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

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Just curious, but is there any chance that he plays in the NHL next season, or is it pretty much a sure thing that he goes back to junior?

Either way, I hope they sign him right away and just get that part out of the way.

It's not a 'sure thing' - if he shows to be too good to send down, they might keep him.

However, he just turned 18 (last week). He is young and physically immature. He would have to seriously wow them to earn a spot.

Then there is the fact that, with Stajan, Backlund and Monahan here, it would be tough to earn a job.

On top of that, having an 18 AND a 20 year old C is a recipe for trouble IMO.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Just curious, but is there any chance that he plays in the NHL next season

Don't think there's a very good chance he sticks. Our top 3 centers are Backlund/Monahan/Stajan, and we don't want to stick Bennett on the 4th line and give him 8 mins a night.

He needs to go back to junior IMO. Make the jump in 15/16.

[Tyler]

I think a combination of having Monny in the lineup and Connor McDavid on the horizon in next year's draft make another season in the OHL a near certainty

[Vinny01]

If the flames do not add some higher end talent this offseason he might force them to keep him. While I think ultimately Bennett goes back to jr if he has a big summer like Monahan did last year he could really push for a spot be it on the wing or center. Having said that I think the flames do make some upgrades to the top 6 this summer and unlike last year there are 4 prospects that look really ready to push (Gaudreau, Baerstchi, Granlund, Reinhart)

Monahan had less competition to make the team last year

[djsFlames]

Really think Gaudreau and Granlund make the team out of camp.

That'll be enough to keep me entertained until Bennett can enter the fold.

[schteve_d]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

If the flames do not add some higher end talent this offseason he might force them to keep him. While I think ultimately Bennett goes back to jr if he has a big summer like Monahan did last year he could really push for a spot be it on the wing or center. Having said that I think the flames do make some upgrades to the top 6 this summer and unlike last year there are 4 prospects that look really ready to push (Gaudreau, Baerstchi, Granlund, Reinhart)

Monahan had less competition to make the team last year

I certainly hope this thought doesn't even cross management's mind. He's our #1 or #2 centre in the future. Send him to junior and let him develop properly. He only turned 18 last week! It would be nice to watch him play in Calgary this year but I sure hope it doesn't happen.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I think a combination of having Monny in the lineup and Connor McDavid on the horizon in next year's draft make another season in the OHL a near certainty

I don't think this will play any part in the decision about where Bennett plays.

[Sylvanfan]

Monahan had over 200 games in the OHL by the time he was drafted. Bennet with playoffs is at 128. I think that is why Bennet will see a full season in Junior next year.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I really love how there are already some very good potential future lineups being made, with good prospects still being left out.

I personally would rather see a Gaudreau - Bennett - Poirier line. Very fast and Poirier is gritty enough to make some room out there, and with excellent hands to finish the beauty passes from either Gaudreau or Bennett, but can also pass back. That line will be a treat to watch I think.

Klimchuk/Baertschi - Monahan - Smith - A bit more defensively responsible line out (especially if it is Klimchuk), with hunter making much more room. Not quite as fast as the top line, but still has some good speed, and actually might match up better against the other teams' top lines.

I really think Klimchuk is often an after-thought. I bet this season is one where fans really start to talk about him a lot more. If Bennett does get sent down this year, watching a tandem of Klimchuk and Bennett (or McDavid, who has played with Klimchuk internationally already) is going to be a huge treat to watch for Flames' fans.

As for Backlund, this may be his last year at center unless he breaks out huge. I think he will eventually be moved to the wing.

As for the Jankowski questions, he still has that very high ceiling. He was a project when he was selected and people thought the risk of busting was too great. IMO, his floor is creeping up that I think he has little chance of busting, but who knows what his ceiling really is? The good thing is that he is playing in a very defensively-oriented college team in Providence. He may become a very good 3rd line player if he never hits his ceiling, or others hit it higher).

Jankowski - Knight/Arnold/Backlund - Colborne could become a very good 2-way shut-down line. The size, skating ability, IQ and skill would make for a very difficult line to match up against.

Lots of 4th line options with Bollig here now, Ferland, McGrattan, Harrisson, Brabant, etc., and whomever gets pushed down from the 3rd line.

You can't count on all of them making it. Some might bust, some will be traded for better fits. However, as it stands right now, it is really nice to be able to start making future lineups with players that actually fit certain slots with regards to their projections. No more Dawes, Moss, Lombo, etc., being slotted into the top line, or other lines where they are just bad fits.

[djsFlames]

Flames draft 2nd overall in 2015.

2016/17

Bennett - Eichel - Poirier
Gaudreau - Monahan - Smith
Baertschi - Backlund/Granlund - Jankowski
Goon - Goon - Goon

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Think Bennett has a good chance of captaining the WJC team this winter?

I would imagine if Lazar, Reinhart or Ekblad were allowed on the team again they would be named Captain before anyone else.

McKeown was captain of the last U18 team and might get consideration before Bennett.

I would say very good chance of getting an 'A' like he wore in the last Ivan Hlinka.

[JonDuke]

Will Bennett more than likely still wear #93?
Or will Burke's low number influence come in effect any time soon?

[getbak]

If he wants to wear Gilmour's number, it should be 39 for the Flames. If Burke's "under 35" mandate holds, I could see him wearing #19, which is a good Canadian centre's number.

[Headshot]

It'll be interesting to look at how the top three forwards from this draft (Sams, the German) compare In the future. To me, it looks like Drasatle will be the biggest point producer, Rienhart the best defensive (although still very good offensively) and Bennett somewhere between the other two.

What do y'all think?

[EldrickOnIce]

As has always been the case until he had a good late stretch, Draisatl belongs a fair chunk below the Sam's.
So happy to see him gone there.
This board bought in, glad the Oil did too.

[Headshot]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

As has always been the case until he had a good late stretch, Draisatl belongs a fair chunk below the Sam's.
So happy to see him gone there.
This board bought in, glad the Oil did too.

Do you think that Bennit and Rienhart will ever catch up to Draisatle physically?

[kn]

There is no need to rush him and I hope he's sent back to juniors. Let him lead Canada at the WJC, maybe make a Memorial Cup run and develop more physical strength. At that point we'll see.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Headshot

Do you think that Bennit and Rienhart will ever catch up to Draisatle physically?

Are you referring specifically to size?

Bennett just turned 18 last week - he is still growing. My guess would be that his NHL size will be in the neighbourhood of 6'1" 190-195.

That would not make him as big as Draisaitl obviously, but it is irrelevant. Bennett is, and always will be more physical. By the time he is finished growing, he will be plenty big enough to bring that physicality to the NHL effectively.

[Rick M.]

We should make sure he is physically up to handling the NHL grind. He missed the Top Prospects Game this year due to a groin injury and was hobbled during the playoffs by another groin injury. I don't want to see him rushed like RNH in Leadmonton. Let's give him his 9 game reward and send him back to Kingston.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by kn

There is no need to rush him and I hope he's sent back to juniors. Let him lead Canada at the WJC, maybe make a Memorial Cup run and develop more physical strength. At that point we'll see.

Id like to see all those things as well. No need to rush him.