[News] McKenzie: Bennett expected to have shoulder surgery. Could be out for months

[Mongo]

Shoulder surgery? The Oilers should have taken this kid...he'd fit right in (and I think we only have one more stamp needed to get our next shoulder surgery for free).

Sucks for the kid (and for Canada's WJC team). Was really looking forward to seeing what he could do especially if given the 9 games.

Whether to rehab or to do surgery I hope the right decision is made (i.e. no rehab followed by even worse injury after returning...if he needs to go under the knife just do it).

[Browndog71]

As said by most, this sucks.

Not so much for the Flames as I believe he was going down eventually, but really wanted him in the World Juniors.

Maybe this will open up a space for Jankowski after he dominates the first half of the season and they have to pick him...

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Let's be clear here that "bulking up" is not any sort of reliable method for injury prevention.

Very true, physiologically. Example: every baseball player on earth.

[killer_carlson]

worst case scenario here. Injury that can cause problems throughout a career, especially for those playing a grittier game, loses a year of development.

Damnit.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

I was wondering this too? How will IR work for him, salary wise? Also what does this mean for his ELC and sliding?

He gets NHL salary while on the NHL roster.

ELC slide is based on games played, so that is unaffected. He could return to play up to nine games in the NHL after recovery. He could also be assigned to Adirondack for up to two weeks on a conditioning stint without affecting his contract status. There wouldn't be much point on either, however. He's going to be sent right back to Kingston when cleared to play.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Same issues RNH had perhaps?

He had the surgery and is better than ever now apparently.

It seems like nowadays, the surgeries are much better than they used to be. Even 10 years ago, surgery would indicate a high chance of having damaged goods, but now it seems like 100% recovery is more common.

Losing important development time at a crucial point like this is worrisome though.

[Fire]

Do the surgery as soon as possible and get the problem fixed right, though it probably means no World Juniors. Letting him rest just seems to be delaying the inevitable. Of course I'm no doctor.

[Scoutski]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

He gets NHL salary while on the NHL roster.
.

Thanks for your reply, so is his status that he is currently and likely to remain on the NHL roster during his recovery?

[CaptainCrunch]

Well this news is terrible. I knew it was bad when the Flames groused about him hiding injuries to play.

It makes you wonder if this went from something manageable to something that requires surgery because he played through it.

I love players who want to play and have a competitive nature, but I'm filing this under "what the hell you were thinking" and putting a note in my day timer to worry about if this becomes a chronic issue later.

I'm sure the training staff is having some very uncomfortable meetings with management right about now.

[sureLoss]

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Bennett suffered a shoulder injury in CGY's pre-season but he also battled through shoulder issues much of last season in KGN.

[AcGold]

They need to calm him down a little. He's so ambitious and hard working that he'll probably push it too hard and hurt himself over and over. He should take an extra long rehab and spend time with some professional trainers in the gym learning to get stronger incrementally. The fact that he could still play at a fairly high level means his shoulder wasn't completely locked up and it shouldn't be too serious, they just need to slow his engine down and get him to elite athlete levels of healthiness and strength. Flames aren't playing for the cup any time soon so his spot isn't going anywhere.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

Thanks for your reply, so is his status that he is currently and likely to remain on the NHL roster during his recovery?

I would say that is a certainty. It keeps him entirely within the sphere and influence of the Flames medical and training staff, which would be much better than what the Frontenacs or OHL could provide on a day to day basis - though the Flames would be heavily involved in his recovery in that scenario as well.

[PIMking]

[sureLoss]

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Prior to draft, KGN GM Doug Gilmour said: "Nobody knows he played with shoulder ailment for much of the year. It wasn't the type of thing...

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
...that needed surgery but it showed that this guy is a warrior. He plays through pain. I'll be the first to stick up for him."

[icarus]

Do whatever it takes to ensure he can make a full and complete recovery with no lingering issues. That's the most important thing.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I would say that is a certainty. It keeps him entirely within the sphere and influence of the Flames medical and training staff, which would be much better than what the Frontenacs or OHL could provide on a day to day basis - though the Flames would be heavily involved in his recovery in that scenario as well.

He can't be sent down while injured right?

I thought an injured player could not be sent down?

[Enoch Root]

well crap

[Ashasx]

lol of course

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

He gets NHL salary while on the NHL roster.

That's not true. Players on two-way contracts who are injured in training camp and who accrued fewer than 50 NHL games in the previous season are paid a discounted rate while on IR which is based on how many days they were in the NHL the previous season. So if you were in the NHL for 10% of the year and in the AHL for 90%, your IR salary would be calculated by prorating the salaries by those percentages. So a guy on a $1M/100K 2-way deal would be paid as if he had a $190K annual salary ($1M x 10% plus 100K x 90%).

In Bennett's case he wasn't in the NHL at all last year so he'll just be paid his AHL salary of $70K (about $370 a day for every day he's on IR).

[Caged Great]

It's probably the same type of surgery as Poirier as they sound somewhat similar. If that's the case, I wouldn't worry too much. It'll just suck having him on the shelf till likely the new year.

Hopefully he rests it up and can return to it in perfect health and bulk up a bit for next year.