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

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

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.

I think he deserves at least a chance to make the team this year, at the very least get in his nine games. I don't see how TWO WEEKS in the AHL hurts him at all.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

I think he deserves at least a chance to make the team this year, at the very least get in his nine games. I don't see how TWO WEEKS in the AHL hurts him at all.

It's one thing to give a guy 9 games at the beginning of the season, when ice time is more evenly distributed and the play is less intense. What guy in the present lineup do you want to give up his spot to do this experiment right now?

As for two weeks in the AHL not being a risk, Setoguchi got hurt within two weeks and hasn't returned. It can happen. There's some real goons in the minors, especially the non-prospect older guys who make a career of it, and sometimers feel like teaching the kids a "lesson". Mind you, McGrattan is in Addie so that's a tad less likely in this case.

[GranteedEV]

I just want to say, I find it amusing that people are worried about some freak hit taking Bennett out.

Do I have my concerns about him playing in the NHL?

Sure.

What are they? Whether he can maintain the defensive understanding of whomever he replaces, whether he can beat pro defenders without turning it over, whether he can win faceoffs, who he will replace.

But people are more scared that he's made of glass and a re-injury waiting to happen. As if he won't be playing hockey with big hitters in the CHL keying on his team's star player.

As for two weeks in the AHL not being a risk, Setoguchi got hurt within two weeks and hasn't returned.

Setoguchi had a sports hernia surgery. Chances are he was playing through that while he was up with the main club, and finally decided to shut it down when he was sent down. Now sure how that's a relevant comparision.

[GioforPM]

Big hitter in OHL < Big hitter in AHL. Let me know when someone like Wolf or McGrattan suits up in the O.

But I'm happy to amuse you.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Big hitter in OHL < Big hitter in AHL. Let me know when someone like Wolf or McGrattan suits up in the O.

But I'm happy to amuse you.

I'm not sure it matters. He's going to have to suit up in the NHL at some point. The injury worry from coming back after a long spell off is more conditioning issues than getting crushed. You pull a grin in the OHL as really as the AHL

[GranteedEV]

OHL guys who can destroy Sam? How about Nick Ritchie? If this guy wanted to "target" anyone on Kingston, it's going to be Bennett.

Hell look at the WHL, our own prospect Kanzig is BIGGER than McGrattan or Wolf and he hits hard.

On a team like Adirondack, Sam isn't the star, he's just one guy and there's no real attention given to him over Poirier, Baertschi, Granlund, Shore, Kulak.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It's one thing to give a guy 9 games at the beginning of the season, when ice time is more evenly distributed and the play is less intense. What guy in the present lineup do you want to give up his spot to do this experiment right now?

As for two weeks in the AHL not being a risk, Setoguchi got hurt within two weeks and hasn't returned. It can happen. There's some real goons in the minors, especially the non-prospect older guys who make a career of it, and sometimers feel like teaching the kids a "lesson". Mind you, McGrattan is in Addie so that's a tad less likely in this case.

If he plays well in the AHL, why not give him a shot? Like any other rookie we might call up. Of course, he would need to meet a high standard in Addy to get his nine (or less) games in the NHL. That's they key. He would need to dominate (or be close to that level) down there if he wants to make a team that is making a playoff push. And if he met such high expectation, would that not mean he is NHL ready? And in that case, Flames get a huge reinforcement.

Fact is, he won't play anywhere until he is apsolutely 100% ready. He could just as easily get hurt in Kingston.

[FanIn80]

40 pages of arguing over who's a better fortune teller... any recent footage of him in practice though? That's the only reason I keep checking this thread.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

If he plays well in the AHL, why not give him a shot? Like any other rookie we might call up. Of course, he would need to meet a high standard in Addy to get his nine (or less) games in the NHL. That's they key. He would need to dominate (or be close to that level) down there if he wants to make a team that is making a playoff push. And if he met such high expectation, would that not mean he is NHL ready? And in that case, Flames get a huge reinforcement.

Fact is, he won't play anywhere until he is apsolutely 100% ready. He could just as easily get hurt in Kingston.

They'ev only done injury callups, not callups to see how a kid is doing. ask Troy Wotherspoon how his callup went.

I agree he could get hurt in Kingston, the chances are less, however. And yes, guys are big there, but not as consistently so, and the play is slower, which is the main thing for getting back into rhythm.

Fanin80, there is some footage, but as it's non-contact, it's not that much use IMO, especially on a shoulder injury.

[Vinny01]

Hunter Smith and Nick Ritchie are as big as anyone in the AHL that would be on the ice against Bennett. The argument he won't get hurt in junior but will get destroyed in the pros is an incredibly weak argument. If Bennett can play the same game that he played in junior in the pro ranks then he deserves a shot. No one is handing him a spot but the AHL conditioning route is the best move for him. Let's see how he does against pros and then go from there

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It's one thing to give a guy 9 games at the beginning of the season, when ice time is more evenly distributed and the play is less intense. What guy in the present lineup do you want to give up his spot to do this experiment right now?

As for two weeks in the AHL not being a risk, Setoguchi got hurt within two weeks and hasn't returned. It can happen. There's some real goons in the minors, especially the non-prospect older guys who make a career of it, and sometimers feel like teaching the kids a "lesson". Mind you, McGrattan is in Addie so that's a tad less likely in this case.

A tad less likely? A tad?

If Bennett was there and someone so much as coughed on him they'd be eating through a straw for months.

Brian 'The Big Ern' McGrattan can chew up any of those AHL scrubs for breakfast.

The man is amazing.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Hunter Smith and Nick Ritchie are as big as anyone in the AHL that would be on the ice against Bennett. The argument he won't get hurt in junior but will get destroyed in the pros is an incredibly weak argument. If Bennett can play the same game that he played in junior in the pro ranks then he deserves a shot. No one is handing him a spot but the AHL conditioning route is the best move for him. Let's see how he does against pros and then go from there

Smith and Ritchie are exceptions and you shouldn't be looking at the one or two guys who are extraordinarily big. It's more about the average pro player being bigger and more importantly more solid than a teenager.

A wrecking ball like Tousignant may not be bigger then the biggest guys in the chl, but I'm willing to be the hits a lot harder than the majority of chlers.

Basically in the chl, Bennett maybe only has to worry about a couple of guys, whereas in the pros, he hs to worry bout every guy on the ice. Just look at Johnny this year, the biggest hit he took was from Datsyuk. In the pros, everyone can hurt you, even the small guys on the ice.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by 868904

Just look at Johnny this year, the biggest hit he took was from Datsyuk.

Likewise, just look at Johnny this year, the biggest hit he took was from Datsyuk.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Locke

A tad less likely? A tad?

If Bennett was there and someone so much as coughed on him they'd be eating through a straw for months.

Brian 'The Big Ern' McGrattan can chew up any of those AHL scrubs for breakfast.

The man is amazing.

Bull. Cheap guy hits Bennett. Grats goes up against him next shift and grabs him. Guy says no.

That's it. If a cheapshot artist takes aim at any level, nothing is done

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Bull. Cheap guy hits Bennett. Grats goes up against him next shift and grabs him. Guy says no.

That's it. If a cheapshot artist takes aim at any level, nothing is done

Hello cheap shot guy, have you met Trevor Gillies?

[Bingo]

I can't believe how long this debate has gone on ... from either side.

I just don't see the Flames doing either of "not giving him a chance if he deserves it", or "putting him in harm's way because he's a shiny toy".

Neither make any sense.

He doesn't play hockey ANYWHERE if his shoulder isn't up to tests.
He doesn't make the NHL team if he isn't a) adding to his development and b) helping them win.

I think his shoulder health and his play are in charge here. Nothing else.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I can't believe how long this debate has gone one ... from either side.

I just don't see the Flames doing either of "not giving him a chance if he deserves it", or "putting him in harm's way because he's a shiny toy".

Neither make any sense.

He doesn't play hockey ANYWHERE if his shoulder isn't up to tests.
He doesn't make the NHL team if he isn't a) adding to his development and b) helping them win.

I think his shoulder health and his play are in charge here. Nothing else.

The logical step is simply see how he responds to a conditioning stint, no? That's about all that seems logical to me

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Bull. Cheap guy hits Bennett. Grats goes up against him next shift and grabs him. Guy says no.

That's it. If a cheapshot artist takes aim at any level, nothing is done

This isnt a night on the town at a nice restaurant. No doesnt mean no if the other dude starts it.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Locke

This isnt a night on the town at a nice restaurant. No doesnt mean no if the other dude starts it.

No means no! Lol

[FBI]

I'm picturing Bennett with jooris like tenacity and gaudreau like skill.