Bennett produced at 1.60 PPG in the OHL this past season, which is equal to 0.48 PPG in the NHL, or approximately 39 points over a season.
Gaudreau produced at 2.00 PPG in the NCAA, equal to 0.82 PPG in the NHL, or approximately 67 points over a season. Which is slightly more than Crosby's NHLE before entering the league (66).
I keep seeing the second point about Crosby and it sounds nice, but let's keep perspective: Crosby did that at 17 yo not 20.
Impressive nonetheless
Edit: And Bennett becomes even more impressive once you adjust for age. Very impressive
The sooner Gaudreau steps in, the sooner this core will come together and become impact players at the NHL level. If he's too good for the A this year, then why waste time? I'm patient, but I'm not going to add time where it's not needed.
Gaudreau's NHLE in his draft year (Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL, 60 gp, 36-36-72): 26.5 pts.
Gaudreau's NHLE the year after (Boston College, 44 gp, 21-23-44): 33.6 pts.
These numbers suggest a talented player, but hardly a can't-miss prospect, which (along with his size) is why he was drafted in the fourth round. But then he exploded. His development over his last two years in college was phenomenal.
The thing to remember about NHLE is that how accurate it is depends a good deal on the player's age. Younger players (because they are still developing) tend to over-perform their NHLE, older players tend to under-perform.
Crosby jumped from junior to the NHL at 18, where the majority of players do so at 20. He could be expected to exceed his NHLE by a wide margin, and he did.
Gaudreau is coming over at 21, which is not unusual for college players, but still a bit on the young side – a lot of guys finish their degrees and turn pro at 22 or even 23. He's a bit of a long shot to score more than his NHLE as a rookie, but his NHLE is so high that he will still be a star player if he just lives up to it.
I believe the Flames' brass will try their hardest to pin Gaudreau down in the minors, but he may do so well in camp that they have to keep him up. If they do send him down, I expect him to put up numbers that make the AHL look silly, and get called up no later than New Year's. Basically, the same thing that happened to Theo Fleury when he started the '88-89 season in the IHL.
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I wasn't even comparing him to Crosby or anything of the sort, just that his third college year stats are comparable in NHLE to Crosby at 17-18 and how that in itself is still impressive. And for a kid who I think was just realizing his full potential over the course of his time at BC, I don't think the 18 vs 21 years old difference is going to matter much.
I see him at a 70 point play in the NHL, which is what his NHLE suggests. And I think he'll absolutely get there. He is way too consistent in both his playing style and on the scoresheet not to.
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Conroy was just on the FAN and admitted Bennett was always his top choice coming into te draft so obviously excited they got him without trading up
Yeah I heard that. Can't argue when you get the player you want and don't have to finish 30th or win the lottery to get him. He also scouted Hunter Smith.
Conroy was just on the FAN and admitted Bennett was always his top choice coming into te draft so obviously excited they got him without trading up
Usually I hear a comment like this and immediately think , Yeah whatever that's what they always say no matter who they get. But this is such a natural pick for the Flames. They have for forever been weak down the middle. Now they have a solid one/two punch in the works.
Usually I hear a comment like this and immediately think , Yeah whatever that's what they always say no matter who they get. But this is such a natural pick for the Flames. They have for forever been weak down the middle. Now they have a solid one/two punch in the works.
Well did Conroy say it was HIS top choice or "our" top choice? Personally, I think Reinhart was probably the top choice.
Usually I hear a comment like this and immediately think , Yeah whatever that's what they always say no matter who they get. But this is such a natural pick for the Flames. They have for forever been weak down the middle. Now they have a solid one/two punch in the works.
It really is. I can't recall the last Flames Centremen with Bennett's combination of skill and speed, in addition to having a strong 2-way game.
He fits the prototype of exactly what they're trying to build in Calgary. Purely offensive prospects (Baertschi) have been mandated to round out their game in the AHL before joining the big club. It's nice to have a young player who's apparently already built that element into his game.
It really is. I can't recall the last Flames Centremen with Bennett's combination of skill and speed, in addition to having a strong 2-way game.
He fits the prototype of exactly what they're trying to build in Calgary. Purely offensive prospects (Baertschi) have been mandated to round out their game in the AHL before joining the big club. It's nice to have a young player who's apparently already built that element into his game.
Not to derail the thread, but calling Baertschi a pure offensive prospect is revisionist history. He was widely lauded for his defensive game before arriving.
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Well did Conroy say it was HIS top choice or "our" top choice? Personally, I think Reinhart was probably the top choice.
I get the feeling Ekblad was Treliving's top choice. I had Bennett 3 after Ekblad and Reinhart but since the draft I have done more research on Bennett and he seems like the absolute perfect fit for the flames
Conroy was just on the FAN and admitted Bennett was always his top choice coming into te draft so obviously excited they got him without trading up
When he was on a few weeks ago, he said that he had a guy and Treliving had a guy and they'd be ecstatic if they could get either of them.
I wonder if Brad's guy was Ekblad or Reinhart? My guess is he wanted Ekblad, which would fit with the rumour that they had a trade in place to swap picks with Buffalo if Florida had traded #1 and the team who got it had taken Reinhart. The Flames would have then taken Ekblad, the Oilers would have still taken Draisaitl and Buffalo would have ended up with Bennett plus whatever the Flames gave up to make the swap.
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I effing love that man. I grew up hearing about him in Flin Flon and the bombers. Thanks for posting this!
18 years old and he puts up these stats...GP 59, goals 51, assists 117, points 168, PIM's 148. And Reggie Leach puts up 87 goals and 208 PIM's as his winger.
I effing love that man. I grew up hearing about him in Flin Flon and the bombers. Thanks for posting this!
18 years old and he puts up these stats...GP 59, goals 51, assists 117, points 168, PIM's 148. And Reggie Leach puts up 87 goals and 208 PIM's as his winger.
Clarke was a clutch guy and not one to mess with or you'd eat his stick. I think Bennett gets compared to Gilmour in part because he is the Kingston G.M. and also Bennett's father's hero from his Leaf days. Also, only CP posters of a certain age remember Clarke from his playing days. I do....
