Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Sure. But many of us argued at the time that more ice time in the top 6, with guys like Tkachuk, would have allowed Bennett to become a better player much quicker.
They kept playing him in a 3rd line role, and sure enough, he became a 3rd line player. The talent was there, the desire weas there. He should have been playing in a top 6 role with better line-mates, and if he was, he'd still be here.
|
He had plenty of opportunity here to play with good linemates, he was on the 3rd line but he was terrible when he played for us. He started figuring out his identity towards the time when he was traded from the Flames. He lacked an understanding of what playstyle will earn him constant success in the league, and I believe Huberdeau was the one who helped him a lot in that regard.
And I do not think Bennett would have became that player here while playing with Tkachuk. Tkachuk is not the type of player who can carry Bennett, but Huberdeau is/was, did we have somebody like Huberdeau to play with Bennett? No, but Florida did. Best alternative to Huberdeau that we had was Johny, but Bennett was not going to center him over Lindholm or late 2010s Monahan.