Bennett was ranked super high...and even by his peers/coaches.
I remember he won Best Playmaker, Best Stickhandler, and Smartest player in the OHL coaches poll in his draft year.
https://ontariohockeyleague.com/2013...-poll-winners/
Which is kind of hilarious...because even as a Bennett supporter in his time in Calgary I'm not sure I'd even have him as average playmaking ability or hockey sense. Pure determination, will, and individual skill...100%. Playmaking and hockey sense...not so much.
I do feel like the Flames really messed up in developing his skillset somehow, they wanted to make him a prototypical power forward and don't think his other skills were unlocked.
Like Sam Bennett at the NHL level always was a bit out of control and a bit chaotic. He wasn't like that at the junior level, where he was more composed with his play. I watch his junior videos and I never saw the playmaking ability he shows in those videos at the NHL level at all.
Not sure if that was just not being able to translate that at the higher speed of the NHL, or if it was just what he thought he had to do to be an NHLer.