Sam Bennett/Kingston Frontenacs discussion

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

It looks like Bennett has nothing more to prove in junior.

A playoff series win over McDavid leading to a Memorial Cup over the Wheat Kings, the Remparts, and Charlottetown?

[JohnnyTitan]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Draisaitl doesn't skate well enough for his game to translate, at this point. 1.5 points per game in the WHL is indeed ripping it up.

That is great to hear, as Morgan Klimchuck is averaging 1.46 PPG since joining the Wheat Kings in January and he does everything right!

(41 points in 28 games)

Go Bennett! Go Poirier! Go Monahan! Go Klimmer!!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Cause and effect. He was given a job that he had no idea how to handle.

If Bennett had made the Flames out of training camp, he'd probably have got limited minutes playing on the wing – and that is precisely why he would likely have done better than Draisaitl did. You don't teach a kid to swim by pushing him off the diving board into the deep end of the pool.

Yeah, but it wasn't out of training camp that we were talking about any more - it was in a playoff push, which is a little further towards the deep end, and at a time when the Flames are succeeding and have around 6 defencemen at hand already.

Just saying the junior totals =/= the Flames made a mistake in not keeping him up.

ETA: It may be hypocritical, but I think if the Flames do make it in, and Kingston gets eliminated, he should be brought up to be with the guys and maybe play a game or two. Making the POs is the team accomplishment, and the POs themselves are a new season. If he plays and the Flames get eliminated in round one, I don't think it is a mistake. Plus, while the POs are intense, they aren't as dirty and the goons sit.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yeah, but it wasn't out of training camp that we were talking about any more - it was in a playoff push, which is a little further towards the deep end, and at a time when the Flames are succeeding and have around 6 defencemen at hand already.

Urrr???

First, I thought we were talking about why Draisaitl was terrible in the NHL. That was straight out of training camp; and my point was that Draisaitl was put in a position to fail; which isn't evidence that Bennett would have failed in a different situation.

Second, I don't understand how the number of defencemen the Flames have affects Bennett one way or the other. Did you maybe mean to type a different word? I often get tringer fouble that way.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Urrr???

First, I thought we were talking about why Draisaitl was terrible in the NHL. That was straight out of training camp; and my point was that Draisaitl was put in a position to fail; which isn't evidence that Bennett would have failed in a different situation.

Second, I don't understand how the number of defencemen the Flames have affects Bennett one way or the other. Did you maybe mean to type a different word? I often get tringer fouble that way.

I have no clue why I said defencemen, I meant centres. Getting old and feebleminded I guess.

I get that Bennett would be put in a different situation because E=NG and Flames = smart. I was more (a) agreeing with you and (b) ersponding to an earlier post that suggested the success he's having right now means they should have kept him. Again, different situations, but Draisaitl is just further evidence that it isn't an automatic conclusion.

[Jay Random]

Fair enough.

I do think that if Bennett had made the team out of training camp, he'd probably have started on the wing. That would probably have meant putting Setoguchi on waivers right away, which would have been no loss. It would also have meant frustrating a certain former Flame even more than he was already due to the logjam at LW, so the team might not have gotten a 2nd-round pick for him.

Ah, well; all what-ifs now. I'll be happy to see Bennett in training camp with two good shoulders.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Fair enough.

I do think that if Bennett had made the team out of training camp, he'd probably have started on the wing. That would probably have meant putting Setoguchi on waivers right away, which would have been no loss. It would also have meant frustrating a certain former Flame even more than he was already due to the logjam at LW, so the team might not have gotten a 2nd-round pick for him.

Ah, well; all what-ifs now. I'll be happy to see Bennett in training camp with two good shoulders.

No question on all fronts. I actually have no idea which side Bennett plays if he ever plays wing. I've kind of assumed LW (and assumed he can do it well, since lots of centres can adjust to the wing).

[Jay Random]

I remember seeing Bennett listed as a C/LW in his draft year on some of the scouting reports. Couldn't tell you which ones, alas.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I remember seeing Bennett listed as a C/LW in his draft year on some of the scouting reports. Couldn't tell you which ones, alas.

I wonder if he would have shoved Johnny out of the opening roster and changed history that way?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I wonder if he would have shoved Johnny out of the opening roster and changed history that way?

That's what I was thinking.

Gaudreau had a bit of slow start and if 2 rookies were starting on the LW (assuming that is where they would have used Bennett), it could have easily come down to one or the other.

[Jay Random]

In that case, Gaudreau would probably have scored a zillion points in the AHL and made the team look silly for sending him down. At any rate, that was what happened to Theo Fleury back in the day.

I very much doubt Bennett would be scoring at a 60-point pace if he had played this season in Calgary. (His NHLE was 39.) With Bollig, Glencross, and a certain Swiss guy also at LW, chances are he would have pushed one of them out of the lineup, rather than Gaudreau, who is in a class by himself.

[GioforPM]

So shoulder injury =

Johnny gets to play and prove himself. Might have gotten buried somewhat in the minors (doubtful - probably more what Jay said).

Bennett gets super fired up and gives everyone something to anticipate even without a really high draft pick in 2015.

I'M OK with all of that.

[Jay Random]

Also, shoulder injury =

Bennett plays hurt all through his draft year and falls to #4 on draft day.

I'm more than OK with that!

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Fl4me5

I saw Sam at YYC while he was waiting for his flight back to Toronto. He was undeniably extremely pissed off, I tried approaching him and he just blew me off. The odd few people did recognize him but he was giving off such a negative aura that no one wanted to bother him.

I get being pissed off and I know he's young, but that is not the type of attitude I like to hear about. Hopefully it was an isolated incident.
(not dumping on the kid, but always hold much more respect for those that can be professional and isolate their emotions once outside the rink)

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I get being pissed off and I know he's young, but that is not the type of attitude I like to hear about. Hopefully it was an isolated incident.
(not dumping on the kid, but always hold much more respect for those that can be professional and isolate their emotions once outside the rink)

He's 18-friggin-years-old.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I get being pissed off and I know he's young, but that is not the type of attitude I like to hear about. Hopefully it was an isolated incident.
(not dumping on the kid, but always hold much more respect for those that can be professional and isolate their emotions once outside the rink)

Judging by the pic, Sam was tired - was it a late or early flight? Might explain it a bit.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I get being pissed off and I know he's young, but that is not the type of attitude I like to hear about. Hopefully it was an isolated incident.
(not dumping on the kid, but always hold much more respect for those that can be professional and isolate their emotions once outside the rink)

If your job told you that you aren't quite ready for the promotion you felt you were ready for, wouldn't you be pissed too?

This is Bennett's career. And he's only 18 years old.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

If your job told you that you aren't quite ready for the promotion you felt you were ready for, wouldn't you be pissed too?

Boy, I sure hope the people taking this stance aren't the ones bashing Baertschi for wanting a trade.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Boy, I sure hope the people taking this stance aren't the ones bashing Baertschi for wanting a trade.

It's all about how you react to it. Bennett has gone back to the OHL and has 15 points in 7 games so far. Baertschi? Way too inconsistent.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Bennett is also only 6 months older than Mcdavid, who is the most hyped up prospect since Crosby.

Kid is going to be a game changer.

That's great and all.. but McDavid is averaging 2.6 PPG while Bennett is at 2.14... big difference.