The future of Sam Bennett

[bax]

Like the majority of Flames fans, I've been disappointed in Sam's offensive production this season. I was expecting him to somewhat "breakout" this year and hit 50 points or so. I even drafted him in my keeper league haha.

I think it's been harder to watch this year simply because his peers from the same draft class all seem to be surpassing him although most of them are playing wing with prime scoring opportunities. Keep in mind this is only his second full NHL season and he could simply be having a sophomore slump. He did score four goals in a single game last year.

Looking back to that draft I was firmly in the Bennett camp and wanted him more than any other prospect. It's not fun watching him continue to struggle and lose confidence while Draisaitl blossoms into a top 10 scorer up north.

However, I do not think this is a lost season or anything. For one Bennett has played center all year in a limited role with limited skilled linemates. That's not a combination to figure out the offensive side of the puck and put up big points. Secondly he has vastly improved his defensive play and his play away from the puck. He's really growing into a player and his long term development will benefit from this season. Some adversity is a good thing.

The kid is only 20 years old. I think Sam will continue to grow and continue to become a better player on both sides of the puck, but the question is how much better?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Well, if Bennett is the 3rd line centre behind two amazing centres in Backlund and Monahan, how is that disappointing? Bennett can hardly be tagged a disappointment if he slots behind a 6th overall pick (from a better draft year) and a long-cooked homegrown draft pick that has developed into a top 5 defensive centre in the league.

If Bennett and Jankowski are our 3rd and 4th centres on a perennial playoff team/division champion/stanley cup champion team, then I disagree with this notion that he's a disappointment if he plays on the "3rd" line.

Monahan, Gaudreau, Backlund and Tkachuk have solidified our top 6 as far as centres and left-wings are concerned. Their success hardly makes Bennett any less important. If he can continue to develop, he's going to give us the best depth in the league. Then if we look at the potential in Jankowski as well - this is how championship teams are built - with depth.

Bennett was drafted 4th overall and was supposed to be the future top line centre. If he can't get ahead of 50pt Backlund and 60pt Monahan then I would say that is a disappointment even if the Flames win the cup. The Kings became cup champs despite flubbing on 4th overall Thomas Hickey and regardless of the Kings success that was a bust pick for them.


Personally I think Bennett will be better than a 3rd line C but it is obviously taking longer for him to breakout than many of us suspected.

[Rick M.]

Leave him where he is for now. Even if he ends up a winger, he will gain from learning the NHL centre position. I'd like to see him on the powerplay, though, perhaps in Versteegs spot.

[ResAlien]

Hindsight being 20/20 I think maybe not spending any time in the minors hurt his development. I can't help but feel like if it was any fanbase but our own making these (what often feel like) excuses to explain away the 4th overall pick's lack of production we'd be pretty scornful and downright mocking of them.

Maybe he turns out to be the franchise centre everyone'd hoped but I'd be hard pressed to say he's trending upwards right now.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Hindsight being 20/20 I think maybe not spending any time in the minors hurt his development. I can't help but feel like if it was any fanbase but our own making these (what often feel like) excuses to explain away the 4th overall pick's lack of production we'd be pretty scornful and downright mocking of them.

Maybe he turns out to be the franchise centre everyone'd hoped but I'd be hard pressed to say he's trending upwards right now.

There are lots of valid explanations for his low production so I'm not getting hung up on his points. What I'm missing though is seeing more than occasional glimpses of high talent. For someone who supposedly oozes talent and competitiveness he looks pretty average so far. Lots of time though.

[Roof-Daddy]

So many impatient worry warts.

I bet Sam develops similarly to Brayden Schenn

2009 - drafted 5th overall
2012 - Played 54 NHL games with only 18 points
2014 - 20 goals, 41 points in 82 games
2016 - 28 goals, 59 points in 80 games

Draft +3 he didn't look like much
Draft +5 he put up solid numbers
Draft +7 he's a legit top line NHLer

Sam is just about to be Draft +3 and he missed almost a whole season with a shoulder injury.

Patience goddammit

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Show me a team where the 3rd line centre scores at .5PPG pace...

I think Bennett will score at that clip (if not better) - but it may take some years of development. My belief in Bennett is one of the reasons why I think we have a Stanley Cup Champion team in the making.

Wonder how many people at this moment are disappointed in Bennett not because of his development and current level of play, but because of the hype over his potential.

He's been touted here as a franchise player, and having the most upside of any player on the team other than Gaudreau.
Just seems that all the talk may have gotten some people a bit impatient to see the results. especially as has been said, when the development of some of his peers is proceeding a bit more rapidly.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Hindsight being 20/20 I think maybe not spending any time in the minors hurt his development.

Agreed. Flames fans have been spoiled with prospects jumping into the lineup straight from junior or college, but it's not the norm. And for most players, it's not the optimal development route.

The AHL is the best development league in the world. It's not shameful or a failure for talented young players to learn the professional game there. I honestly wonder if, given a do-over, Flames brass wouldn't send him down last season after training camp. Let him play in all kinds of situations, first-line, powerplay - everything.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

So many impatient worry warts.

I bet Sam develops similarly to Brayden Schenn

2009 - drafted 5th overall
2012 - Played 54 NHL games with only 18 points
2014 - 20 goals, 41 points in 82 games
2016 - 28 goals, 59 points in 80 games

Draft +3 he didn't look like much
Draft +5 he put up solid numbers
Draft +7 he's a legit top line NHLer

Sam is just about to be Draft +3 and he missed almost a whole season with a shoulder injury.

Patience goddammit

This is actually a really good comparison. Both development wise and style wise.

Kadri from that same draft too except at 7th overall.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by bax

This is actually a really good comparison. Both development wise and style wise.

Kadri from that same draft too except at 7th overall.

Did both of them go straight to the pros or spend some time in the minors? I'm not trying to crap on Bennett, just seeing what comparison we're drawing here.

Bennett's career path seems a lot more like Galchenyuk to me, but what do I know. Hell I'd kill for Bennett to turn out like Galchenyuk has, that'd be great.

[bax]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Did both of them go straight to the pros or spend some time in the minors? I'm not trying to crap on Bennett, just seeing what comparison we're drawing here.

Bennett's career path seems a lot more like Galchenyuk to me, but what do I know. Hell I'd kill for Bennett to turn out like Galchenyuk has, that'd be great.

If I remember correctly I think Kadri went back to the OHL for one more year and Schenn went to the WHL for 2 more years. Galchenyuk....that's an interesting one too

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by edslunch

There are lots of valid explanations for his low production so I'm not getting hung up on his points. What I'm missing though is seeing more than occasional glimpses of high talent. For someone who supposedly oozes talent and competitiveness he looks pretty average so far. Lots of time though.

I don't disagree, but this is the first year it's seemed that way as last year he was making high-end plays virtually every shift. I think the instruction to reign in the "junior" aspects of his game has left him struggling between "trying to make quality plays" and "electing to make the safe play the coach wants him to make".

I think having a skilled, responsible, uptempo linemate like Frolik or Jankowski would go a long way in building Bennett's confidence. He has to get back to at least attempting skill plays and learning the threshold between "Junior moves" and "skilled NHL moves".

His hands are still some of the best on this team. The problem is he is not using them, after using them exclusively for a while. There is a middle ground he has not identified.

I don't think Bennett's problems have anything to do with playing center however. To my eyes, he thrives down the middle.

[Jason14h]

There are also a lot of comparisons of top 5 picks who don't turn out.

If I was betting on Bennett becoming a 30 goals 60 point guy or a 10 goal 30 point guy, my money would be on the lowest point total career right now.

It doesn't mean give up on the guy, but this season is not looking great in the development of an offensive type players

[Hemi-Cuda]

I remember the same kind of complaining about Backlund when he was younger. Even if Bennett doesn't put up the numbers people would like, I'd be happy with him turning into the same kind of impact player as Backlund

[Classic_Sniper]

I'm not going to lie, deep down I'm starting to worry about Sam Bennett's overall development as an offensive forward. His scoring totals have steadily declined this season and I think he has something like 10 points in his last 50 games. That's a bewildering total for a 4th overall pick who's playing against the opposition's bottom lines. I'm really hoping he can go into the summer and really work hard on improving his acceleration and speed like Draisaitl did; the way this kid wants to play, he'll need that little extra boost.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Agreed. Flames fans have been spoiled with prospects jumping into the lineup straight from junior or college, but it's not the norm. And for most players, it's not the optimal development route.

The AHL is the best development league in the world. It's not shameful or a failure for talented young players to learn the professional game there. I honestly wonder if, given a do-over, Flames brass wouldn't send him down last season after training camp. Let him play in all kinds of situations, first-line, powerplay - everything.

Couldn't even if they wanted to.

He was 19 and as such it was Junior or NHL.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

There are also a lot of comparisons of top 5 picks who don't turn out.

If I was betting on Bennett becoming a 30 goals 60 point guy or a 10 goal 30 point guy, my money would be on the lowest point total career right now.

It doesn't mean give up on the guy, but this season is not looking great in the development of an offensive type players

He's a 30 point player now in the absolute worsts scenario. Even if he doesn't progress, he'll be a 40-45 point guy with some better linemates and some normal luck.

[EVERLAST]

Sammy is going to be fine.

If he was in Tkachuks spot we wouldntneed to have this conversation

I wanna see him as a winger however....unless it's him demanding to play and learn the game as a center.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by DJones

He's a 30 point player now in the absolute worsts scenario. Even if he doesn't progress, he'll be a 40-45 point guy with some better linemates and some normal luck.

Well no he's a 25 point guy who is -15.

If he doesn't progress, he will be a 30 point guy.

He won't get better linemates if he doesn't progress

I don't think he is a 30 point guy, but the history of drafts is filled with top 5 busts.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Well no he's a 25 point guy who is -15.

If he doesn't progress, he will be a 30 point guy.

He won't get better linemates if he doesn't progress

I don't think he is a 30 point guy, but the history of drafts is filled with top 5 busts.

Of course he will. If we get rid of Brouwer our whole lineup will get upgraded.