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

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Jones
Bouma-Stajan-Shore/Jooris

Extras: Jooris/Shore, Granlund, Byron, Raymond

I think you can interchange Colborne and Ferland on the 2nd/3rd line LW. We could definitely part with one depth forward or two.

Lineup looks pretty dang good.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Jones
Bouma-Stajan-Shore/Jooris

Extras: Jooris/Shore, Granlund, Byron, Raymond

I think you can interchange Colborne and Ferland on the 2nd/3rd line LW. We could definitely part with one depth forward or two.

Lineup looks pretty dang good.

I would swap Ferland/Bouma, but other than that, exactly what I hope to see opening night.

LOVE our bottom 6.

[Ryan Coke]

I think you'll see Backlund with strong defensive wingers, it is going to be that line that gets the tough shutdown match ups on other teams top lines.

Bennett (happy to hear he'll be played at center) will be given favourable zone starts and match ups which should allow his line to have offensive opportunity.

I see his line as being the 2nd offensive line, although likely third in ice time. Probably Jones or Frolik on the right side, and Ferland (my choice) or Bouma on the left. But I would expect Bouma will end up on Backlunds wing on the checking line.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I see his line as being the 2nd offensive line, although likely third in ice time. Probably Jones or Frolik on the right side, and Ferland (my choice) or Bouma on the right. But I would expect Bouma will end up on Backlunds wing on the checking line.

That's the way I see it. I do hope Bennet gets to play with a winger who has good hockey IQ and hands (Frolik?), because I don't want him to pick up the habit of trying to do it all himself.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I think you'll see Backlund with strong defensive wingers, it is going to be that line that gets the tough shutdown match ups on other teams top lines.

Bennett (happy to hear he'll be played at center) will be given favourable zone starts and match ups which should allow his line to have offensive opportunity.

I see his line as being the 2nd offensive line, although likely third in ice time. Probably Jones or Frolik on the right side, and Ferland (my choice) or Bouma on the right. But I would expect Bouma will end up on Backlunds wing on the checking line.

Yup i'm with you. I think Bennett ends up getting Frolik on his right side. Hartely said he wants Frolik to get more than 42 points next year. Those 2 together will have the speed to create something. Frolik before becoming a great shut down forward was pretty good at putting the puck in the net. Could see him rekindle some of that while playing with a talent like Bennett. Not to mention it will help Bennet on the defence side of things with a player like Frolik playing on his line. That said, a line of Backlund ,Bouma and Frolik could be one of the better shut down lines in the league if they choose to go that way.


My lines:

Johnny - Monahan - Hudler
Ferland - Bennett - Frolik
Bouma - Backlund - Jones
Colbourne- Stajan -Byron

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Yup i'm with you. I think Bennett ends up getting Frolik on his right side. Hartely said he wants Frolik to get more than 42 points next year. Those 2 together will have the speed to create something. Frolik before becoming a great shut down forward was pretty good at putting the puck in the net. Could see him rekindle some of that while playing with a talent like Bennett. Not to mention it will help Bennet on the defence side of things with a player like Frolik playing on his line. That said, a line of Backlund ,Bouma and Frolik could be one of the better shut down lines in the league if they choose to go that way.


My lines:

Johnny - Monahan - Hudler
Ferland - Bennett - Frolik
Bouma - Backlund - Jones
Colbourne- Stajan -Byron

I agree that Frolik makes sense with Bennett, both offensively and defensively. I also like Ferland with him to protect him, and to give Ferland a chance to show/develop his offense.

I get that the idea of Backlund and Frolik together is attractive, but I think we already have a solid defensive line with Bouma / Backlund / Jones.

So I would run the top 9 exactly as you have:

Johnny - Monahan - Hudler
Ferland - Bennett - Frolik
Bouma - Backlund - Jones

with Colborne as a replacement for Ferland if/when required.

Lots of options for the 4th line, but Stajan is a given, Colborne somewhere in the lineup is a given, and I like Byron in there.

Hard to believe that THREE of:

Ferland
Byron
Granlund
Raymond
Bollig
Jooris
Shore

won't make the team (ignoring injuries)

[Finger Cookin]

Lots of really solid lines being posted here. I'd just like to add my voice to the group who suggested Hudler play with Bennett. I think that would be helpful for Bennett's transition to have Hudler on regular shifts with him. You can always put Hudler back with Gaudreau and Monahan for powerplays.

It would also be funny to put Raymond-Stajan-Jones together as the fourth line, just for the reactions in every pre-game, game, and post-game thread.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I agree that Frolik makes sense with Bennett, both offensively and defensively. I also like Ferland with him to protect him, and to give Ferland a chance to show/develop his offense.

I get that the idea of Backlund and Frolik together is attractive, but I think we already have a solid defensive line with Bouma / Backlund / Jones.

So I would run the top 9 exactly as you have:

Johnny - Monahan - Hudler
Ferland - Bennett - Frolik
Bouma - Backlund - Jones

with Colborne as a replacement for Ferland if/when required.

Works for me as well with my only caveat being that of timing.

I see Bennett and Monahan centering lines 1A and 1B as soon as next season. The NHL has been a league of pairs not trios for a long time so maybe Monahan/Gaudreau and Bennett/Hudler or Bennett/Frolik will click (Poirier or Klimchuk some day) and away they go.

But I wonder if its too soon to expect this.

Backlund's landing spot will be the third line but maybe not this season. Bennett may learn the ropes on a third line with defensive wingers and just plod along

We will see I guess.

[Vinny01]

I love Monahan but have always viewed Bennett as our young player with the most upside his speed, and skill and smarts are extremely high end. Monahan as a 18/19 year old had 34pts. Bennett is joining a better team and I expect him to possibly double Monahans numbers in his 19 year old season and push for 70pts

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Works for me as well with my only caveat being that of timing.

I see Bennett and Monahan centering lines 1A and 1B as soon as next season. The NHL has been a league of pairs not trios for a long time so maybe Monahan/Gaudreau and Bennett/Hudler or Bennett/Frolik will click (Poirier or Klimchuk some day) and away they go.

But I wonder if its too soon to expect this.

Backlund's landing spot will be the third line but maybe not this season. Bennett may learn the ropes on a third line with defensive wingers and just plod along

We will see I guess.

I think you are one season too soon. Monahan is clear-cut #1 center for this season.

I think that this year Backlund and Bennett are the 2/3 centers, and will be interchangeable for the year. One being more defensive the other offensive. In 2016-17, that's when I think you get the 1A 1B center situation between Bennett and Monahan.

My blue sky prediction is that Bennett becomes the higher point getter over their careers, but Monahan is a coaches dream; offensively gifted, defensively responsible. Perpetual Selke nominations.

[dammage79]

Colborne-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Bennett-Frolik

Aside from the utterly amazing chemistry of the Gaudreau/Monny/Hudler line,
I remember last pre-season before Bennett went down that Gaudreau and Bennett fed off of each other extremely well. I can certainly see Hartley re-uniting the two with Frolik while Monny and Hudler carry on with Colborne. Lines change every day and every shift so nothing is ever set in concrete.

Also, I was one who seriously thought Bennett would rock LW for a year but Hartley totally killed that idea with his TSN interview.

[GullFoss]

I expect Bennett to be over a point a game by age 22. i'd be happy with 35-60 points next year.

He reminds me a lot of Peter Forsberg with his ability to read the game, make plays in close, and playing at a higher gear than anyone else.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Colborne-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Bennett-Frolik

Aside from the utterly amazing chemistry of the Gaudreau/Monny/Hudler line,
I remember last pre-season before Bennett went down that Gaudreau and Bennett fed off of each other extremely well. I can certainly see Hartley re-uniting the two with Frolik while Monny and Hudler carry on with Colborne. Lines change every day and every shift so nothing is ever set in concrete.

Also, I was one who seriously thought Bennett would rock LW for a year but Hartley totally killed that idea with his TSN interview.

Hartley wouldn't separate Johnny and Mony unless they were in a serious slump. But seeing as how he tried Johnny and Sam late vs the Ducks and it looked pretty good, I'd have to say that Sam is the most realistic first option to turn to in case a mixup is needed.

I'm tentatively predicting - with the way that Johnny and Sam play - that if they DO get an opportunity together, they will both explode offensively and never look back.

[Bezer]

I went 30-40 points originally but I suspect Bennett supplants Backlund as the second line center by the end of the year. So I am gonna up my totally and say 40-50 points.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Hartley wouldn't separate Johnny and Mony unless they were in a serious slump. But seeing as how he tried Johnny and Sam late vs the Ducks and it looked pretty good, I'd have to say that Sam is the most realistic first option to turn to in case a mixup is needed.

I'm tentatively predicting - with the way that Johnny and Sam play - that if they DO get an opportunity together, they will both explode offensively and never look back.

I don't think Bennett takes over the #1 C position. At least not it 2015-16.

Again, Monahan is so damn good, and keeps getting better. A coaches dream when it comes to #1 C material. There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to be a Toews type player.

Really hard to say what Bennett will become, although there is no doubt he's got buckets of skill and determination. For now, I think Mony is 1C and Bennett splits the 2C with Backlund.

Perhaps in 2 years or so, we'll have a 1a and 1b center duo. I'd be pretty darn content with that!

[GoJetsGo]

My favourite part about Bennett is that he seems to have no fear.

He stepped into the NHL and didn't seem to understand he should have been somewhat intimidated or reserved while feeling it out. He just rages to the net like a bull dog. He is tenacious in pursuing the puck.

The way he was mucking it up in the crease for Russell's last minute game winner in Game 1 vs. Vancouver was an awesome site.

The only concern is seeing him fall victim to the Taylor Hall school of hurting himself. I'm hoping he'll go about things a bit more intelligently and that won't be the case.

[Vulcan]

I'll give our lines a shot at what I would want.

1st. Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler

4th. Ferland - Stajan - Jones
I thought this was a great line in the playoffs and I'd like to see them stick together. It will also enable us to roll four lines and depending on which line is hot, give them more minutes.

2nd. Bouma - Backlund - Frolik / Colborne
I like Bouma with Backlund and feel he won this spot last season

3rd. This is where it gets tricky.

????? - Bennett - Frolik / Colborne

Candidates for the Bennett line would be Raymond, Jooris, Shore, Byron or even Granlund or Poirier. Yeah some of these play RW so Frolic/Colborne could be moved to LW.

My preference for the Bennett line would be Jooris while keeping Bollig and Raymond as the spare forwards. Trade Shore and maybe send Byron down. Byron should pass through waivers and he'd be a great call up when needed.

[D as in David]

I would think that part of the thinking behind acquiring Frolik was to be able to match him up against opponents' first and second lines. That would be my reason for not putting him on Bennett's line who I think we see being sheltered for most of the season.

[Badgers Nose]

I expect he will turn 20

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I expect he will turn 20

Wrong. He'll turn 20 in the off season.