Draisaitl, Bennett the next Staal, Toews?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by codynw

While this is true, I don't see the benefit of saying "I'll be shocked if he makes the team" either. Even if that's what you think, I don't see the benefit in wording it that way. Something a little more neutral would be best.

What would it change? I agree that setting the expectation on a soon-to-be nineteen-year-old player to make the team and to make an impact is setting a dangerous precedent, but the opposite extreme is much, much healthier for player development. From the start, Bennett knows how hard it will be to make the team, and that is a good thing that should keep him hungry.

[Badgers Nose]

Moneyhands would have won the calder if Sven did not get sent down....

Oh wait, should i green text that?

[Vinny01]

Intersting how the top 4 picks in 06 are very similar to 14

1. Johnson
2. Staal
3. Toews
4. Backstrom

In both years it was a big Dman followed by 3 centers.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by codynw

While this is true, I don't see the benefit of saying "I'll be shocked if he makes the team" either. Even if that's what you think, I don't see the benefit in wording it that way. Something a little more neutral would be best.

I am sure they have spent hours talking to Bennett and he knows what he has to do to make this team. I wouldn't confuse media speak with what is actually being relayed to the prospect. The Flames are going out of their way to temper expectations with prospects and in a hockey crazed market you need to. Trying to break into the league is hard enough to do at that age but to have unrealistic expectations on top of that is how you destroy prospects.

[Stupid]

The most important detail of this situation is that the Oilers are:

a) a cap team
b) wanting to make the playoffs
c) bragging about the prowess of their team

The flames do none of this. Bennett will (more likely) be properly developed while this is not at all certain for Draisaitl. The oilers are in a way more desperate situation than we are which will likely lead to them making even worse decisions.

[djsFlames]

33 points is only reasonably successful. Some here need to stop fooling themselves.

However I like the comparisons in this article. I'll take Toews over Jordan Staal any day of the week.

[dash_pinched]

I think one other thing to keep in mind is that there were reports that Draisaitl wanted to return to Europe to play hockey if he didn't make the Oilers rather than going back to junior with Prince Albert in the Dub. Maybe it's crap, but at least the Flames don't have any of those concerns with Sam Bennett.

[Poe969]

33 points on the 4th worst team in the league with not much help at all.

Monahan didn't have an amazing year but he did extremely well with all things considered. If/when he's given good line mates and a more prominent role on the team, he'll do a lot better.

Bennett is going to Kingston and he'll do great this year and when his time comes to join the Flames, he'll be ready. Draisaitl will be thrown to the wolves and turn into yakapov 2.0 but instead of the knee slide we'll see some other over exaggerated celebration after a meaningless goal.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

1.60 PPG and 118 PIM

That kind of production and tenacity makes Bennett stand out when compared to the other centres picked in the top 4 imo.

What type of penalties were those 118 PIMs?


I honestly don't know.


I hope they are not lazy penalties.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Monahan was the 8th highest scoring rookie..... that is reasonably good.... He was not in contention to being a Calder finalist.

As usual, you're just looking at one number and letting that make a conclusion for you.

Monahan missed games due to significant injury, and then took time to recover from said injury once returning. Definitely worth noting when just looking at rookie point totals.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

What type of penalties were those 118 PIMs?


I honestly don't know.


I hope they are not lazy penalties.

Roughing, cross checking, game misconducts, etc. Not many hooking and the like

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What would it change? I agree that setting the expectation on a soon-to-be nineteen-year-old player to make the team and to make an impact is setting a dangerous precedent, but the opposite extreme is much, much healthier for player development. From the start, Bennett knows how hard it will be to make the team, and that is a good thing that should keep him hungry.

Right, and the addition or subtraction of Bennett in this season is likely to have absolutely zero tangible affect on the bottom-line.

Its not like his presence will make or break their playoff contention. This is going to be a lottery team with or without him so the only question remains where is he better off and the management feels that most likely to be junior.

[bubbsy]

just the few clips i've watched of him, his playing style requires him to be stronger to get in on dmen, and make plays thru tenacity, which is the main reason i think it would be "shocking" to see him with the big club. Monahan didn't have the same type of concerns, first off, because he was big enough coming into camp, and secondly, his game isn't as physical in nature.

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

I think one other thing to keep in mind is that there were reports that Draisaitl wanted to return to Europe to play hockey if he didn't make the Oilers rather than going back to junior with Prince Albert in the Dub. Maybe it's crap, but at least the Flames don't have any of those concerns with Sam Bennett.

If you're given the option between playing in Prince Albert or playing in Edmonton, you choose playing in Europe 100% of the time.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Staal was rated higher than Toews by the CSS.

Turris was rated higher than Kane by the CSS.

Bennett was also ranked #1 by other scouting services as well (THN, Redline). Considering that the CSS personnel have changed a lot since the years you have mentioned I don't really see that having much relevance on the rankings now.

If anything passing on Toews then may have influenced their decision to rank Bennett this highly now - CSS Director Dan Marr and Bob McKenzie(and presumably the scouts he talks to) have said Bennett could have a Toews type of career.

I can see the parallels to 2006. I think Reinhart also compares to Backstrom as the classic playmaking center and offensive powerhouse - while he may produce more points than Bennett in the NHL it will be interesting to see who is the bigger impact player.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I am sure they have spent hours talking to Bennett and he knows what he has to do to make this team. I wouldn't confuse media speak with what is actually being relayed to the prospect. The Flames are going out of their way to temper expectations with prospects and in a hockey crazed market you need to. Trying to break into the league is hard enough to do at that age but to have unrealistic expectations on top of that is how you destroy prospects.

Its such a simple recipe

1. Development comes above ticket sales
2. Be honest with the player, we want you to develop in the best environment
3. Undersell the hype to the media

If 2. proves that he's NHL ready you have a great story, but if 2. proves he's not then everything progresses as expected.

As you said I'm sure they've told him that he's younger, well south of 200 pounds and that they put his development above all else.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Intersting how the top 4 picks in 06 are very similar to 14

1. Johnson
2. Staal
3. Toews
4. Backstrom

In both years it was a big Dman followed by 3 centers.

I did notice that prior to us picking. All of those top 4 are successful picks, some obviously better than others. If I had to make a wild guess on who turns out to be the best pick in 2014's top 4, mine would be:

1) Ekblad
2) Bennett
3) Reinhart
4) Draisaitl

Maybe I am being a little biased, but I really don't think Draisaitl will develop properly.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by mile

Bennett was also ranked #1 by other scouting services as well (THN, Redline). Considering that the CSS personnel have changed a lot since the years you have mentioned I don't really see that having much relevance on the rankings now.

If anything passing on Toews then may have influenced their decision to rank Bennett this highly now - CSS Director Dan Marr and Bob McKenzie(and presumably the scouts he talks to) have said Bennett could have a Toews type of career.

I can see the parallels to 2006. I think Reinhart also compares to Backstrom as the classic playmaking center and offensive powerhouse - while he may produce more points than Bennett in the NHL it will be interesting to see who is the bigger impact player.

Yep.

Circa, Winter 13/14 Oilers & Sabres, heavily salivating over Bennett, and his top ranking.

Bennett, tanks at combine. Drops to 4th. All parties delighted.

[cannon7]

After a strong camp, most expected Monahan to get nine games and then get sent down. Obviously Monahan had something different in mind, but few expected him to stick the entire season at 18 years old.

Right now the expectations for Bennett are roughly the same as Monahan this time last year. He needs to earn a nine game look out of camp. He has a great attitude and I bet he's going to make it very tough to cut him.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Monahan was the 8th highest scoring rookie..... that is reasonably good.... He was not in contention to being a Calder finalist.

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

As usual, you're just looking at one number and letting that make a conclusion for you...

Here is one of those extremely important numbers:

Nathan MacKinnon — 18
Ondrej Palat — 22
Tyler Johnson — 23
Torey Krug — 22
Olli Maatta — 19
Jacob Trouba — 20
Hampus Lindholm — 20
Sean Monahan — 19

This is how old each player was when he finished the 2014 NHL season. From the top eight, only Nathan MacKinnon is younger than Sean Monahan, and the next three of the top four all have at least three years on him.

Eighth highest scoring rookie? So what. Monahan was the second highest scoring player from his draft class.Johnson and Palat both had two full seasons in the AHL before their rookie years.