19-year old Sam Bennett - Expectations for 15/16 season

[CliffFletcher]

I"ll be happy with a 30 pt season if he learns not skate with his head down.

[Lanny_McDonald]

600 goals, 1300 points?

How about contribute to an effective third line and transition to the professional ranks? I'd be happy with that.

[RyZ]

I'll be happy if he approaches 20G 45P-ish and above all, stay healthy through out. Anything over and above that would be gravy.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I"ll be happy with a 30 pt season if he learns not skate with his head down.

I also think he'll get around 30. But that'll be in around 60 games, since he might get injured. Hopefully he proves to be as durable as Gaudreau/Monahan/Brodie.

[Gaskal]

C of Red drowned poor ol' Beasley out when he announced the goal scorer as Sam. Must've been an incredible feeling for him.

[N-E-B]

I expect him to play centre all year. We didn't start Monahan on the wing, why Bennett?

[The Fonz]

15G + 20A. Let's not expect the world from this kid in his rookie season.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I expect him to play centre all year. We didn't start Monahan on the wing, why Bennett?

Size.

Monahan is 6-3, Bennett is 6-0.

That's the main reason why people have him listed as a winger instead of a center. We also have 50 million centers it seems.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Size.

Monahan is 6-3, Bennett is 6-0.

That's the main reason why people have him listed as a winger instead of a center. We also have 50 million centers it seems.

Flames website has Bennett at 6'1" 178 lbs.

[chockfullofgoodness]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Size.

Monahan is 6-3, Bennett is 6-0.

That's the main reason why people have him listed as a winger instead of a center. We also have 50 million centers it seems.

But only one who was drafted 4th overall as a natural center.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Size.

Monahan is 6-3, Bennett is 6-0.

That's the main reason why people have him listed as a winger instead of a center. We also have 50 million centers it seems.

What? Monahan is 6-2 and Bennett is 6-1. Likely only a 5 lb difference(if that) in weight from Monahans first season. Hardly enough difference to determine playing wing over center.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I"ll be happy with a 30 pt season if he learns not skate with his head down.

Maybe I missed something but getting a cheap shot elbow while basically standing still behind the net doesn't equate to "skating with your head down"

He'll be fine...45-55pts...book it.

[tvp2003]

Assuming everyone starts the season healthy, I could see him starting off on the wing with a defensively responsible centre like Backlund. This could give him sheltered minutes and allow him to ease into the centre spot. Hartley will have some interesting decisions to make; recall that Monahan, Gaudreau and Hudler didn't start playing together and producing until March.

Originally Posted by Gaskal

C of Red drowned poor ol' Beasley out when he announced the goal scorer as Sam. Must've been an incredible feeling for him.

After he scored, they showed him on the jumbotron sitting on the bench and looking up (I.e at himself) and he started smiling. The Dome went absolutely nuts -- one of the loudest times I've ever heard.

[PaperBagger'14]

600 goals and 1300 assists

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Zevo

What? Monahan is 6-2 and Bennett is 6-1. Likely only a 5 lb difference(if that) in weight from Monahans first season. Hardly enough difference to determine playing wing over center.

It's enough of a difference where moving Bennett to the wing for a season would not be a terrible idea. If Bennett is being listed as 6-1, it's likely a round up with Monahan being rounded down. I have been around the pair of them in the past and there is more than a single inch between them.

Monahan has a more sturdy frame, especially in his shoulders, where Bennett has more of a skinny profile. Height isn't the only thing that is a factor.

Now that's not to say that you couldn't change his position from the wing to center half way through the season, but I think it would rush him a bit as he's trying to transition to the NHL full time. He needs to learn how to be great at both ends of the ice and sheltering him a bit would be a good idea. Monahan was used exclusively in offensive situations in his first year, and Bennett likely will as well. There is a lot less responsibilities as a winger than a forward, so you could use him as a 2nd line winger instead of the 3rd line center. I think that Frolik will be on his line either way to assist him as he learns the ropes.

[thymebalm]

Safe projection: 35 points

Fan projection: 45 points

Unreal expectation: 60+ points

Impossible: PPG.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Zevo

What? Monahan is 6-2 and Bennett is 6-1. Likely only a 5 lb difference(if that) in weight from Monahans first season. Hardly enough difference to determine playing wing over center.

Monahan's rookie year was a rebuild year. No expectations.

This season will have expectations, fair or not.

I have a question though; however unlikely, if Bennett doesn't make the team, is it AHL or OHL only?

[T@T]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Monahan's rookie year was a rebuild year. No expectations.

This season will have expectations, fair or not.

I have a question though; however unlikely, if Bennett doesn't make the team, is it AHL or OHL only?

Lets just say NHL only.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Monahan's rookie year was a rebuild year. No expectations.

This season will have expectations, fair or not.

I have a question though; however unlikely, if Bennett doesn't make the team, is it AHL or OHL only?

It's NHL or back to Kingston I believe.

[Dajazz]

Regular minutes, 15+20 and some time on special teams and being out late in the games would be considered a success.