Sam Bennett as a center or winger?

[Flash Walken]

Yes, there is something to be said about not moving bennett when his value is low.

There is something else to be said about moving him before his value is non-existent.

There is also the time cost of holding onto him waiting for him to be productive while the rest of the team around him struggles to score goals. If they want to salvage the season they are probably going to have to move Bennett by christmas for some offensive help.

When you consider the flames don't have a draft pick this year until the 60s or 70s, that's not a great year to miss the playoffs. That would be a perfect storm of suck for this franchise.

You can't hold up an entire franchise waiting for a guy to produce.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

All players experience slumps and dry spells. Fans tend to over-react to the significance of those dry spells (or hot streaks) if they happen at the beginning of the year.

Patience IS warranted, IMO. And labelling it as a 'deflect tactic' adds nothing to the conversation.

Yes, he has zero points so far. That is a fact. But as soon as he gains some points, that will no longer be the case. Assessing players - especially young and developing players - requires more than a simple score card - it is about determining potential, and developing that potential. And the simple fact of the matter is that the kid is only 21. And he is talented. And he will start scoring again.

Not saying that patience isn't warranted. I'm saying that Bennett has been a disappointment. Do you think otherwise?

[Ashasx]

I'd rather hold on to him now and hope that he becomes a valuable piece than to just trade him for a 2nd or 3rd. There is value in holding out, and it sure sounds like the pieces teams are offering aren't even worth discussing.

[Tinordi]

Yeah there's no point in trading him now. May as well let him bust than get a 4th rounder or whatever back. The upside is still there which is still greater than a 4th round pick.

[Machiavelli]

I'm most afraid of looking like chumps if he's traded and becomes a star.

I'll wait.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

I'm most afraid of looking like chumps if he's traded and becomes a star.

I'll wait.

On the flip-side, you also have to worry about him never becoming a star here and eventually not getting anything for him. I think Bennett will stay a Flame for this season but I think next year the Flames are going to have to really look at trading him. I fully understand he's a young player, but this is his third season. At some point he has to start showing progression which he isn't. He's been here long enough now. Time to turn it up.

I look at Baertschi. He was never going to become what he did here. Had the Flames kept him any longer they wouldn't have gotten anything for him.

Obviously Bennett has more potential than Baertschi did, and that's why I and the Flames are affording him a little bit longer of a leash, but he's running out of time. I like how he's been playing recently, but if it doesn't translate into results it might be best for both him and the Flames to cut ties.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Yes, there is something to be said about not moving bennett when his value is low.

There is something else to be said about moving him before his value is non-existent.

There is also the time cost of holding onto him waiting for him to be productive while the rest of the team around him struggles to score goals. If they want to salvage the season they are probably going to have to move Bennett by christmas for some offensive help.

When you consider the flames don't have a draft pick this year until the 60s or 70s, that's not a great year to miss the playoffs. That would be a perfect storm of suck for this franchise.

You can't hold up an entire franchise waiting for a guy to produce.

This is all true, but the problem is that it's very hard for fans to discern his trade value. For any underperforming player, there is a tipping point where the return in a trade simply isn't worth as much as the possible upside, even if that upside is on the decline.

I still get the feeling the Flames struggle with accurately valuing and projecting their own players. Take away the pending UFA's that were auctioned off and you see some misses in player evaluations. Byron was undervalued, and the returns on Baertschi and Granlund seem low for what they became. Meanwhile the team was afraid to put Ortio through waivers two years ago. Now to be fair, seems like they knew what they had (or didn't have) in guys like Colborne, Knight and Sieloff.

It would be nice to see Treliving win a trade where he moves a guy off the roster.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

This is all true, but the problem is that it's very hard for fans to discern his trade value. For any underperforming player, there is a tipping point where the return in a trade simply isn't worth as much as the possible upside, even if that upside is on the decline.

I still get the feeling the Flames struggle with accurately valuing and projecting their own players. Take away the pending UFA's that were auctioned off and you see some misses in player evaluations. Byron was undervalued, and the returns on Baertschi and Granlund seem low for what they became. Meanwhile the team was afraid to put Ortio through waivers two years ago. Now to be fair, seems like they knew what they had (or didn't have) in guys like Colborne, Knight and Sieloff.

It would be nice to see Treliving win a trade where he moves a guy off the roster.

The book isn’t closed on Granlund and Sven. The former has a mere 3 points this year. Remains to be seen if the Flames made the right evaluation or not

[GoJetsGo]

I've stayed out of this thread for obvious reasons and am hoping Sam will break out some time soon. I think once he pots one the monkey will come off his back.

No surprise to see Tinordi and Walken having a field day in here though. Amazing how negative topics attract negative posters to post non stop on certain topics like it's all they've been waiting to talk about.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

The book isn’t closed on Granlund and Sven. The former has a mere 3 points this year. Remains to be seen if the Flames made the right evaluation or not

For sure the ending to that book hasn’t been written. I’m just not so sure the Flames have figured out the whole development thing yet.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

I'm most afraid of looking like chumps if he's traded and becomes a star.

I'll wait.

Not sure what is up with Bennett, I remember on one occasion late last season he had this strange reaction after he scored. Almost like he didn't want to score the goal. Does anyone wonder if Bennett is intentionally holding back.

I could be way off base and probably just reaching; Bennett all season with no points while a less skilled Ferland heads to the net and bangs one in just seems unthinkable considering Bennett used to score a bunch of goals up there?

I also share the same concern ^, we trade him and he starts lighting it up. I would rather the Flames sit him and bring someone up and see if the productive result is still the same.

Maybe he is/was not happy committing to the center role and then ends up with a lower bridge contract. He plays well enough on the defensive side of the game but does not contribute anything on offense. Should we be watching Bennett closely to see what seems to be going on that has made our old Bennett so elusive?

I still believe it's a confidence issue with Bennett, but just want to try think outside the box and throw something out there.

[camm13]

Give benett a stint on the 3m line where he's been the most productive. tkachuk with janko and jags would be an amazing possession line.

[pepper24]

0 points now in 15 games. As Walken points out this is a trend that has happened continually now the past few seasons. Leash is getting short.


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[Corral]

Selling our highest ever draft pick for a bag of pucks at his lowest moment would pretty much be one of the worst moves in franchise history since the Gilmour trade.

[The Cobra]

No reason to move Bennett right now.

While there may be some risk of his value becoming non-existent, that's a risk that needs to be taken IMO.

At this stage, you're not likely to get any kind of difference maker for him.

While he may be a lottery ticket of sorts right now, I'd rather it be our lottery ticket.

[TheFlamesVan]

He looks good out there. Made one errant pass last night and it was a big one. But he was flying all game and getting the puck into the zone. Great play on the Hamilton goal, closest you can get to an assist without it counting.

No reason to panic, let him do his thing. This is why the Flames have 6 forwards slotted in front of him, because he isn't producing.
The points will come, the game is there.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Corral

Selling our highest ever draft pick for a bag of pucks at his lowest moment would pretty much be one of the worst moves in franchise history since the Gilmour trade.

Agreed.

The thing is though, that if they did trade him and got nothing back at all...that nothing would be producing offense at the exact same rate that Sam is. So the team would not be missing anything.

Again, he is trending in completely the wrong direction, but that doesn't mean he can't turn it around. The problem is that there really isn't room or time for him to do so at the NHL level. He should be in the AHL and figuring it out there.

Unfortunately there is no way to get him there without losing him, and another team may be in a better position to carry him in the NHL. I still believe a couple nights in the press box and just getting another view of things, letting his mind clear up, and coming back in with a chip on his shoulder is the best move GG can make. For some reason they look entirely unwilling to do so however.

There are a few factors in play here.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

I've stayed out of this thread for obvious reasons and am hoping Sam will break out some time soon. I think once he pots one the monkey will come off his back.

No surprise to see Tinordi and Walken having a field day in here though. Amazing how negative topics attract negative posters to post non stop on certain topics like it's all they've been waiting to talk about.

Dude has 0 points thats right 0 points in 15 games. How many games does he need for fans to accept that he sucks. I can see a Bennett for Reinhart swap soon, and for some reason Bennett and Eichel lighting it up hahaha.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Corral

Selling our highest ever draft pick for a bag of pucks at his lowest moment would pretty much be one of the worst moves in franchise history since the Gilmour trade.

You could argue that drafting our highest ever drafted player who is playing like he's worth a bag of pucks was one of the worst moves in franchise history considering who they could have picked.

As of right now I don't think Bennett is helping the team. If he can be traded for anything of value that can help the team now I think he should be traded. If the only offers are a 3rd or 4th rounder or whatever then it's clearly not worth it.

[JFK]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Dude has 0 points thats right 0 points in 15 games. How many games does he need for fans to accept that he sucks. I can see a Bennett for Reinhart swap soon, and for some reason Bennett and Eichel lighting it up hahaha.

So does he suck or does he have enough value to be traded for Sam Reinhart and then light it up with Eichel?