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

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He could also be 'going' to join the big club. It eliminates nothing.

Technically, that would be ‘WHAT he is going to do’, not ‘WHERE he is going’. But I agree, it doesn't pay to read too much into the exact wording that Treliving used. We can't eliminate anything based on that.

The one thing we can be reasonably sure of is that Bennett won't go straight into NHL action off of the IR. He might go straight back to junior, but for now, I doubt it. It seems most probable to me that the Flames will send him to Adirondack for at least a couple of games before making a final decision. It's all very well to say that he is practising with NHLers, but scrimmaging with teammates is one thing; playing against opponents in real league games is another.

It all comes down to having enough information. How Bennett performs in a game situation is vital information to have, and the only way to get that before making the decision is to give him a conditioning stint in the AHL. Basically, he's going through a one-man training camp in mid-season, and I imagine he'll be playing his exhibition games down there.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Technically, that would be ‘WHAT he is going to do’, not ‘WHERE he is going’. But I agree, it doesn't pay to read too much into the exact wording that Treliving used. We can't eliminate anything based on that.

The one thing we can be reasonably sure of is that Bennett won't go straight into NHL action off of the IR. He might go straight back to junior, but for now, I doubt it. It seems most probable to me that the Flames will send him to Adirondack for at least a couple of games before making a final decision. It's all very well to say that he is practising with NHLers, but scrimmaging with teammates is one thing; playing against opponents in real league games is another.

It all comes down to having enough information. How Bennett performs in a game situation is vital information to have, and the only way to get that before making the decision is to give him a conditioning stint in the AHL. Basically, he's going through a one-man training camp in mid-season, and I imagine he'll be playing his exhibition games down there.

Treliving," Focus is to get him healthy........., we will be happy to share with everyone where he is going to go".

As you say it's where, not what or when, and it seems pretty plain to me as Treliving is very careful in his words. If people want to use their imagination and read something else into it, be my guest.

[driveway]

I'd like to see Bennett in the OHL because I think we should be careful to stagger the years our young players are going to come off their ELC's.

I think it's likely that Bennett would make the team after a 9 game tryout. I don't think having him on the team would be the difference between making the playoffs or not or winning a round or not, though I could be wrong there.

Right now we have Monohan who's ELC ends after next year - the same year Giordano's contract is up if I'm not mistaken. Now we've got Gaudreau and Jooris with two more ELC seasons. If Bennett plays the rest of this year, he'll be up for a contract the same year as Gaudreau and Jooris. If he plays this year in the O, we get to deal with his contract the year after Gaudreau.

I know that right now we have buttloads of cap space, but that will not always be the case. We have these young players who are going to be good and are going to get paid. We're going to need to supplement these players with free agents. It is long-term smart from a money-management perspective to have Bennett play the year out in the OHL.

[heep223]

What's the rush in sending him to junior? People are so impatient sheesh.

[iLoveLamp]

Originally Posted by driveway

I'd like to see Bennett in the OHL because I think we should be careful to stagger the years our young players are going to come off their ELC's.

I think it's likely that Bennett would make the team after a 9 game tryout. I don't think having him on the team would be the difference between making the playoffs or not or winning a round or not, though I could be wrong there.

Right now we have Monohan who's ELC ends after next year - the same year Giordano's contract is up if I'm not mistaken. Now we've got Gaudreau and Jooris with two more ELC seasons. If Bennett plays the rest of this year, he'll be up for a contract the same year as Gaudreau and Jooris. If he plays this year in the O, we get to deal with his contract the year after Gaudreau.

I know that right now we have buttloads of cap space, but that will not always be the case. We have these young players who are going to be good and are going to get paid. We're going to need to supplement these players with free agents. It is long-term smart from a money-management perspective to have Bennett play the year out in the OHL.

I'm pretty sure they're both RFA after next season

[stone hands]

give him a conditioning stint in the a. when he lights it up and is somehow the best player on the ice in every game he plays like the preseason, give him a shot. when he's one of the best players on the flames, we push for the playoffs

or he comes back from surgery, plays like a teenager coming off of major surgery, and we send him down

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by driveway

Right now we have Monohan who's ELC ends after next year - the same year Giordano's contract is up if I'm not mistaken. Now we've got Gaudreau and Jooris with two more ELC seasons. If Bennett plays the rest of this year, he'll be up for a contract the same year as Gaudreau and Jooris. If he plays this year in the O, we get to deal with his contract the year after Gaudreau.

Some wrong information there.

Monahan and Giordano's current contracts end after the 2015-2016 season. (which you got correct)

Gaudreau's ELC ends after the 2015-2016 season

Jooris' ELC expires after this season

Bennett's ELC if he were to play 10 or more NHL games would end after the 2016-2017 season.

If Bennett does not play 10 or more NHL games this season, his ELC would end after the 2017-2018 season (assuming he plays 10 or more NHL games next season - in the case he doesn't it would end after the 2018-2019 season)

[driveway]

Thanks for clarifying that sureloss. I miss capgeek. I don't think that changes my feelings at all, if anything it'll be better or us to have Bennett on an ELC for two years after having to pay Monohan, Gaudreau, and Giordano all at the same time.

[Jacks]

I would bet that Gio will be extended during the off season.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I really don't think the Flames can tell their highest pick in franchise history - and one that looked very good in the preseason - that they have already decided to send him back to junior. Would Bennett feel slighted? If I was him, I would. You also have to keep in mind the culture that the Flames have been trying to build - "Always earned, never given". You just have to allow someone to earn a place on the team - especially (once again) the highest pick in franchise history.

I think the Flames will (or have started to) evaluate him in practice. If he does well there, he gets to go to the AHL on a conditioning stint. If he does well there, he gets to play a game in the NHL. If he does well, he gets another, and another until the 9 game mark. At that time the Flames will make the decision. If he fails at any point - from practice, or in the AHL, or in NHL action - he gets sent back to the OHL.

I think the optics and message that they would want to send Bennett is that he at least deserves the chance - like any other rookie - to compete for a roster spot. I think he will have to convincingly out-perform some existing players in order to make the team, not just be 'adequate'. I think that Treliving would prefer to send him down - that is probably the 'easy and safe' choice. I just think that you have to at least allow him to compete - and I also think that putting him in one or two NHL games, even with sheltered minutes, can help his development once they decide to send him down. A first-hand taste of the NHL pace I think goes a long way.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bob Hartley

"Sam is skating as fast — with or without the puck — and there are very few players that can do this. His sense for the puck and how creative he is, it's just unbelievable. He's fast in tight areas like I rarely see with any young players."

These were Hartley's comments after Bennett's first exhibition game, which he played with a bad shoulder. It is hard to imagine that he will not be better with some conditioning in the short term.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Treliving," Focus is to get him healthy........., we will be happy to share with everyone where he is going to go".

As you say it's where, not what or when, and it seems pretty plain to me as Treliving is very careful in his words. If people want to use their imagination and read something else into it, be my guest.

'where he is going to go':

OHL
AHL
NHL

It really isn't that difficult.

It is you that is using your imagination to interpret his words. I merely pointed out that they can mean anything.

And that's enough on this silly matter.

[dammage79]

Listening to Boomer and Rhett talking to Brad Treliving. Treliving very honestly said they don't know where Sam is going to end up. Did say they feel Sam came back training harder, got bigger and his shoulder looks stronger than its ever been. So there's todays little update.

Also gave a timeline for his game readiness and that was two weeks give or take.
I predict AHL time.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I really don't think the Flames can tell their highest pick in franchise history - and one that looked very good in the preseason - that they have already decided to send him back to junior.

Of course they can. He had major surgery and hasn't played all year those are two pretty major reasons which make a good preseason kind of irrelevant.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by nik-

Of course they can. He had major surgery and hasn't played all year those are two pretty major reasons which make a good preseason kind of irrelevant.

This isn't that hard to understand. Give him a chance to earn a spot, just like everyone else. If he does, then he does. If he doesn't, he doesn't. Isn't that exactly what we love about this team?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by heep223

This isn't that hard to understand. Give him a chance to earn a spot, just like everyone else. If he does, then he does. If he doesn't, he doesn't. Isn't that exactly what we love about this team?

Sure. But saying they can't tell him he needs to go down if that's what they decide is just silly. Of course they could tell him that, they have good reasons to tell him that. Sending him down after he had a good 8 game preseason followed by 50 games of not playing because of recovery isn't shafting him.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by iLoveLamp

I'm pretty sure they're both RFA after next season

Jooris should be a year before JG.

[Scoutski]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Listening to Boomer and Rhett talking to Brad Treliving. Treliving very honestly said they don't know where Sam is going to end up. Did say they feel Sam came back training harder, got bigger and his shoulder looks stronger than its ever been. So there's todays little update.

Also gave a timeline for his game readiness and that was two weeks give or take.
I predict AHL time.

This is pretty awesome news, can't believe we still have this guy waiting to join the team. I never really heard many details about what's been going on with his rehab that could potentially improve his game while he was rehabbing? was he doing a lot of leg/core strength stuff? I'm sure being exposed to NHL practices helped a lot. Any ideas?

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

This is pretty awesome news, can't believe we still have this guy waiting to join the team. I never really heard many details about what's been going on with his rehab that could potentially improve his game while he was rehabbing? was he doing a lot of leg/core strength stuff? I'm sure being exposed to NHL practices helped a lot. Any ideas?

[Buff]

How much does Monahan's ability to stick with the club play into people's opinion that Bennett should also stick with the club?