What is up with Sam Bennett???

[OzSome]

Problem is your high expectations on Bennett. He is still young and still learning the NHL. He is not like a Monahan or a Gaudreau who can adapt to the NHL so fast. This is second full season and remember he was in and out of centre position in his first season. He also never have a permanent wingers thus far. Backlund wasn't as good back then and some people were very dissapointed because he couldn't fulfill some of the fans' high expectations on him. Look at him now, one of the best two way forward in the NHL.
This season alone, Bennett played with Brouwer & Versteeg, with Gaudreau & Chiasson, with Versteeg & Ferland and so on. I wouldn't worry about Bennett right now as long as the other 3 centres are playing well.

[Da_Chief]

Right now I'm really questioning his hockey IQ. Last night, he shot the puck right at Markstrom from the circle, with no traffic. He didn't let the play develop at all and just took the shot.

Sure, some develop slower but he's reminding of Gilbert Brule, a lot of hype with tenacity and all but failed to do much at the NHL level.

At least his next contract should be cheap. 2-3 year deal, with $2 mill cap hit would be max at this rate.

If he doesn't improve, he should be able to carve out a career as 3rd line winger.

[TheScorpion]

I have full confidence in Sam Bennett. I see his ceiling as a Joe Sakic and his floor as a Kris Draper. We'll see how it all shakes out, but he's 20 right now and I'm really not worried.

He'll top 40 points this year, I'm sure of it.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Right now I'm really questioning his hockey IQ. Last night, he shot the puck right at Markstrom from the circle, with no traffic. He didn't let the play develop at all and just took the shot.

If it's the shot I'm thinking of, that was at the end of the shift and he was probably tired. That same shot resulted in the Monahan faceoff that ended up causing Alex Chiasson's goal. Not every shot is taken with intent to score. Waiting for the play to develop might have resulted in a turnover with tired legs. Instead it resulted in a goal.

Originally Posted by OzSome

He is still young and still learning the NHL. He is not like a Monahan or a Gaudreau who can adapt to the NHL so fast.

Hartley's system was also geared towards "easy" production (and Monahan/Gaudreau had the advantage of Hudler). Gaudreau was also 21 as a rookie, older than Bennett is right now.

[Enoch Root]

Just off the top of my head...

Galchenyuk
Huberdeau
Draisaitl
B Schenn
Shiefele
Johansen
Zibanejad
Seguin

are young Cs that took a while to get going. There are countless others.

And no, Bennett has not 'bulked up too much'. He'll be fine.

[pgsieve]

Why is he not McDavid yet!?!?

[Strange Brew]

I am not panicking with Bennett as has been noted, center is such a tough position. I do think for the Flames to be a championship team, his progression is key.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Right now I'm really questioning his hockey IQ. Last night, he shot the puck right at Markstrom from the circle, with no traffic. He didn't let the play develop at all and just took the shot.

Sure, some develop slower but he's reminding of Gilbert Brule, a lot of hype with tenacity and all but failed to do much at the NHL level.

At least his next contract should be cheap. 2-3 year deal, with $2 mill cap hit would be max at this rate.

If he doesn't improve, he should be able to carve out a career as 3rd line winger.

He shot the puck?

What a loser - trade him now!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by OzSome

He is not like a Monahan or a Gaudreau who can adapt to the NHL so fast.

Gaudreau also played 3 seasons of College hockey after he was drafted. He was 21 when he became an NHL regular. Bennett will turn 21 this summer.

[Erick Estrada]

Not too worried about him as he's got a good motor. He did have some time with Gaudreau but he hasn't exactly worked with what I would call high quality offensive players over his first few seasons. Given how Monahan and Gaudreau are also having down seasons it's fair to say this group is just taking a while to adjust offensively to a different system.

[The Fonz]

I'm not worried about Bennett long-term. He's making stupid decisions right now (penalties, turnovers), but he's still just a kid, and kids are stupid.

I keep wondering about what his next contract will be though. This is a very interesting situation that the team and Bennett are in, relative to what they just went through with Monahan & Gaudreau. I'm thinking Bennett signs a 2yr bridge-deal, in the $3.0M AAV range (assuming his play remains constant through the 2nd half).

[Monahan For Mayor]

Yeah I'd guess Bennett ends up with a bridge in the 2.5-3 range.

[djsFlames]

I don't think Bennett has been a net positive contributor to this team yet. His production and smart defensive plays don't yet outweigh his invisible nights, untimely penalties and getting beat in line matchups at centre.

While he's skilled, and has shown ability to produce, he's been a weak link on the team on just as many nights as he's shown those things. This might not be as big of an issue if he were playing on the wing but because the Flames seem insistent at breeding him in the centre role, he takes a bit more responsibility on his shoulders. He'll get his bridge, but I think it remains cheap until he shows he can positively impact the roster on a regular basis. Let's hope he continues to progress.

[Par]

Who do you guys think is the player that can help Bennett? A player we can acquire and a winger(a veteran winger). Some one he can have instant chemistry with.

[djsFlames]

Well, Brouwer seemed to be that guy in the preseason.

[Bunk]

I really do think he's better suited at wing. Maybe next year try and see if a pairing with Jankowski works.

Sam seems to be lacking confidence. I remember he looked confident and assertive in preseason and was excellent. Again, bad penalties made him tentative and less productive, and. Now his confidence has dwindled. I think putting him on wing with easier assignments is the right way to build him back up.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I'm not worried about Bennett long-term. He's making stupid decisions right now (penalties, turnovers), but he's still just a kid, and kids are stupid.

Ha! Quoted for truth.

[CroFlames]

Being a top center is the hardest thing to do in the NHL in my opinion. Rarely does a young player come out and become a top center man during his ELC.

Give it time, and he'll ripen. He's got all the tools and I'm not worried one iota. We were spoiled with how Monahan developed, and that's the exception not the norm.

[Badgers Nose]

I still think Sam has the highest ceiling excluding 19.

Right now he would produce more at wing, but that just means you wait longer for him to be your 1c. Flames are investing in him.

[Vinny01]

Coming along slower than expected but I still think he will be at worst a second line centre.