[News] Bennett Out 4-6 Months with Shoulder Surgery *UPDATE* Back Skating

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Leads the team in the ever so subjective +/- with a +9.

2nd in team scoring with 22 points. 2 goals have come on the PP.

4th in TOI. I don't know who he's paired with (I think it's Mitchell)

But FLA relies heavily on their top 4 of Kulikov, Campbell, Mitchell and Ekblad.

He's certainly holding his own defensively IMO. Offensively he is carrying the team from the back end though. That's Doughty esque for sure. Knowing he's 4th on the team in TOI tells me he's used in all situations as well. Even if he's on the second paring PK those are still hard minutes to play while keeping the +/- high.

I really don't think it's hyperbole at all to say he's equaling the output of Drew Doughty in any of his first three years.

EDIT: I'm no stats junkie so I really do not know where to look for special teams minutes played. I'm basing my opinion on the info available via NHL.com

Double Edit: Sorry for the de-rail, let's get back to talking about Sam Bennett!

Ekblad is unreal. If he played in a bigger market Johnny would be a distant second. Again tonight, if you look at the scoring chances chat and compare it with Ekblad's shift chart, he's there all the time. Very solid defensively. Lots of PK tonight too

[GoJetsGo]

Can the Ekblad circle jerk / pissing contest be taken to another thread?

This is supposed to be about Sam Bennett. Take it some place else.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Can the Ekblad circle jerk / pissing contest be taken to another thread?

This is supposed to be about Sam Bennett. Take it some place else.

I said I was sorry already! Stop yelling at me! Sheesh!

[PeteMoss]

Doughty is more of an all around defenseman than an offensive juggernaut. Points obviously don't hurt, but its not like Mark Streit is better than Drew Doughty despite putting up more points.

Side note - noticed that Shattenkirk has passed Giordano in points by a defenseman)

[Lanny_McDonald]

Came looking for an update on Sam Bennett to find Aaron Ekblad is a lock for Calder and Norris if he was playing in a bigger market. Left feeling like I'd just walked out of an opium den.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Go look at his stats. Don't get all uppity over an opinion. I compared the stats and they back me up. Even if you want to compare rookie seasons Ekblad is still on pace to better Doughty. On a worse team at that too.

There is a little more to being the best defenseman in the NHL than putting up good stats.

Doughty - like Giordano - is also their top shut-down guy.

Ekblad has had a great rookie season, as I've already said. My issue was comparing him to Doughty (and you compared him to a 23 year old Doughty, not an 18 year old), which is ridiculous.

Anyway, Bennett is pretty good.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Play him against the Oilers Jan. 31. It's like an NHL game and conditioning stint all in one!

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Play him against the Oilers Jan. 31. It's like an NHL game and conditioning stint all in one!

But the Panthers aren't playing the Oilers on Jan 31, how would this involve Ekblad?

[Fischy13]

Originally Posted by getbak

January 31st vs Edmonton: First NHL game, first NHL hat trick. Meanwhile, Leon "NHL Ready" Draisaitl is searching for Ogopogo and eating ribs with bc-chris.

Oh I really hope your right. Just bought tickets today to that game. That'd be a nice treat.

[thymebalm]

Getting excited to see what this kid can really do.

[dino7c]

If a young D-man plays well in Florida and nobody cares enough to watch, does it make a sound?

[Badgers Nose]

It will be a tough decision whether or not to leave him with the club. A conditioning stint in the OHL makes sense. But I think the Flames are better with him, and if they are close to a playoff spot when he is ready he could be a good reinforcement. Even if it's only 9 games.

Kingston looks like they are struggling a bit, they've made some trades. Not sure if its to get better this year or in teh future.

[Circa89]

Do playoff games count toward the 10 game max?

If not I could see us easing him back in, playing one game and sitting 1 or 2 until he reaches 9 games played.
If we happen to make the playoffs, slot him in full time.

Is that a possible scenario?

[getbak]

Yes, playoff games count the same as regular season games.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Circa89

Do playoff games count toward the 10 game max?

If not I could see us easing him back in, playing one game and sitting 1 or 2 until he reaches 9 games played.
If we happen to make the playoffs, slot him in full time.

Is that a possible scenario?

yup.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Circa89

Do playoff games count toward the 10 game max?

If not I could see us easing him back in, playing one game and sitting 1 or 2 until he reaches 9 games played.
If we happen to make the playoffs, slot him in full time.

Is that a possible scenario?

Playoff games count. Happened with Frank Corrado a couple years back. No loophole.

Honestly think playing Bennett in the NHL this season is setting him up to fail. i can't see it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

It will be a tough decision whether or not to leave him with the club. A conditioning stint in the OHL makes sense. But I think the Flames are better with him, and if they are close to a playoff spot when he is ready he could be a good reinforcement. Even if it's only 9 games.

Kingston looks like they are struggling a bit, they've made some trades. Not sure if its to get better this year or in teh future.

If he goes back to Kingston, it cannot in any way be considered a "conditioning stint," since it then becomes impossible to bring him back to Calgary this year until after the Frontenac are eliminated from the 2015 playoffs.

[Gaskal]

I think Badger's Nose just meant the AHL conditioning stint. In which case yeah, I could see it happening; I'd be stoked to see if he can click with Ferland, Sven, Poirier etc.

[Rick M.]

I feel better about an AHL conditioning stint for Bennett knowing that Big Ern will be there.

[Scoutski]

Don't know if this was posted in another thread, but Steinberg just put a little article out on Bennett and what to do, I tend to agree with him.

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=749987