[Rumour] Friedman: Ducks really like Sam Bennett

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Bennett won't be going anywhere unless it's for an overpayment, this thread is pointless and Friedman has been adding these little caviets in his articles for some time now without giving any explanation. I for one only trust Bob McKenzie and Dregger, Friendman usually is very trustworthy but he's definaltey been flinging some bull#### put their to get clicks.

You're probably the only one as one is not like the other

[CliffFletcher]

Bennett's value is entirely based on estimations of this career trajectory. He's a skilled guy who was drafted high for a reason. He has a bite to his game that you can't teach. But he's also given watchers reason for concern. 7 points in his last 30 games at a time in his career when you'd expect he'd be starting to put things together. He may be one of the worst players on the team at finding the open man and getting the puck to him. If he's slow out of the gates next season, it's not out of the question that he could get a stint in the AHL to try to get his offence on track.

Ultimately, you just hope the Flames braintrust has a good read on Bennett and his development.

[Vinny01]

Pretty sure Bennett requires waivers next year so there is absolutely no chance he sees time in the AHL as he would be picked immediately if waived

[EVERLAST]

It constantly amazes me the hate Bennett gets from some people.

Reading in other threads he's made glass, he's a bad passer, he had only 7 points in his last 30 games.

Imagine where we'd be without Backlund, Ferlund, Gio had we or they just given up early in their careers.

All the patience required has rewarded our team on the above players but ya.....just give up on Sam he's a bum.

Smfh.

I cannot wait until people see how hard it is to replace a guy who plays hard in all 3 zones and plays on the edge like he's invested instead of floating perimeter players such as (Brouwer and Gaudreau).

Sam's not going anywhere.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Bennett's value is entirely based on estimations of this career trajectory. He's a skilled guy who was drafted high for a reason. He has a bite to his game that you can't teach. But he's also given watchers reason for concern. 7 points in his last 30 games at a time in his career when you'd expect he'd be starting to put things together. He may be one of the worst players on the team at finding the open man and getting the puck to him. If he's slow out of the gates next season, it's not out of the question that he could get a stint in the AHL to try to get his offence on track.

Ultimately, you just hope the Flames braintrust has a good read on Bennett and his development.

I wonder if some time in the AHL would have been good for Bennett. Too late now.

I don't really understand the Flames development strategy. I think a guy like Jankowski, who presumably will be pushing for a spot in camp, would have benefited from 10 or so NHL games.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

It constantly amazes me the hate Bennett gets from some people.

Reading in other threads he's made glass, he's a bad passer, he had only 7 points in his last 30 games.

Imagine where we'd be without Backlund, Ferlund, Gio had we or they just given up early in their careers.

All the patience required has rewarded our team on the above players but ya.....just give up on Sam he's a bum.

Smfh.

I cannot wait until people see how hard it is to replace a guy who plays hard in all 3 zones and plays on the edge like he's invested instead of floating perimeter players such as (Brouwer and Gaudreau).

Sam's not going anywhere.

A dramatic overstatement at it's finest. Reminds me of my second ex wife.
There is no hate for Bennett.
There is concern because his development is slower than many (some?), including myself, had hoped/expected.
It's OK to use actual, measurable data like stats in the discussion. Everyone who is not a cheerleader like you are is not necessarily a hater either.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

A dramatic overstatement at it's finest. Reminds me of my second ex wife.
There is no hate for Bennett.
There is concern because his development is slower than many (some?), including myself, had hoped/expected.
It's OK to use actual, measurable data like stats in the discussion. Everyone who is not a cheerleader like you are is not necessarily a hater either.

I don't know about that. I saw a lot of posters here turn on him this season. He's 20 years old and was always going to take more time to develop than NHL ready players such as Draisaitl but listening to posts here over the last year you would think he's the second coming of Nail Yakupov.

[Bingo]

I just hope Friedman is right, that the Ducks took notice of Bennett. Certainly don't see him going anywhere, but if the Ducks noticed him enough to start chattering about it should be a good sign that the kid is well on his way into developing into an important piece in Calgary.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Oh god please don't trade Sam

[Toonage]

Playoff Bennett is noticeable. Was in 2015, was this past spring.

Regular season Bennett, less so. I would love to see him bring that sort of intensity into the regular season. I'm sure the Flames brass would love that too. The real question is, do they think he can?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Drouin has scored 32 more points than Bennett in 5 more games in the NHL.

Drouin and Bennett are not comparable.

I'm using a Flames Nation article for my Bennett comparisons. I understand the comparables are older, but based on a ranking by salary, Vatanen > Bennett.

If Bennett scored more points he would have more tangible value, but the points aren't there so neither is the value. The belief/hope is that the points arrive, but guys who are doing it will be more valuable than the guys who could but aren't yet.

Not really fair without comparing at the same age - trading Bennett now would be just like trading Drouin at the start of last season.

Draft + 1 Season
Drouin: 2.3 PPG QMJHL / No NHL GP
Bennett: 2.2 PPG OHL / 1 Pt in 1 NHL GP

Draft + 2 Seasons
Drouin: 0.46 PPG NHL
Bennett: 0.47 PPG NHL

Draft + 3 Season
Drouin: 0.48 NHL PPG / 0.8 NHL Playoff PPG / 0.76 AHL PPG
Bennett: 0.32 NHL PPG / 0.5 NHL Playoff PPG

So pretty close development path so far at this point of their careers. Drouin was a little bit better offensively in year 3, and really broke out in the playoffs. But Bennett was likely the better overall player who also was playing with worse linemates, at a harder position (center).

Giving up on Bennett now would be a big mistake, would not be surprised at all if he breaks out with a 50 pt season much like Drouin did last year.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just hope Friedman is right, that the Ducks took notice of Bennett. Certainly don't see him going anywhere, but if the Ducks noticed him enough to start chattering about it should be a good sign that the kid is well on his way into developing into an important piece in Calgary.

This!

[icecube]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

You're probably the only one as one is not like the other

Dreger aka Dreklund is a huge joke #outsider

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

It constantly amazes me the hate Bennett gets from some people.

It constantly amazes me that in the eyes of some fans any concern or criticism of a player = hate.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Playoff Bennett is noticeable. Was in 2015, was this past spring.

Regular season Bennett, less so. I would love to see him bring that sort of intensity into the regular season. I'm sure the Flames brass would love that too. The real question is, do they think he can?

I think all the penalties and the benching made him tentative this past season. Fan reaction was different too. When Tkachuk took penalties we were amused and praised his 'edge'; when Bennett took penalties, he was an idiot.

[Vinny01]

Where would Bennett's point total be this year if he played with Backlund and Frolik? Probably 40-50 similar to Tkachuk. The Flames are not going down the same path with Sam that the Habs have taken with Galchenyuk. The organization believes Sam is a centre and are developing him there. The result is a tougher learning curve and it is going to take Sam longer to break out but if he reaches his potential he will be a franchise level player for the Flames.

[united]

Sam Bennett's trajectory has kind of reminded me of Mark Scheifele's. Not in playing style, but in terms of players who developed a bit slower than hoped and who were criticized for lack of balance and poor use of linemates. We all know what Scheifele has turned into with some tutoring and patience.

Another one is Ryan Johansen - criticized for being soft for his size and selfish on the ice in the first couple seasons, he has done a great job rounding out his game and silencing the early critics.

One thing Bennett really needs to fix is his discipline, and hopefully that comes with maturity. He finished the season tied for the 5th-worst penalty differential in the league among forwards at -16. Playing with an edge is great, but anecdotally, many of his penalties came deep in the other team's zone on the forecheck - the least dangerous area of the ice. Another thing to keep in context with Bennett is he had to drag the Brouwer anchor around for significant minutes this year - there is no player on the Flames who can overcome that burden, and certainly not a 20-year-old.

That said, Lindholm is a bonafide #1 defenceman on an incredible deal so you make that move regardless of Bennett's potential.
Vatanen, on the other hand, is a defensive liability/powerplay specialist and it's speculated he'll be out for 10 months - no way you can consider that without a significant add from the Ducks.
Manson is an interesting case. He's excellent defensively, big, and mean. He reminds me of Robyn Regehr. Again the Ducks would have to add, but he has a great future.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by united

That said, Lindholm is a bonafide #1 defenceman on an incredible deal so you make that move regardless of Bennett's potential.
Vatanen, on the other hand, is a defensive liability/powerplay specialist and it's speculated he'll be out for 10 months - no way you can consider that without a significant add from the Ducks.
Manson is an interesting case. He's excellent defensively, big, and mean. He reminds me of Robyn Regehr. Again the Ducks would have to add, but he has a great future.

This is the kicker, do the Flames want to be the Preds or the Pens. If the want to be the Preds, then Hamilton/Lindholm is your 1/2 and Gio/Brodie is your 3/4 and you're set. That would be a deadly top four to go to war with. But then the reliance on Monahan and Backlund would be huge.

The Pen's have been strong down the middle since the Crosby/Malkin/Staal days and then they have pieced together a decent blueline. The problem is that Monahan/Backlund/Bennett are not at the same level.

I would take the Heavy offensive D model before betting on the center depth.

[SuperMatt18]

The issue is it has to be Lindholm in that case, and the media talking like the 2 d-men are equal is ridiculous.

Big difference between trading Bennett for Vatanen vs Lindholm.

I don't think anybody has an issue with trading him for Lindholm, no chance would I trade him for Vatanen though.

[dino7c]

I would do the Lindholm deal...that is not to say I don't like SB