[Rumour] Flames recall Sam Bennett. UPD: Flames still deciding on AHL or NHL

[Lonestar]

Originally Posted by Owen15

How would we know if Wotherspoin counts as an emergency call up?

He'll have to count as the last of 4 non-emergency call ups. Diaz gets injured last night but Potter is still on the NHL roster and healthy, which means the Flames still would have 6 defenseman to choose from (plus Spoon)


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[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

So there is potentially 0 benefit extending his season a little and having him play his first pro games at the AHL level. I won't pretend to know what is actually best for him, but suggest that it makes no sense to send him there seems silly. Lots of benefits getting him some more games and getting to experience a level of play he has yet to experience.

I think he means it makes no sense to send him there when we need him here more. He gets a couple pro games in and their season is likely over. If they win out he could get some playoff time.

This team is incredibly close to making or missing. The team has been carried by the top line for quite some time and it is rare a playoff contending team can add a prospect of this caliber to its roster for a push like this.

[Mony]

I am literally begging Treliving to bring him up. Sending him to Kingston in February was the absolute correct call, and I feel like assigning him to Calgary right now would also be the correct call.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Flames could use him; he improves the roster without doubt....this seems like a no brainer. In a fight for our playoff lives we need all the help we can get.
This is an elite prospect; there should be no worry about rushing him too fast or anything....pretty sure he is one of our best 12 forwards today....

I think it's the last line of your post that everyone seems to taking as a given, but I'd wager is not being seen as such a slam dunk by the a Flames right now and is complicating the decision, especially if the expectations are for him to hit that level right away.

Also, he's not going to play on our 4th line, so he needs to be in the top 9 right away. I know it's easy to say he'll be better than Raymond or Colborne, which I hope would be the case in fairly short order, but in 4 games maybe not. This is really complicated for the Flames I'm sure, there is no guarantee he'll be better right now, so slotting him in unproven at this point and taking out a player who's been through this teams battles all year is not something you take lightly at this point if your are the a Flames. Getting in has to to be priority number 1, but if it's debatable if it's going to be an upgrade over the next 4 games you have to be careful of the cultural implications for the team and Bennett long term when you preach always earned and this group has already exceed expectations so much.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I think he means it makes no sense to send him there when we need him here more. He gets a couple pro games in and their season is likely over. If they win out he could get some playoff time.

This team is incredibly close to making or missing. The team has been carried by the top line for quite some time and it is rare a playoff contending team can add a prospect of this caliber to its roster for a push like this.

As per my other post, those opinions though are anchored on thoughts that he is for sure an instant upgrade on our top 9. I'd say its debatable at this point that he will be over the next 4 games, and I'd suggest the fact the Flames are seemingly not sure what to do means they also aren't convinced either. Took Johnny a while to adjust at this level, it will likely take Bennett some time too, time we don't have at game 78 of the season.

[Mony]

So good to hear that they're still trying to decide. Maybe there's hope?

[cannon7]

I send him to Addy for a couple games and see how he fares. Give him some top line minutes with Poirier. Hoping that'll be a duo for the future.

The heat is on for guys like Raymond, though.

[Azhouse]

Crap. Was hoping he comes up.

[jg13]

Get him in the line up against Edmonton, it's basically the same competition as he'd be playing in the AHL.

Not to mention if Bennett is up with Calgary he has the potential to be a difference maker in the final 2 games of the season.

[Vedder]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I send him to Addy for a couple games and see how he fares. Give him some top line minutes with Poirier. Hoping that'll be a duo for the future.

The heat is on for guys like Raymond, though.

And hope a Flames forward gets injured so they can call him up? I think the injury situation forces the Flames hand. Bring him up and play him against Edmonton and Arizona. Chances of him being a liability in those games are much less.

[flambers]

I would recall him to the Flames for sure.... Flames have very few forwards that have the offensive ability that Bennett has. Previous poster showed the amount of Forwards who are struggling...

He would instantly help the Power play...

Scratch Granlund and insert Bennett...

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I think it's the last line of your post that everyone seems to taking as a given, but I'd wager is not being seen as such a slam dunk by the a Flames right now and is complicating the decision, especially if the expectations are for him to hit that level right away.

Also, he's not going to play on our 4th line, so he needs to be in the top 9 right away. I know it's easy to say he'll be better than Raymond or Colborne, which I hope would be the case in fairly short order, but in 4 games maybe not. This is really complicated for the Flames I'm sure, there is no guarantee he'll be better right now, so slotting him in unproven at this point and taking out a player who's been through this teams battles all year is not something you take lightly at this point if your are the a Flames. Getting in has to to be priority number 1, but if it's debatable if it's going to be an upgrade over the next 4 games you have to be careful of the cultural implications for the team and Bennett long term when you preach always earned and this group has already exceed expectations so much.

Guys like Granlund and Ferland and Shore are being slotted onto the 3rd line on a nightly basis.

They have seen Bennett in practice with the team, as well as in pre-season.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind, I would venture to suggest, that Bennett is clearly better - right now - than those guys at a minimum.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

As per my other post, those opinions though are anchored on thoughts that he is for sure an instant upgrade on our top 9. I'd say its debatable at this point that he will be over the next 4 games, and I'd suggest the fact the Flames are seemingly not sure what to do means they also aren't convinced either. Took Johnny a while to adjust at this level, it will likely take Bennett some time too, time we don't have at game 78 of the season.

Fair point but if he doesn't work out then you don't play him 9 games and burn a year off the ELC. The way the 2-4 lines have played recently I fully believe he is an upgrade. Keep the Backlund unit together and put Bennett in Granlund or Raymonds spot on the third line.

I agree though the Flames brass are thinking long and hard about this decision. As any have stated this kid is a lion ready to be let outbid his cage. He brings speed, skill, and heart to a team that is so close to making the playoffs yet also as close to falling outside

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by jg13

Get him in the line up against Edmonton, it's basically the same competition as he'd be playing in the AHL.

Not to mention if Bennett is up with Calgary he has the potential to be a difference maker in the final 2 games of the season.

This. And to expand on that the next game is against an even worse team. No better way to break him into the league than going against 2 bad teams in must win games.

[Red Menace]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

As per my other post, those opinions though are anchored on thoughts that he is for sure an instant upgrade on our top 9. I'd say its debatable at this point that he will be over the next 4 games, and I'd suggest the fact the Flames are seemingly not sure what to do means they also aren't convinced either. Took Johnny a while to adjust at this level, it will likely take Bennett some time too, time we don't have at game 78 of the season.

He can do pretty much nothing and be an improvement over Raymond.
At the very least he would almost certainly boost the 2nd unit PP.
Raymond literally has 1 PP point all season despite having the 4th most PP minutes of all Fwds.
I think they are scared to repeat the Sven call-up.....but as much as i like Sven, Sam is a much better prospect and those concerns should be minimal in my opinion.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Guys like Granlund and Ferland and Shore are being slotted onto the 3rd line on a nightly basis.

They have seen Bennett in practice with the team, as well as in pre-season.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind, I would venture to suggest, that Bennett is clearly better - right now - than those guys at a minimum.

Ferland and Shore are playing 4th roles that Bennett can't play. I'd say it's more than debatable that Bennett is going to be an upgrade in games 1 through 4 of his NHL career (if that starts tomorrow) than what Grandlund is doing for us right now.

[calgARI]

On one hand I don't see why it's such a big deal. Bring him for a couple of games - I don't think it will be so make or break to such a highly-regarded prospect who has shown nothing but promise.

On the other hand, I guess the same could have been said for Baertschi, who was probably at least somewhat affected by his initial 5-game callup.

Clearly different prospects though.

Just not seeing the downside and it just so happens he could really help this team right now. If he doesn't, it's not like they'll be worse off really.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

He can do pretty much nothing and be an improvement over Raymond.
At the very least he would almost certainly boost the 2nd unit PP.
Raymond literally has 1 PP point all season despite having the 4th most PP minutes of all Fwds.
I think they are scared to repeat the Sven call-up.....but as much as i like Sven, Sam is a much better prospect and those concerns should be minimal in my opinion.

I do think its debatable that he'll be an upgrade over Raymond in games 1 through 4. Long term, one hopes it's not even a question, who will play a better game on Saturday night between the two at the NHL level, very debatable. I'd say anyone thinking otherwise is putting way too much pressure on Bennett right out the gate.

Not to mention, we can't approach this like a desperate team willing to throw anything at the walk or try anything. This is a team that has made it this far with the group we've got. To suggest the playoffs won't happen unless we upgrade somehow before the end of the year is simply not giving enough credit to the folks that have got us this far, and despite what everyone seems to think there is a chance Bennett makes us worse in the short term while he finds his NHL game.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I think they are scared to repeat the Sven call-up.....but as much as i like Sven, Sam is a much better prospect and those concerns should be minimal in my opinion.

I'd be okay with the three goals in five games part of Sven's call up.

[polak]

On the off chance that he's some how not an improvement on Raymond or Colborne (hah) then so what? You don't play him then. Problem solved?

Just like Porier.