Quote:
Originally Posted by tvp2003
Instead of Lindholm he gets Bennett, instead of Gaudreau he gets Balcers. Just a slight downgrade -- no Barkov for you.
Because Tkachuk isn't a third liner, and Bennett could never overtake Monahan and Backlund.
I guess we'll see how Bennett's game has rounded out, Tkachuk has always benefitted from strong two-way centres in the past.
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Backlund's line should have been the third line all along- as we all were saying and are now seeing. We never gave Bennett enough offensive rope to prove he could be part of a second line, which he has evidently proven since in Florida.
Putting him with a well producing Tkachuk in year 3 of Tkachuk's time here could have provided a much needed offensive spark to both. Tkachuk-Bennett-Mangiapane would have been interesting to watch.
Anyways, I think Bennett is a poor attitude player who struggled with effort and mentality during his later years here. I don't think he was ever going to turn out, and am still not sure he will remain a productive top 6 player. My personal guess is around 40 points this year. But to say he wasn't able to displace monahan or backlund is just malarkey, he was never given even close to a chance to do that.