QOTD: The Bennett Situation - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 01-07-2015, 08:15 AM

Flames top prospect is back skating. He was a member of the Flames before announcing his surgery and therefore needs to be assigned to play in the OHL; he's an injured Flame until they make that call.

What would you do with him, assuming a full recovery in say 4 weeks?

Resolute 14 · 01-07-2015, 08:16 AM

Send him back. Period.

devo22 · 01-07-2015, 08:19 AM

Give him a handful of NHL games, then send him back to Kingston.

Lord Carnage · 01-07-2015, 08:21 AM

Send him back. With this season 1/2 done, better to save '9 games' for next year and just get him recuperating - keep him playing against smaller opponents too to give him the opportunity to feel more confident with the shoulder.

We can worry about his contract and everything else starting next year.

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Huntingwhale · 01-07-2015, 08:22 AM

Send him back as soon as he's ready. No sense in playing an 18 year old who hasn't played since pre-season coming off major surgery, going up against full grown adults in mid-season form pushing for playoff spots.

IgiTang · 01-07-2015, 08:26 AM

Let him test his shoulder against kids before throwing him in against men. Also, teams are in full swing and playing really well. He will look out of place on a NHL club due to lack of conditioning. The NHL tempo at this point in the season is too much of a hurdle.

Bingo · 01-07-2015, 08:27 AM

Straight back for me

- No point in risking in an injury in an NHL game
- No point in having him Baertschi that game (3 points or so) and cloud the decision

Has any NHL player ever traveled this path? If no then it will be interesting. Drafted high, almost makes team, goes for surgery so is never cut, spends half the season with the team in the weight room and at meetings, goes back to junior without playing a game.

PeteMoss · 01-07-2015, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Carnage

Send him back. With this season 1/2 done, better to save '9 games' for next year and just get him recuperating - keep him playing against smaller opponents too to give him the opportunity to feel more confident with the shoulder.

We can worry about his contract and everything else starting next year.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd send him down. But the 9 games reset each year. Playing 5 games this year, doesn't mean he can only play 4 next year.

burn_this_city · 01-07-2015, 08:31 AM

He earned a sniff by playing well in Camp. Give him a few games before deciding what to do.

Resolute 14 · 01-07-2015, 08:32 AM

The biggest reason to send him back is simple: We have no room for him right now. We already have so many centres that Granlund is about to get buried in the AHL and Colborne is playing the wing.

Stupid · 01-07-2015, 08:33 AM

Send him down. Like Treliving said; I can't remember any cases where a player has had too much seasoning in the minors.

skudr248 · 01-07-2015, 08:34 AM

You know.. there is also guy's pushing for playoff's in Juniors, and have alot of big boys.. who throw huge checks right... Why not give him a chance up here is management believes he is well enough to play? I think people are just to scared of the Oilers/Draistl debacle happening here

Hockeyguy15 · 01-07-2015, 08:35 AM

He isn't in game shape and the Flames are still in the hunt for playoffs. Do what is best for his development and send him back to junior.

Table 5 · 01-07-2015, 08:36 AM

Bennett already had his taste of the NHL in the preseason. Send him back right away and stay patient. There's no rush. If we need young guys there are plenty of them in the AHL.

Resolute 14 · 01-07-2015, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skudr248

You know.. there is also guy's pushing for playoff's in Juniors, and have alot of big boys.. who throw huge checks right... Why not give him a chance up here is management believes he is well enough to play? I think people are just to scared of the Oilers/Draistl debacle happening here

I don't think it is a case of being "scared", but of seeing no value. The Flames need to focus on what is best for Bennett and for their team, not on fans impatient to play with the latest new toy.

Camronius · 01-07-2015, 08:39 AM

Is there no option where we can send him for a conditioning stint with the baby flames, then make a decision?

flambers · 01-07-2015, 08:42 AM

I would think the Flames have always intended to send him back down as soon as he is medically cleared.

devo22 · 01-07-2015, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The biggest reason to send him back is simple: We have no room for him right now. We already have so many centres that Granlund is about to get buried in the AHL and Colborne is playing the wing.

Yeah, but it's going to be another few weeks until Bennett is good to go. Impossible to predict how the situation is going to be at that point. A couple of injuries and there's room.

Won't be disappointed if he goes straight to Kingston though.

Where ru Chris O'Sullivan · 01-07-2015, 08:46 AM

Tough, the team is a playoff contender and sure could use another productive centre. Would 9 games be enough to say he's ready for the NHL?

Although id vote to send him down, they should give him 9 games. He has a mentality about him that I think would really take whatever comes, very well. Can't speak for his parents, yet.

If he produces, that's a full-on troll of the oilers

foshizzle11 · 01-07-2015, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camronius

Is there no option where we can send him for a conditioning stint with the baby flames, then make a decision?

This is what I would do. I wouldn't mind seeing him get some time in Addy then maybe a game or two with the flames before going back to the CHL.