The Legend of Sam Bennett

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Well he didn’t centre Lindholm because Lindholm (IMO) was brought in as a centre. And he was brought in because Bennett wasn’t looking good.

At what point did Bennett ever look like he should centre Gaudreau?

After the playoffs? The fact it was never tried and if it was it was not very long says volumes of how bad this organization poorly handled Sam Bennett.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

At what point did Bennett ever look like he should centre Gaudreau?

- As a rookie, when Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris went on a tear on the road and Bennett had six points in four games, only to be split up Edit: Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris had 62.01% xGF together and Gaudreau-Bennett-Frolik had 65.41% xGF together... this isn't even a 50 minute sample size for the two lines combined... that's a knock on the coaching staff for not sticking with it

- As a sophomore, when Gaudreau-Bennett-Chiasson actually looked like an effective line that maybe just needed a right winger who wasn't Alex Chiasson or Troy Brouwer Edit: fun fact, Gaudreau-Bennett-Chiasson had 63.21% xGF in 134:16 as a line - even if it was Chiasson... the three of them should have been given a chance together based on that alone

- As a third year player, when Monahan got injured, and Gulutzan instead decided to put NICK SHORE as Gaudreau's center and NICK SHORE on PP1 Edit: Oh yeah, Gaudreau-Bennett-Foo actually was a line for one whole game. 66.67% xGF together. Shore was still the guy on PP1 though

- As a fourth year player, when Bennett was the best player in the playoffs bar none while the Gatorade line had become invisible after the all star break.

Those are a few points.

I'm sure you'll rebut them with "but Bennett should have produced in the bottom six" but that'll just become a cyclical argument. I've answered your question. In my opinion Bennett earned at least a few looks, but never actually got them due to the quick trigger finger of coaches to reunite Monahan and Gaudreau.

And no, I don't feel Bennett on the right wing of Gaudreau and Monahan is a fair chance. It wasn't a fair chance for Mikael Backlund either. Bennett and Backlund thrive in the middle of the ice in my opinion. Putting them on right wing, especially Monahan's right wing, is counterintuitive.

I'll conclude this with a counter-question

At what point did Bennett ever look like he should centre Huberdeau?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Whoever acquired Bennett was going to give him a top 6 chance. There was a reason why he was drafted 4th OA and was highly regarded as the top pick in the draft with everything he can do on the ice.

Pretty sure Coach Q’s mentality was “if he doesn’t work out with Huberdeau and Duclair, then I can slot him on the 3rd line.”

Have to give the player a LEGIT opportunity to succeed. Can’t say Calgary did that. Should’ve split Monahan and Gaudreau a long time ago.

[SuperMatt18]

Honestly they could have even just played him with Lucic and Dube from day 1 this season.

I think that was what frustrated Sam the most and him starting the year on the 4th line with Nordstrom and Lucic is what made him realize he needed to demand a trade.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by tkflames

So...which of Bennett or Bargain Basement Duclair is suddenly carrying the line. This is nonsense and shows that you likely haven't seen Huberdeau play in years. I would take Huberdeau 10/10 over Gaudreau to carry a line as a winger.

I've watched the Panthers plenty, thank you very much.



But yeah, didn't mean to come across like Huberdeau is bad or anything, he just can't carry a line the same way Barkov can. You can attach two pylons next to Barkov and he'll make it work, just look at the wingers he's worked with over the years. Huby isn't quite at the same level but still, absolutely a beast when he is on.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

- As a rookie, when Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris went on a tear on the road and Bennett had six points in four games, only to be split up Edit: Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris had 62.01% xGF together and Gaudreau-Bennett-Frolik had 65.41% xGF together... this isn't even a 50 minute sample size for the two lines combined... that's a knock on the coaching staff for not sticking with it

- As a sophomore, when Gaudreau-Bennett-Chiasson actually looked like an effective line that maybe just needed a right winger who wasn't Alex Chiasson or Troy Brouwer Edit: fun fact, Gaudreau-Bennett-Chiasson had 63.21% xGF in 134:16 as a line - even if it was Chiasson... the three of them should have been given a chance together based on that alone

- As a third year player, when Monahan got injured, and Gulutzan instead decided to put NICK SHORE as Gaudreau's center and NICK SHORE on PP1

- As a fourth year player, when Bennett was the best player in the playoffs bar none while the Gatorade line had become invisible after the all star break.

Those are a few points.

I'm sure you'll rebut them with "but Bennett should have produced in the bottom six" but that'll just become a cyclical argument. I've answered your question. In my opinion Bennett earned at least a few looks, but never actually got them due to the quick trigger finger of coaches to reunite Monahan and Gaudreau.

And no, I don't feel Bennett on the right wing of Gaudreau and Monahan is a fair chance. It wasn't a fair chance for Mikael Backlund either. Bennett and Backlund thrive in the middle of the ice in my opinion. Putting them on right wing, especially Monahan's right wing, is counterintuitive.

I'll conclude this with a counter-question

At what point did Bennett ever look like he should centre Huberdeau?

In all your examples, Gaudreau already had a centre he was doing well with. I'm talking about long term roles. Replacing Monahan with Bennett type term.

During injuries it's pretty much standard coaching to break up other lines as little as possible, so you are not letting an injury to one guy mess up multiple lines. That's why you often see a plug-in like Shore.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

In all your examples, Gaudreau already had a centre he was doing well with. I'm talking about long term roles. Replacing Monahan with Bennett type term.

The only way you can figure out long term roles is if you give guys ice time together to see how they perform together. And if you give your 20, 21 year old 4th overall pick the type of legitimate ice time that 4th overall picks get on 95% of NHL teams.


I'll re-iterate. At what point did Bennett ever look like he should centre Huberdeau? I mean the Panthers have Barkov to play Huberdeau with.

You have to give them a chance together before you decide that. That's what the Panthers have done. It's what the Flames not only didn't do with Bennett, what they won't do with any future centers they draft.

During injuries it's pretty much standard coaching to break up other lines as little as possible, so you are not letting an injury to one guy mess up multiple lines. That's why you often see a plug-in like Shore.

This is not standard at all. You're just apologisting (is that word? It should be.) for Gulutzan. Monahan was done for the year. Bennett-Jankowski-Hathaway had been ice cold for months.

Even Mark Jankowski had more ice time centering Gaudreau and Foo than Bennett did.

I wish you would call a spade a spade for once, and admit the Flames were negligent.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

The only way you can figure out long term roles is if you give guys ice time together to see how they perform together. And if you give your 20, 21 year old 4th overall pick the type of legitimate ice time that 4th overall picks get on 95% of NHL teams.


I'll re-iterate. At what point did Bennett ever look like he should centre Huberdeau?

You have to give them a chance together before you decide that.




This is not standard at all. You're just apologisting (is that word? It should be.) for Gulutzan. Monahan was done for the year. Bennett-Jankowski-Hathaway had been ice cold for months.

Even Mark Jankowski had more ice time centering Gaudreau and Foo than Bennett did.

I wish you would call a spade a spade for once, and admit the Flames were negligent.

It is standard coaching, though not at the end of the year, so you are right on that one.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Well he didn’t centre Lindholm because Lindholm (IMO) was brought in as a centre. And he was brought in because Bennett wasn’t looking good.

At what point did Bennett ever look like he should centre Gaudreau?

What did a tiny 4th round pick with no pro experience do to get gifted a spot on Monahan, Hudler's line?

Coming into camp in 2014 Gaudreau had the same kind of upside potential as Bennett had in 2015. Bennet had 11 goals and 24 pts in 11 games as an 18 year old in the OHL.

Gaudreau could have proved he belonged in the NHL playing on a line with
great guys and solid pros Stajan and David Jones.

If Bennett had showed up first it would have messed up Monahan's defaulting to #1C. Monahan for his whole career, up until this year, has been given the 2 very best wingers the Flames have.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

What did a tiny 4th round pick with no pro experience do to get gifted a spot on Monahan, Hudler's line?

Coming into camp in 2014 Gaudreau had the same kind of upside potential as Bennett had in 2015. Bennet had 11 goals and 24 pts in 11 games as an 18 year old in the OHL.

Gaudreau could have proved he belonged in the NHL playing on a line with
great guys and solid pros Stajan and David Jones.

If Bennett had showed up first it would have messed up Monahan's defaulting to #1C. Monahan for his whole career, up until this year, has been given the 2 very best wingers the Flames have.

He wasn't gifted the spot. Gaudreau shone in a 3rd line role and there was really no one better to put on the line.

[kukkudo]

Just saw Bennett on NHLs best. Haha I was like nah can’t be and yup the play where he batted the puck in.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Honestly they could have even just played him with Lucic and Dube from day 1 this season.

I think that was what frustrated Sam the most and him starting the year on the 4th line with Nordstrom and Lucic is what made him realize he needed to demand a trade.

So there's leagues of difference between Lucic-Nordstrom and Lucic-Dube?

Lmao.

I think this might be one of the most embarrassing threads in CP history and there have been many.

If he was so insulted at being on the fourth line instead of the third on a team where they started out essentially rolling all lines equally and purposely spread out their skill this season, then he must be entitled as hell.

I don't want the Flames "catering" to any one player in order to keep him around.

If the player requires that, then he's not a team guy anyways.

Bend backwards for anybody that way in life and you get walked all over. You guys are treating Bennett like the pretty girl who can easily leverage anything out of you with a simple complaint.

I'm glad the team has a spine. He had enough opportunities. At no point did he go and rattle off over a PPG in any of them (which would've solidified his place further up the line up).

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

So there's leagues of difference between Lucic-Nordstrom and Lucic-Dube?

Lmao.

I think this might be one of the most embarrassing threads in CP history and there have been many.

If he was so insulted at being on the fourth line instead of the third on a team where they started out essentially rolling all lines equally and purposely spread out their skill this season, then he must be entitled as hell.

I don't want the Flames "catering" to any one player in order to keep him around.

If the player requires that, then he's not a team guy anyways.

Bend backwards for anybody that way in life and you get walked all over. You guys are treating Bennett like the pretty girl who can easily leverage anything out of you with a simple complaint.

I'm glad the team has a spine. He had enough opportunities. At no point did he go and rattle off over a PPG in any of them (which would've solidified his place further up the line up).

Thanks for the heads up!

Is anyone else embarrassed by this thread besides you? How come you keep coming in and posting, do you need some sort of validation from the rest of us?

Sorry you feel embarrassed by this thread, best thing to do is just avoid it altogether!

[cannon7]

Good thing the Flames have a spine. Should be good for a 12th overall pick.

Can we fire the pizza boy GM already?

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Thanks for the heads up!

Is anyone else embarrassed by this thread besides you? How come you keep coming in and posting, do you need some sort of validation from the rest of us?

Sorry you feel embarrassed by this thread, best thing to do is just avoid it altogether!

Your use of exclamation marks is awkward.

I'm here because its funny and I feel inclined to grill people for their ridiculous takes and unhealthy obsessions over this.

Want me to stop? Then smarten up.

I'm here for your benefit. Like the friend that slaps you and takes your phone when you drunk text your ex.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Your use of exclamation marks is awkward.

I'm here because its funny and I feel inclined to grill people for their ridiculous takes and unhealthy obsessions over this.

Want me to stop? Then smarten up.

I'm here for your benefit. Like the friend that slaps you and takes your phone when you drunk text your ex.

LOL, take it easy keyboard warrior.

Hockey talk...serious stuff. Wouldn't want to be wrong about anything. Yeesh.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

LOL, take it easy keyboard warrior.

Hockey talk...serious stuff. Wouldn't want to be wrong about anything. Yeesh.

You realize this is all jestful banter right?

[ComixZone]

Benny has 5 hits and 6 shots so far tonight.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

You realize this is all jestful banter right?

Well I do now.

Have at you!

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Benny has 5 hits and 6 shots so far tonight.

I bet his silky ginger wings look great too.

*deep sigh*