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

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

His shoulder will be stronger post surgery guaranteed. Now add to that professional trainers and best physios money can buy. He'll be fine.

Thanks for the guarantee. I don't think the history of NHL hockey permits me to have the same confidence. Hope you are right of course.

Unless you only mean stronger than when it was injured, to which I say of course.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What the hell?

This was mentioned this a lot when we drafted him, but he played the wing a lot in the OHL. If you check out his highlights, probably at least half of them happen with him coming down the wing.

I am not sure why the notion of him playing the wing in the NHL gets shot down so often. Time will tell what position he will be better suited to in the NHL.

[GioforPM]

He may well start on the wing since it's an easier position.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Thanks for the guarantee. I don't think the history of NHL hockey permits me to have the same confidence. Hope you are right of course.

Unless you only mean stronger than when it was injured, to which I say of course.

I can't think of any guys off the top of my head with reoccurring shoulder problems that continually require surgery. It seems that if players require a shoulder surgery they generally don't have issues down the road. Injuries to the knees, backs, wrists or even feet those seem to linger.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

I can't think of any guys off the top of my head with reoccurring shoulder problems that continually require surgery. It seems that if players require a shoulder surgery they generally don't have issues down the road. Injuries to the knees, backs, wrists or even feet those seem to linger.

Maata is one. Horton is a famous example. Winchester pretty much became careerless. Bolduc, Lindholm are other samples.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

This was mentioned this a lot when we drafted him, but he played the wing a lot in the OHL. If you check out his highlights, probably at least half of them happen with him coming down the wing.

I am not sure why the notion of him playing the wing in the NHL gets shot down so often. Time will tell what position he will be better suited to in the NHL.

He pretty much exclusively played centre.

You're confusing coming down the wing on a highlight reel to playing wing. Sam's pretty good at cutting once he's in the neutral zone, he'll do a quick little move and shimmy to the left or right side, that doesn't mean he's now a winger though.

The notion gets shot down because he's an effective two-way centremen. Sure he might end up at wing but I don't see that happening. He might start at wing, similar to how Seguin, Lindholm and countless others have but he easily projects to play down the middle in the NHL. His two-way ability would be wasted at wing.

[Enoch Root]

His surgery was very similar to Hall's. Has Hall had any lingering or recurring problems?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

His surgery was very similar to Hall's. Has Hall had any lingering or recurring problems?

I think so... he signed an extension.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

His surgery was very similar to Hall's. Has Hall had any lingering or recurring problems?

For some reason he can't play defense, he is extremely slow on line changes and he doesn't use his team mates effectively. This surgery is the devil!

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

His surgery was very similar to Hall's. Has Hall had any lingering or recurring problems?

Skates with his head down, low hockey IQ, indifferent play in his own zone, poor leader, etc.

Oh, wait, you probably meant in relation to the injury...

EDIT: Damn, this joke was too easy, and I am too slow.

[Vulcan]

I've seen him listed as a centre and as a LW. I believe he's moved around a bit depending on the team needs. He may have played more wing in his first year in Junior, something like Jankowski did..

Bennett is listed as both a centre (which he seems to be playing now exclusively) and a left wing, and that could make him very enticing to the Oilers. Along with at least 2 more NHL-ready top-4 defenders, as we all know, the Oilers need another skilled centre, with some size, capable of playing great two-way hockey.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...od-for-oilers/

[Enoch Root]

the problem, Vulcan, is your source

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

He pretty much exclusively played centre.

You're confusing coming down the wing on a highlight reel to playing wing. Sam's pretty good at cutting once he's in the neutral zone, he'll do a quick little move and shimmy to the left or right side, that doesn't mean he's now a winger though.

The notion gets shot down because he's an effective two-way centremen. Sure he might end up at wing but I don't see that happening. He might start at wing, similar to how Seguin, Lindholm and countless others have but he easily projects to play down the middle in the NHL. His two-way ability would be wasted at wing.

At the very least, he played both positions often. Maybe he ended up playing more of the 2013-2014 season as a centre, but he came into the Frontenacs as a left winger. There are a lot of sources that list him a LW, LW/C and just a C.

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2014/1...ennett-profile

However, if projected as a left wing at the NHL level his value might be less than that of a potential number one center. Because of this I could see him falling below some of the centers like Reinhart, Dal Colle, and Draisaitl even though he is currently ranked as the top North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jr...023639279.html

Bennett's versatility, should he be available for the world junior championship in December, could have a special utility for Canada. Head scout Ryan Jankowski refers to having a surplus of centres as a "Canadian problem." The Holland Landing, Ont., native has more experience on left wing than the typical top-end attacker.

It's not hard to see why a beat writer would call him a winger. Obviously developing him into a center would be in the best interests of this team of course.

[DoubleF]

Didn't RNH have the same surgery? He was rushed back and it seems like he doesn't have any lingering issues. Even with the Kevin Lowe medical staff up North, but it's not like his shoulder exploded or anything even with regular NHL duties.

I am only assuming the same is for Bennett. Not saying we rush him, just saying his shoulder will likely be ok.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

the problem, Vulcan, is your source

I'm glad you included that second comma.

Reading other sources also mention he's a LW.

http://www.rotowire.com/hockey/player.htm?id=4384

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2014/1...ennett-profile

It was only a few years ago that OHL scouts weren’t exactly sure what to make of Bennett’s talent. As a member of the high-flying Toronto Marlboros minor midgets, Bennett played on a wing centred by Connor McDavid, the Erie Otters prodigy and projected No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL draft.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...r_feschuk.html

[GioforPM]

RNH has man strength now, so maybe that came from the surgery. ��

Seriously, even he had problems, the oilers medical staff has a history of rushing guys back, so I'd look elsewhere for a precedent.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

At the very least, he played both positions often. Maybe he ended up playing more of the 2013-2014 season as a centre, but he came into the Frontenacs as a left winger. There are a lot of sources that list him a LW, LW/C and just a C.

It's not hard to see why a beat writer would call him a winger. Obviously developing him into a center would be in the best interests of this team of course.

Lots of sources list Poirier as a left wing as well, forward positions can be totally out of whack going from junior to pro.

I'm not saying Bennett hasn't played left wing, or won't in the future but he projects as a center. Younger players tend to get pushed to the wing which is why he joined Kingston playing on the wing, he was 16. As he got older and more responsibility he was shifted back to the middle. He might start in Calgary on the wing, less responsibility etc but as I'm willing to bet he will return to the middle. His two-way game and ability in the face off dot is much better suited to the middle.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

RNH has man strength now, so maybe that came from the surgery. ��

Seriously, even he had problems, the oilers medical staff has a history of rushing guys back, so I'd look elsewhere for a precedent.

I sorta meant it as a "worst case scenario", but to be truthful, I don't really track the records of such injuries. You are probably correct that a different precedent probably would be better than RNH in reviewing our Bennett situation.

[PeteMoss]

If he goes to Kingston, if you assume 3 weeks before he plays a game, Kingston would have 13 games left in the year. You would assume if he was back they would make the playoffs, but they are currently the 8th seed, one point up on 9th which would mean missing the playoffs.

They are missing Spencer Watson and Bennett, so they could move up if both of those guys get back and make a bit of a run.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

By all counts, Bennet will not be playing any hockey until he is completely healthy, so I'm not entirely sure where you are going with this. Will he need to be a standout to pick up a regular shift? Yes. Whether or not he can remains to be seen, but it seems foolish to simply dismiss this as a possibility out of hand.


"Re-injury risk"? This is a red herring. Again, there WILL BE NO RISK because the Flames will not let him play until the injury is completely healed. By all counts, the shoulder is ALREADY in better shape now than before he had surgery.


I generally agree with this, except for the belief that the team would be reticent to see Bennett in a limited role or in the press box "even a few games." A few games of low activity is not going to have any detrimental long term effect. Nevertheless, in no way do I see how this in any way conflicts with the notion that he should and will get games in the AHL and with the Flames this spring to demonstrate his readiness before (if?) he is sent back to Kingston.

Consider that a shoulder can take a lot longer to heal than what the actual recovery time is listed as. There's a mental aspect to it in addition to a strength and range of motion concern that will likely be a non factor by now. Its something that is going to be totally dependent on the player and yes, it is not a stretch to say that a young, smallish rookie who is coming off a major injury is a re-injury risk. Shoulder recurrence or other injuries can pop up due simply to lack of playing time and overall fitness levels. This is nothing new, you see it all the time in this league when players have been out long term.

Obviously Bennett will be medically cleared to play but there's no way to be NHL ready at this point in the year if you haven't been playing games anywhere. For a raw rookie to jump in and take away a top 9 spot from one of the established players on this team (who are all playing very well) would be nothing short of a miracle at this stage in the season.

I for one think we have seen enough proof up north to reinforce the notion that it's a much safer and effective to er on the side of caution with your top prospects instead of putting them in a position to fail. Bennett isn't going to be the difference between the Flames making the playoffs or not in 2015. Why not set him up to play a ton in the CHL and move him along from there as needed? This is the time he needs to be playing a lot of hockey.