[News] Flames recall Jankowski UPD: Will center Bennett and Lazar vs NSH

[Chingas]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Can't put three semi defensive liabilities on one line.

Do you really believe that Monahan and Bennett are defensive liabilities? I disagree.

After reading through this thread I feel an aha moment with regards to Bennett. The more that I think about it, the defensive responsibilities associated with playing center really limit his ability to play like a bulldog. Bulldog Sam Bennett is by far the best Sam Bennett.

Are there any elite centers in the league that play a real feisty bulldog game? I am struggling to come up with any. All of the best pita players in the league are on the wing.

I am now very excited to see him on the wing.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Chingas

Do you really believe that Monahan and Bennett are defensive liabilities? I disagree.



After reading through this thread I feel an aha moment with regards to Bennett. The more that I think about it, the defensive responsibilities associated with playing center really limit his ability to play like a bulldog. Bulldog Sam Bennett is by far the best Sam Bennett.



Are there any elite centers in the league that play a real feisty bulldog game? I am struggling to come up with any. All of the best pita players in the league are on the wing.



I am now very excited to see him on the wing.

Toews.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Chingas

Are there any elite centers in the league that play a real feisty bulldog game? I am struggling to come up with any.

Kadri
Getzlaf
Kesler
Tyler Johnson

To a lesser extent:
Pageau (not elite, but maybe the best 3C and a huge part of Ottawa's run last year)
Toews (not an agitator, but a hound dog)
Crosby (likewise)

Historically:
Peter Forsberg
Eric Lindros
Mark Messier
Doug Gilmour

[kevman]

Originally Posted by 1Nite

Since this is THE Jankowski thread, can we start talking about Bennett?

With all the Jankowski talk in every other thread all it took was a Jankowski thread to talk about some other players.

[the2bears]

Man, the definition of 'elite' has really been diluted over the years.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Man, the definition of 'elite' has really been diluted over the years.

No kidding, In my day "elite" were the Fedorov's, Jagr's or Bure's. and "generational" was reserved for a Gretzky, Orr or Lemieux.

And to be a member of these crowds a player had to prove his worth over multiple seasons and even championships, now days, not so much!

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Man, the definition of 'elite' has really been diluted over the years.

I completely agree, that was an elite point to make!

[iloveicedhockey]

Can we please not go with Eric Francis's 'project line'? I know the media (and fans) love soundbytes but I'm really not a fan.

I can't think of anything better that uses their names (JBL) but they're all centres so the 3C line might work.

Either way I'm excited to see the hustle, the speed and the skill.

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[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Kadri
Getzlaf
Kesler
Tyler Johnson

Elite? Nope.

[DynamRyan]

Excited to see what Jankowski can do in the big leagues, against a very good defensive team that willl be very stingy, and going forward. He’s got so much skill, and for a big guy, is very quick. I think he’ll be a great fit with Bennett shunted to the wing and the whirling dervish Lazar on his other side.


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[Timbo]

Originally Posted by iloveicedhockey

Can we please not go with Eric Francis's 'project line'? I know the media (and fans) love soundbytes but I'm really not a fan.

I can't think of anything better that uses their names (JBL) but they're all centres so the 3C line might work.

Either way I'm excited to see the hustle, the speed and the skill.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

Centres of Attention line.

[---Hatrick---]

Will be fun watching this line. All being first round picks who so far haven't lived up to their hype (minus Jankowski to a degree) they have a lot to prove. I think they can all feed off of this and it should push them to support each other and become a set line for us

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

It's a perfect storm for Bennett right now. He's a guy who believes that he should be a difference-maker (which is good), but gets in his own head very easily when he doesn't dominate night in and night out (which is bad). This gets in the way of him getting off the snide. So he'll try to be aggressive to try to get involved in the play, but this leads to him taking bad penalties, so then he starts thinking about not taking bad penalties.

Anybody who has done an activity where you need to be "in the zone" can tell you that when you're so far up your own ass, you don't even know what the area code for the zone is, and your performance is going to be awful.

Dude needs a couple of bounces. He also needs to learn how to expect a lot from himself, but also to take it easy on himself when he's not getting on the scoresheet provided he is otherwise playing well.

I think your post is exceptional and reminded me that Backlund mentioned somewhere, (can't find the quote) that when he stopped worrying about things and just played his game that things started to come together.

I guess the next question is now that we have a diagnosis how do we help Bennett? Should he be more like Tkachuk and learn how to play the line or should he be more like Backlund who uses his line-mates. Tkachuk plays the game within the game, and although takes a lot of penaltis he draws a lot. Bennett hasn't really mastered the art of drawing penalties so taking penalties adds to his frustration. He looks serious most of the time so maybe he needs to learn some acting? On the other hand I don't believe Backlund has as much success without his line-mates so not having line-mates suited to Bennett's style of play and skill set has only compounded things. Should the Flames be more focused on giving Bennett the proper tools to succeed (which might be the addition of Janko and Lazar), or does Bennett need to reinvent himself a bit as to develop an niche or identity?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by iloveicedhockey

I can't think of anything better that uses their names (JBL)

Naming lines 5 shifts before Gulutzan blenders them is silly... but you may be onto something with the JBL line:

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Naming lines 5 shifts before Gulutzan blenders them is silly... but you may be onto something with the JBL line:

[iloveicedhockey]

You're right in that the third and fourth lines (and maybe ferland too) will be chopped at changed if things aren't going well, it's just Francis does my head in.

I guess the pens had a HBK line...

I'd prefer to call them the 'discuss this line in any thread except for the thread about this line' line.

Edit: what could be even more foolish than naming a line that might not stick before they've even played a shift would be someone photoshopping Jankowski's face onto the Lawler image above....

[FBI]

As said in the other thread, the LBJ line but maybe that's too American?

[edslunch]

Three centres.....3C line

[Insane_Flame]

Bennett get two tonight both assisted by Janko.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by FBI

As said in the other thread, the LBJ line but maybe that's too American?

LGBTQ line? Or is that too progressive?