QOTD: The Bennett Situation

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Granted, I missed the obvious (and tired) joke, but it still doesn't answer the real question: Who do you send down to make room for taking a blind chance on Bennett?

McGrattan? Bennett slots in and you sit Bollig & Byron? Not sure. But if they insist on Bennett playing, McGrattan's seen the writing on the wall by now anyway.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by nik-

I voted send him down right away, but I'd actually prefer he get rewarded with an AHL conditioning stint before he's sent down.

I've heard this sentiment a few times now. I guess my question is, what did Bennett do deserve a reward? Be a 4th overall pick? Work hard in the gym?

He got plenty of NHL level action in the pre-season to whet his appetite, we don't need to get all desperate-boyfriend on the guy. Let him earn his NHL promotion like everyone else.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I've heard this sentiment a few times now. I guess my question is, what did Bennett do deserve a reward? Be a 4th overall pick? Work hard in the gym?

He got plenty of NHL level action in the pre-season to whet his appetite, we don't need to get all desperate-boyfriend on the guy. Let him earn his NHL promotion like everyone else.

Probably the best training camp out of an 18 year old we've seen in over a decade warrants some kind of reward? I can't even think of an 18 year old that came close to being as dominate as he was right from the start of camp. He definitely deserves more of a look still before we send him back to Kingston, regardless of him being a 4th overall pick.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I've heard this sentiment a few times now. I guess my question is, what did Bennett do deserve a reward? Be a 4th overall pick? Work hard in the gym?

He got plenty of NHL level action in the pre-season to whet his appetite, we don't need to get all desperate-boyfriend on the guy. Let him earn his NHL promotion like everyone else.

From all reports and from what I saw he was one of the best forwards, especially among rookies, at camp and in limited game action.

Don't know if a conditioning stint is an award though.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I'd like to see him go to the OHL. Get his feet wet again, go down and rip it up against players his own age, get his game and confidence back and see what he can do in training camp.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

So... obviously he isn't going to play anything (sic) then.

Even an NHL veteran would have issues being in NHL game shape for several weeks after coming back from that. For an OHL player, it would be crazy. He will at least need to play at that level for a while, at which point they won't call him up.

This. Stajan and Raymond are still not at the level they were playing pre-injury (in my opinion). We should be setting Bennett up for success, not failure and that would mean back to the OHL. Full disclosure: I was of the view in training camp that he should have gone back without a 9 game preview.
Still very excited about seeing him in Flames silks, but can certainly wait until next year when we see him at his full potential.

[saillias]

Not sure I like that argument... "Vets take x amount of time to return to form so this teenager will take even longer" I don't think it correlates like that. If anything it's easier for an 18 year old to bounce back into things than a 30 year old.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'd get rid of Backlund and Stajan, keep him up for 39 games or so on the second line(even if he looks overmatched - he needs to learn), maybe ensure he misses any important junior experiences and then send him down.

You're right. I'd say Bennett has definitely "earned the right to fail".

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by saillias

Not sure I like that argument... "Vets take x amount of time to return to form so this teenager will take even longer" I don't think it correlates like that. If anything it's easier for an 18 year old to bounce back into things than a 30 year old.

But he won't be bouncing back to doing something he did before the injury - he'll be stepping into a new league playing a significantly higher level of play than he has ever faced before.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Granted, I missed the obvious (and tired) joke, but it still doesn't answer the real question: Who do you send down to make room for taking a blind chance on Bennett?

IMO no one. That's why I posed the question originally.

On his training camp - I understood the general view was that it was good but not spectacular and that when the injury came to light it was seen as an explanation. Wasn't Monahan's first camp just as good?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by saillias

Not sure I like that argument... "Vets take x amount of time to return to form so this teenager will take even longer" I don't think it correlates like that. If anything it's easier for an 18 year old to bounce back into things than a 30 year old.

That isn't the argument. The argument is that anyone coming off a long term injury does so a step behind. It isn't a matter of youth vs. age, but the simple fact that no practice can ever replicate game action, and it takes a period of time to adjust to the pace of games. Bennett is not likely to be any different in this regard simply because we want him to be.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by J epworth

Probably the best training camp out of an 18 year old we've seen in over a decade warrants some kind of reward? I can't even think of an 18 year old that came close to being as dominate as he was right from the start of camp. He definitely deserves more of a look still before we send him back to Kingston, regardless of him being a 4th overall pick.

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

From all reports and from what I saw he was one of the best forwards, especially among rookies, at camp and in limited game action.

Sure he played great 4 months ago...but that was 4 months ago. Its not fair he got injured, but it's also not fair to the Flames that he tried to hide his injury and put himself in this position.

I think you have to be careful about showing the kids the good life too early. Be patient and let them work their way up. Once you give someone the taste of the good life, they tend to be a less accepting/appreciative of what they have. While I think people like to think of it as a carrot for the future, it can also really skew your perspective of today. It's like kids whose parents buy them a Ranger Rover as soon as they get their license, instead of letting them start with a beater and work their way up to the Rover on their own terms. What happens if Bennett plays in the NHL this year, but has a poor camp and has to play in the Juniors again next year? That will be seen as a huge setback, when in reality it shouldn't be.

Let him go back to Junior, tear it up, and let's revisit things next summer. We have plenty of guys on the farm that we can give try-outs to (guys like Hanowski, Poirier, Wolf, Wotherspoon) while Bennett matures. We are in a very envious spot at the moment with our prospect base, there's no need to try to FFWD things.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Table 5

SNIP.. but it's also not fair to the Flames that he tried to hide his injury and put himself in this position.
..SNIP

Truth be told, that chin-up fiasco, due to his shoulder injury, may have been what dissuaded the Oilers from choosing him. Bad luck? Maybe. Good luck? maybe also.

[moncton golden flames]

Send him back to Kingston.

[H2SO4(aq)]

If he was allowed to do a conditioning stint in the AHL, that would be my vote, however since that is not allowed due to their agreement, I say just send him back to the OHL. I greedily would like to see him get a couple games in, but due to him coming off major surgery, its probably smartest not too.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

If he was allowed to do a conditioning stint in the AHL, that would be my vote, however since that is not allowed due to their agreement, I say just send him back to the OHL. I greedily would like to see him get a couple games in, but due to him coming off major surgery, its probably smartest not too.

I'm pretty sure that's allowed...

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Sure he played great 4 months ago...but that was 4 months ago. Its not fair he got injured, but it's also not fair to the Flames that he tried to hide his injury and put himself in this position.

I think you have to be careful about showing the kids the good life too early. Be patient and let them work their way up. Once you give someone the taste of the good life, they tend to be a less accepting/appreciative of what they have. While I think people like to think of it as a carrot for the future, it can also really skew your perspective of today. It's like kids whose parents buy them a Ranger Rover as soon as they get their license, instead of letting them start with a beater and work their way up to the Rover on their own terms. What happens if Bennett plays in the NHL this year, but has a poor camp and has to play in the Juniors again next year? That will be seen as a huge setback, when in reality it shouldn't be.

Let him go back to Junior, tear it up, and let's revisit things next summer. We have plenty of guys on the farm that we can give try-outs to (guys like Hanowski, Poirier, Wolf, Wotherspoon) while Bennett matures. We are in a very envious spot at the moment with our prospect base, there's no need to try to FFWD things.

Oh yeah, I'm actually with you and agree 100% here. The emotional shiny new toy owner in me wants to see him just for one game, just for a taste. But I think the best thing for him is to go back to junior immediately. Get back in the groove and dominant down there. Come back in the fall and make another run at an NHL spot.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I'm pretty sure that's allowed...

I thought you couldnt send CHL players to the AHL or whatever? is it different if its a conditioning stint?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

I thought you couldnt send CHL players to the AHL or whatever? is it different if its a conditioning stint?

Conditioning stint is allowed, but they cannot assign him to the AHL

[GioforPM]

I don't see much benefit from conditioning stint in the AHL, where he goes and disrupts the chemistry for a few games, and pushes Arnold/Granlund/Knight out of the lineup (and potentially has 28 year old goon minor leaguers taking cheap shots) as opposed to playing up tempo games in the minors.