[News] Bennett cleared for contact. UPD Kypreos: expected Bennett to Kingston this weekend

[saXon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

He said that Cox is reporting that he would be going back to Kingston.

However it sounds like he is misquoting Cox

@DamoSpin: Sam Bennett cleared for contact today by CGY. Still see him heading back to Kingston in 10 days or so. Fronts sure could use him.

Guess we'll have to wait for an official announcement.

[indes]

Originally Posted by saXon

Guess we'll have to wait for an official announcement.

Or SureLoss could just tell us now instead of a minute before its reported!

[foshizzle11]

Samuel Bennett should wear number 39 for the Flames.

Make it happen.

[Hackey]

I actually think the idea of him going back to junior is the best for him. He will get big minutes and big responsibility there. Feels like we might be putting quite a bit of expectation on him at this point of the season in the NHL. If your gonna transition him into the NHL your probably better off doing it at the start of next season.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Kingston.

[Tinordi]

So after all the navel gazing he's going back to junior? Right.

[Caged Great]

I would be shocked if he didn't play in at least one game in Calgary before going down.

[Medium Rare]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I would be shocked if he didn't play in at least one game in Calgary before going down.

Me too. Give him the proverbial 9 game cup of coffee, might give us a push right now...

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

This is an 18 year old coming off a significant procedure.

I think some people have unrealistic expectations of his impact right now.

How many posters have come out with expectations that Bennett will make a significant impact at the NHL level? s far as I can see, there are a number of people who are open to this as a possibility, but I don't see anyone coming forward with thoughts that the Flames need Bennett, or with declarations about how good Bennett will be right away.

I think almost everyone is being eminently reasonable. Cautiously optimistic, but also under no misconceptions about the possibility that Bennett spends the balance of the year in the OHL. None of this is even remotely unrealistic.

[442scotty]

I think he gets a minimum of one game in the show guaranteed

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Hackey

I actually think the idea of him going back to junior is the best for him. He will get big minutes and big responsibility there. Feels like we might be putting quite a bit of expectation on him at this point of the season in the NHL. If your gonna transition him into the NHL your probably better off doing it at the start of next season.

I also think that sending him back to the OHL is a good move this season, and the greedy side of me hopes to save a year on his ELC, but I would rather he do the conditioning games with the Heat and then maybe a few more games with the Flames before he gets sent down. I'm sure the medical staff wouldn't be clearing him for contact if he wasn't 100%.. but if there is any chance of re-injury, I would rather he be with the Flames medical staff than the Kingston medical staff.

On the other hand, there is a good chance that after having months of focused attention from the best support staff he has ever had access to, Bennett should be coming back from this injury in a much better physical condition than he was in the pre-season. If he can show that he can step into the NHL at this point in the season and contribute, then I would happily burn that first year off his ELC and enjoy the extra depth that he would provide (while playing very sheltered minutes).

[N-E-B]

As a fan I'd love to see Bennett play his 9 games... But I think sending him back to Junior is the best move.

[EldrickOnIce]

Flames will do whatever they think best protects the asset long term.

[Heavy Jack]

What was Garry Galley meaning when he was talking about 25 games left and the Flames playing Bennett at that point?? Sureloss?

[Cole436]

[JohnnyTitan]

Just trying to put my emotions into words. I think this is probably where a lot of us are and why we're so super-pumped:

- Sam is the highest draft pick ever by the Flames. That in itself makes it normal for us to be crazy-excited to see him on the ice in a Flames uni
- Sam is a chip off the Gilmour block. He'd go through a wall for his teammates and the comparisons to Gilmour take many of us back to the proudest years of this franchise's history
- Bennett was picked after the Oilers drafted #3 overall. His eventual domination at the NHL level will be just another reason why the Oilers are No Good
- When Bennett does finally dress for the Flames...and I'm not saying that it should be this year...the mentality switches from "Play hard and learn and develop -> wins are gravy" to "The future is now! Look out - we're out for blood and championships!"

That is also a lot of pressure on a young kid...but best of all is we all know he can handle it. Pile on the pressure, Sam will make sure Sam succeeds!!

So ya, the vids in this thread are getting us excited all over again. And for good reason!!

[Heavy Jack]

With that said it is very hard to fit Bennett in without sitting someone out who has played a considerable amount of games. If we do play him Wolf will almost surely be sent down after that I could see something like:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Glencross - Backlund - Jones
Raymond - Bennett - Bouma
Byron - Colborne - Jooris

But we would be sitting Bollig, Stajan

I feel like a trade will need to happen in order to fit him in and the fact that we have 2 weeks of play with conditioning stint could help buy us sometime. I think they want to see him take contact in practice through this homestand, there is no real rush on a decision with how far ahead of schedule he is and looking at the interview he had after practice yesterday it seems Bennett is prepared to play where ever, he justs wants to play.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

So after all the navel gazing he's going back to junior? Right.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

He said that Cox is reporting that he would be going back to Kingston.

However it sounds like he is misquoting Cox

@DamoSpin: Sam Bennett cleared for contact today by CGY. Still see him heading back to Kingston in 10 days or so. Fronts sure could use him.

The navel gazing can continue

[JohnnyTitan]

LOL. I just watched this video (again) and imagined Bennett playing with Gaudreau...and then I imagined every 6-year-old coast-to-coast wearing either a Gaudreau or Bennett jersey!! ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svCdZiNfbvg

[Gaskal]

I dunno why people are finding "AHL stint/9-game cup of coffee" and "send him back to OHL" mutually exclusive. Been on the "both" bandwagon.