[News] Calgary recalls Sam Bennett to the NHL

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

What? How are you deciding he didn't earn it?

After a prospect and training camp akin to Monahan's, he's revealed to be injured, has surgery and is eventually sent down to the OHL. He joins his playoff fighting team, goes 11-0 in the regular season to comfortably earn a playoff position where the team, because afterall it is a team sport, is dominated. Who's to say he didn't earn it? Especially when we consider that Monahan didn't carry his team into the playoffs and still made the team (rightfully) after his first pre-season.

I never decided he didn't earn it. It was the Flames who decided that, for now.
If it was up to me, I would have played him last night. Hell, I might have kept him instead of returning him to Kingston (which was the right move though).

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I never decided he didn't earn it. It was the Flames who decided that, for now.
If it was up to me, I would have played him last night. Hell, I might have kept him instead of returning him to Kingston (which was the right move though).

Or they didn't play him because he had a single light practice with the team.

Your stance seems to have changed quite drastically from the first post:

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

The 'caged tiger' didn't do jack in the OHL playoffs.
The Flames do not reward failure at any level.

[EldrickOnIce]

Stance has not changed at all.
I would have played him, just because.
Flames didn't play him, for any number of reasons. In my opinion, at least in part, because it sends the wrong message, and in part because Bennett had not earned it yet.
He will.
I'm not why this offends.
I'll stop

[transplant99]

I actually agree with Eldrick here.

Bennett will get his chance to earn a start with the club today and/or tomorrow during practice.

Those saying he earned a spot in October are ignoring the fact that the guys playing ahead of him right now, have been practicing and sweating their bags off all season with the guys in that room. Bennett shouldn't be able to just waltz in a displace one of them without showing why IMO. I suspect this is exactly why Hartley chose not to play him last night, after all those players are the ones that have this club in a position to make the playoffs.....in a season where no one could have realistically expected such. As the saying goes..."ya dance with the one you brung".

Sam will get a couple days now to re-acclimatize to team mates and make a showing in practice which will allow Hartely to insert him into the lineup without any sort of friction happening among the guys who have toiled for 79 games to get to this spot.

Earned...never given.

[Goriders]

Tough decision. I'd say there are a number of guys they could sit based on performance over the last 5 games or so. Colburn, stajan, jooris, Raymond.

But the thing about this team is as soon as you write someone off they have a big game. Colburn and Jooris played well last night. They are a true team.

But if I had to make room for Bennett I'd take Stajan out and move Granlund to the 4th line with ferland and Jooris. Let him play with Colborn and Raymond.

That would actually leave us with 4 pretty good lines. We have the most depth I've seen on a Flames team in a long time. And all young too. Not a bad problem to have!

[Gaskal]

He's had all of one morning skate to get up to speed and earn a roster spot, so I can understand sitting him out for Edmonton. We play AZ Tuesday, if he doesn't impress in practice enough to nab a lineup spot I will be very shocked.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Stance has not changed at all.
I would have played him, just because.
Flames didn't play him, for any number of reasons. In my opinion, at least in part, because it sends the wrong message, and in part because Bennett had not earned it yet.
He will.
I'm not why this offends.
I'll stop

In the first intermission, the panel, especially Hrudy suggested that Bennett would be welcomed by the Flames players, but as long as it is viewed that he has earned his ice time. They also suggested that playing him last night likely wouldn't have been viewed as earned by the team.

They didn't really elaborate as to what it would take to be viewed as earned, and just cause the panel said it does mean its true, but you have to think that that, along with Bennett not getting much time to practice and re adjust to the system were likely the main reasons he didn't play.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Tough decision. I'd say there are a number of guys they could sit based on performance over the last 5 games or so. Colburn, stajan, jooris, Raymond.

But the thing about this team is as soon as you write someone off they have a big game. Colburn and Jooris played well last night. They are a true team.

But if I had to make room for Bennett I'd take Stajan out and move Granlund to the 4th line with ferland and Jooris. Let him play with Colborn and Raymond.

That would actually leave us with 4 pretty good lines. We have the most depth I've seen on a Flames team in a long time. And all young too. Not a bad problem to have!

First, it's Colborne. Second - Stajan? This team is light on vets who contribute defensively. And are good faceoff guys, and leaders. As much as I defend Raymond, it's him or Granlund, or maybe Jooris who would sit. Or maybe Colborne. I'm not sure Bennett plays any LW so maybe not Raymond.

[Iggy Snipe]

Bennett draws in tuesday vs. Arizona. I bet he even gets some PP time with the second unit.

Bennett in, Ferland out i'm guessing. Nothing else changes personnel wise, just the lines.

[nemanja2306]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Exactly. He earned it, like Bennett will too.
You just don't reward the player immediately, and throw them in in the lineup over guys who got you, just because he's there.
Bennett will get his chance to earn his spot.
I thought 'earned not given' was the mantra, or is that just stupid too?

Nobody said he shouldn't earn it. You said Bennett didn't do anything in the playoffs and that Flames don't reward failure. Which to me says you think he failed against NB.

There were multiple reasons why Kingston got swept, Bennett wasn't one of them.

[Azure]

I think Ferland has been playing better than Granlund. Just a smaller sample size because he isn't playing in consistent games.

[Vinny01]

I think Bennett will Have to be one of the best players in practice and carry it through to the morning skate Tuesday in order to make his debut against the Yotes. Good chance that happens though

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by nemanja2306

Nobody said he shouldn't earn it. You said Bennett didn't do anything in the playoffs and that Flames don't reward failure. Which to me says you think he failed against NB.

There were multiple reasons why Kingston got swept, Bennett wasn't one of them.

Fair enough. I did not intended to be overly harsh on Bennett (and bring out the pitchforks), but the fact is his team failed badly in the playoffs.
CSW stated above that the panel put it (right or wrong) the way I actually intended it - that you take care of the 20+ guys who have earned you this opportunity (at NHL playoffs) before you reward the guy who's junior team just got swept in the OHL playoffs - otherwise Bennett is, in effect, rewarded for his team failing - at the expense of the guys who got you here.
And that seems, to me, the perfect decision on their part.

[GoFlamesGo1989]

Hopefully Raymond is pulled out of the lineup for Bennett

[jordo23]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Tough decision. I'd say there are a number of guys they could sit based on performance over the last 5 games or so. Colburn, stajan, jooris, Raymond.

But the thing about this team is as soon as you write someone off they have a big game. Colburn and Jooris played well last night. They are a true team.

But if I had to make room for Bennett I'd take Stajan out and move Granlund to the 4th line with ferland and Jooris. Let him play with Colborn and Raymond.

That would actually leave us with 4 pretty good lines. We have the most depth I've seen on a Flames team in a long time. And all young too. Not a bad problem to have!

you would take out a reliable face off man and solid vet in game 79 and replace him with a rookie?

[heep223]

You can't mess with that Ferland-Granlund-Jooris line after last night. Give them a chance to get even more chemistry.

Stajan has been playing well, and Colborne had one of his best games last night. Backlund has been disappointing a bit lately but there ain't no way you're sitting him.

The only odd man out at the moment is Raymond. But not sure if Bennett can play LW.

Otherwise leave the lineup alone for Tuesday.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Iggy Snipe

Bennett draws in tuesday vs. Arizona. I bet he even gets some PP time with the second unit.

Bennett in, Ferland out i'm guessing. Nothing else changes personnel wise, just the lines.

Think this is the most likely scenario.

[GioforPM]

Yup. Ferland is the "rookiest" rookie, so there's a seniority issue. Like him or not, he's less productive than any other forward who could be tanked. And positionally it works better because he plays RW IIRC. The other choice is Granlund, if you want Bennett at centre. He won't be worse than Granlund at faceoffs, but he might be worse defensively.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by heep223

You can't mess with that Ferland-Granlund-Jooris line after last night. Give them a chance to get even more chemistry.

Stajan has been playing well, and Colborne had one of his best games last night. Backlund has been disappointing a bit lately but there ain't no way you're sitting him.

The only odd man out at the moment is Raymond. But not sure if Bennett can play LW.

Otherwise leave the lineup alone for Tuesday.

Agree, think that line needs another game together minimum. They looked great last night ( I know it was only the oilers)

[hockey.modern]

What about David Jones?