[News] With the 4th overall pick the Flames select C Sam Bennett

[H2SO4(aq)]

I cant wait to run into Bennett and Gaudreau at Nasher or Cowboys and just get dinged up with those fellas.

[Vinny01]

Per Sportaks recent article Bennett weighs 185 which is what Monahan weighed at last years camp. He said Monahan got to 200 by main camp. Bennett is an inch shorter than Monahan. His build doesn't seem like he could get to 200 but if he did I could see him sticking or at least making a serious case

If the flames don't upgrade their top end scoring before October Bennett might be a better offensive option than what they have in the top 6

[sun]

I'd be really surprised if Bennett could put on 15 lbs before main camp. He seems a lot narrower in the shoulders than Monahan and has a slighter frame in general. Doesn't look like an easy "gainer" to me.

[djsFlames]

Bennett isn't very broad, it's true. But the kid's got some beef still. In some of those fitness shots from today he definitely doesn't look like a total stick.

If he has a slimmer frame, no amount of work outs is going to really fix that. It's his frame. But strength doesn't necessarily depend on the broadness of your frame. He seems to have a lot of natural strength and 185 is already a fairly decent weight to begin with.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Bennett isn't very broad, it's true. But the kid's got some beef still. In some of those fitness shots from today he definitely doesn't look like a total stick.

If he has a slimmer frame, no amount of work outs is going to really fix that. It's his frame. But strength doesn't necessarily depend on the broadness of your frame. He seems to have a lot of natural strength and 185 is already a fairly decent weight to begin with.

According to the combine he's not very strong. Besides the pull-ups he only managed to do 2 reps of bench press.

RNH managed 6 reps of bench press and we have all heard the opinions on his physical readiness for the NHL.

If Bennett plays in the NHL this season it will be because he is ready skill wise rather than being "physically ready" IMO.

[YogiBerra]

RNH was ~15 pounds less than Bennet at the draft he was not as physically developed but he did fine in the nhl his first year. Just because Bennet couldn't do a few pullups doesn't mean he isn't ready for the nhl. Obviously he needs to work on his upper body but Monahan put on 10 pounds the summer after his draft Bennet is working hard and will likely be able to hold his own if he does make the nhl.

[GoJetsGo]

All indications are that Bennett will go back to junior, which is really the best spot for him.

It's a very "Oiler" way of thinking to judge him by his ability and readiness to step immediately into the lineup. I can't fathom why anyone would be thinking that way to begin with (outside of Oiler fans).

Let the Oilers throw Draisaitl on to the second line without him earning it or being ready. He can soak in that awful losing culture while Bennett takes his time growing the right way.

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

All indications are that Bennett will go back to junior, which is really the best spot for him.

It's a very "Oiler" way of thinking to judge him by his ability and readiness to step immediately into the lineup. I can't fathom why anyone would be thinking that way to begin with (outside of Oiler fans).

Let the Oilers throw Draisaitl on to the second line without him earning it or being ready. He can soak in that awful losing culture while Bennett takes his time growing the right way.

I don't think it's quite as unfathomable as you think. I'd personally like to see him at camp first before judging whether or not he's ready. Monahan did a fine job jumping into the NHL. Sure not Jeff Skinner good but Bennett could surprise us. But fortunately we have lots of time so like you, I would lean towards more development first

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

I don't think it's quite as unfathomable as you think. I'd personally like to see him at camp first before judging whether or not he's ready. Monahan did a fine job jumping into the NHL. Sure not Jeff Skinner good but Bennett could surprise us. But fortunately we have lots of time so like you, I would lean towards more development first

You misread my post. I said it was unfathomable to think there are those (a minority) who would evaluate him based on his ability to immediately step into the lineup.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

According to the combine he's not very strong. Besides the pull-ups he only managed to do 2 reps of bench press.
.

Source?

Cause according to this video he did at least 3. He may have done more, the video cuts away.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=622765

[Samuelsson]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Source?

Cause according to this video he did at least 3. He may have done more, the video cuts away.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=622765

I love how we've got our very own 'bull#### man' - makes getting to the point all that much easier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lRIQGU2RRk

Anyway, am excited to see how he does in camp. I think we wait until then to see if he earns a spot in the lineup - but I agree, at this point in time, I think another year of junior would be best. Would like him to prove me wrong (same as Monahan did).

Are the scrimmages being streamed on the Flames site like (I think) they were last year? Being in England makes it all the more harder to stay tuned.

Edit: tried to embed but it didn't seem to be working...

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If he has a slimmer frame, no amount of work outs is going to really fix that. It's his frame.

Fortunately, that is sometimes a self-correcting problem at his age. I was older than Bennett is now when I stopped growing upwards and my frame very suddenly got a good deal wider. I actually developed stretch marks on my shoulders.

(Nowadays, when I grow sideways, it's just because I'm getting fatter. This was not the case at the time I am speaking of; it was bone and muscle then.)

What you see now, with Bennett's frame, is not necessarily what you will get in two or three more years.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by A Shot Wide

When Bennett and Monahan combine their powers they become a superhero, and his superhero slogan will be:

"Umm I guess"

Mason McDonald's keyword seems to be "pretty" in the sense of "pretty good", "pretty tough", etc.

Our kids got some speech quirks already. Should be interesting to watch them grow up.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Source?

Cause according to this video he did at least 3. He may have done more, the video cuts away.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=622765

I don't have any official source. It was posted somewhere on HFboards during the combine. Someone posted the top ten in each category as well as some random scores for some of the top prospects.

Maybe I didn't remember correctly, or maybe they didn't count one or more of Bennett's reps due to form and/or speed. I don't know. It's besides the point though really.

Bennett if he breaks camp with the Flames in the fall will be one of the physically weakest NHLers in the league so if he does make it, its all due to hockey playing ability. You can't catch up to NHL strength in 3 months.

If he does make it in the fall I believe that would be a good sign, although god forbid if he gets injured, some posters will scream bloody murder about how he wasn't physically ready.

[Street Pharmacist]

Huh. Tried looking that up and couldn't find anything. Did find this though:

http://www.topendsports.com/sport/ic...sults-2014.htm

Hunter Smith and Brendan Hickey feature prominently. Hickey with 8 to 10's in the twenty performance tests

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Bennett if he breaks camp with the Flames in the fall will be one of the physically weakest NHLers in the league so if he does make it, its all due to hockey playing ability. You can't catch up to NHL strength in 3 months.
.

You're making it sound like Bennett is some weak, small, soft player. That's not Bennett.

For the life of me, I don't understand why some people are trying to paint that picture of him. Likely due to the pull-up ridiculousness and you just feel the need to pile on - but watch some video of his time with the Frontenacs. He's no flower.

Sam Bennett is, depending on which report you believe, between 6'0" and 6'1" and weighs in somewhere between 178 lbs and 185 lbs.

RNH is CURRENTLY 6'0" and 171 lbs and is an every day NHL player.
Erik Karlsson is 6'0" and 180 lbs.
Patrick Kane is 5'11" and 181 lbs.
David Krejci is 6'0" and 188 lbs.
Jordan Eberle is 5'11" and 180 lbs.
Nathan Mackinnon is 6'0" and 182 lbs.

Bennett, if you take the mid-point between 178 lbs and 185 lbs, is already at an NHL playing weight.

Yes, of course he has muscle to build and weight/height to gain - he's young. A fair bit younger than most of those he was drafted with as well. He has a summer to build muscle, but he's not far off physically.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

You're making it sound like Bennett is some weak, small, soft player. That's not Bennett.

For the life of me, I don't understand why some people are trying to paint that picture of him. Likely due to the pull-up ridiculousness and you just feel the need to pile on - but watch some video of his time with the Frontenacs. He's no flower.

He is weak. I didn't say he was small or soft.

I didn't try to say he was small either. People were talking about that before the pull up incident however. He's likely never going to be better than average size. I don't really think size is important anyhow, and centers are the smallest players on average in the NHL to boot.



I take a little issue with people saying he has a summer to build muscle, like that is going to drastically alter whether he makes the team or not. He won't go from boy to beast in 3 months. He will pretty much make it on the skill and ability he has now or not.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

You're making it sound like Bennett is some weak, small, soft player. That's not Bennett.

For the life of me, I don't understand why some people are trying to paint that picture of him. Likely due to the pull-up ridiculousness and you just feel the need to pile on - but watch some video of his time with the Frontenacs. He's no flower.

Sam Bennett is, depending on which report you believe, between 6'0" and 6'1" and weighs in somewhere between 178 lbs and 185 lbs.

RNH is CURRENTLY 6'0" and 171 lbs and is an every day NHL player.
Erik Karlsson is 6'0" and 180 lbs.
Patrick Kane is 5'11" and 181 lbs.
David Krejci is 6'0" and 188 lbs.
Jordan Eberle is 5'11" and 180 lbs.
Nathan Mackinnon is 6'0" and 182 lbs.

Bennett, if you take the mid-point between 178 lbs and 185 lbs, is already at an NHL playing weight.

Yes, of course he has muscle to build and weight/height to gain - he's young. A fair bit younger than most of those he was drafted with as well. He has a summer to build muscle, but he's not far off physically.

Oil Stain is just looking for company to share his misery.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I take a little issue with people saying he has a summer to build muscle, like that is going to drastically alter whether he makes the team or not. He won't go from boy to beast in 3 months. He will pretty much make it on the skill and ability he has now or not.

Three hard months in the gym can do a LOT.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Three hard months in the gym can do a LOT.

You have to define a LOT.

Will it give you a good jump start towards the future? Sure.

Will it put you in the ballpark of pro athletes that have been training hard for years? Nope.

I'm sure he will get there in time. Right now though I would say his skill will do the talking.