wingers, two veteran guys that were supposed to help him. But when that didn’t work the answer should not have been moving him to wing.

And it’s tough to say what happens in Carolina. Aho-Staal-Lindholm did play together at times, but all three were natural centers. Bennett did have time with Tkachuk and Backlund / Gaudreau-Monahan too and while he looked better than he did on the third line it wasn’t lights out.

I think Bennett really challenges the tale that “You can never have too many centers, they can just shift to wing” . Lots of guys can’t just shift to wing and still be as effective, Bennett, Backlund, and Lindholm all look to be guys more effective in the middle.

01-19-2022, 08:43 PM	#3408
SuperMatt18 Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	I think If they handled Bennett right here he’s probably not even traded TBH. I’ve said for a long time that Tkachuk-Bennett should have been paired together, and the lines in 16-17 should have been: Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland Tkachuk - Bennett - Versteeg Frolik - Backlund - Brouwer Bouma - Stajan - Chiasson I do get why they tried to have Brouwer and Versteeg as Bennett’s wingers, two veteran guys that were supposed to help him. But when that didn’t work the answer should not have been moving him to wing. And it’s tough to say what happens in Carolina. Aho-Staal-Lindholm did play together at times, but all three were natural centers. Bennett did have time with Tkachuk and Backlund / Gaudreau-Monahan too and while he looked better than he did on the third line it wasn’t lights out. I think Bennett really challenges the tale that “You can never have too many centers, they can just shift to wing” . Lots of guys can’t just shift to wing and still be as effective, Bennett, Backlund, and Lindholm all look to be guys more effective in the middle. Last edited by SuperMatt18; 01-19-2022 at 08:54 PM.