[GDT] Flames @ Stars, 6:30 PM MST. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[Geeoff]

I bet this lasts about as long as Jagr on the 1st line

[The Boy Wonder]

I hope you’re right.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by jordo23

I don’t think it’s Bennett’s mental toughness that’s the issue.. seems to be the people in this board

I’m a huge Bennett fan and I hope he figures it out on a consistent basis. He has all of the tools but he seems to disappear for a while after a bad game or two which is a bit concerning.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wes Gilbertson @WesGilbertson
Looks like RW Chris Stewart makes his #Flames debut tonight with a couple decent linemates — guys named Gaudreau and Monahan.

I remember Jokinen scoring two goals in his first game as a Flame. Made Darryl Sutter looking like a prophetic genius GM. Imagine Stewart doing the same today!

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Neither do I, giving no reward for someone who has played well in that role for the last two games.

Garbage, have to reward thoses who have been there all year then give it to someone who just arrived.

Bennett has never earned playing on the top line. He was moved up by default, had one good game and one okay game. I'm all for having Bennett on that top line but nothing wrong with trying out a new incoming player for some hopeful instant chemistry, especially a player who is a goal scorer.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I remember Jokinen scoring two goals in his first game as a Flame. Made Darryl Sutter looking like a prophetic genius GM. Imagine Stewart doing the same today!

Honestly I hope that doesn’t happen.

Gulutzan might play him on the top line for the rest of the season if he scores two.

[CaptainYooh]

If he keeps scoring, why the heck not???

[The Boy Wonder]

It may seem like most of us in this thread are being irrational about GG but it’s become such an ongoing fiasco that Brouwer, chaisson, ferkland, versteeg, old slow jagr, and (probably) Stewart all have received more time on the top line the past two years than Bennett.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Bennett requests a trade this offseason and it’s going to be GGs fault.

If anyone here thinks that Bennett wouldn’t have out produced Ferland if he had the same opportunity and leash on the top line then you are fooling yourself


Bennett > Ferland >>>>>>>> stewart

[neo45]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

If he keeps scoring, why the heck not???

Well obviously the concern is that he doesn’t play well and it takes the coaching staff a long time to make an adjustment. It’s a fair concern given how they have given some players very long leashes in the past.


If he plays well it’s all gravy, but let’s be honest... he plays good hockey about as often as Bork plays good hockey. It happens sometimes but no one should get their hopes up. It’s not exactly a good sign when your old team waives you without even bringing another player in

[timbit]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

It may seem like most of us in this thread are being irrational about GG but it’s become such an ongoing fiasco that Brouwer, chaisson, ferkland, versteeg, old slow jagr, and (probably) Stewart all have received more time on the top line the past two years than Bennett.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Bennett requests a trade this offseason and it’s going to be GGs fault.

If anyone here thinks that Bennett wouldn’t have out produced Ferland if he had the same opportunity and leash on the top line then you are fooling yourself


Bennett > Ferland >>>>>>>> stewart

I wonder who Sean and Johnny would prefer to play with them in Dallas tonight?

Apparently, Ferland is not an option.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Dumb move by Gulutzan.

Yes the guy that almost passed through waivers deserves to play on the top line ahead of a kid that's just starting to develop chemistry with your top forwards.

Exactly. If Bennett centering a line with a couple of no-name wingers isn't working out, why force-feed it? If he's lighting it up on the top line, why not ride the hot hand?

Worse case scenario, if you think Bennett isn't going to pan out as a first line or even an second line centre in the long run, at least increase his point totals by playing him as a top line winger to boost his trade value.

[TheScorpion]

There's no such thing as "almost passing through waivers". Waivers are binary.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

There's no such thing as "almost passing through waivers". Waivers are binary.

Such non-binary-waiverphobia

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

It may seem like most of us in this thread are being irrational about GG but it’s become such an ongoing fiasco that Brouwer, chaisson, ferkland, versteeg, old slow jagr, and (probably) Stewart all have received more time on the top line the past two years than Bennett.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Bennett requests a trade this offseason and it’s going to be GGs fault.

If anyone here thinks that Bennett wouldn’t have out produced Ferland if he had the same opportunity and leash on the top line then you are fooling yourself


Bennett > Ferland >>>>>>>> stewart

Poor old Bennett - stuck with that slug Jankowski all year.

Brouwer hasn't played with Monahan/Gaudreau all year. Nor has Versteeg. Jagr's been on that line 4% of the time and Bennett has been on it 3%. Jagr/Monahan/Gaudreau had double the production though.

https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/...es=2017-2018:R

Last season he played with Gaudreau more than Brouwer or Versteeg. Keep in mind, though, they were still wanting him to be a centre (which a lot of Bennett advocates wanted). So when Monahan was in Bennett wasn't going to be with Gaudreau as much.

https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/...es=2016-2017:R

[White Out 403]

Go Flames I guess. Boo Dallas.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Go Flames I guess. Boo Dallas.

Seriously?

[Huntingwhale]

I get why Stewart in the #1 RW to start. He's got an adrenaline rush going, said all the right things. And he's likely going to have a good game. I'm fairly certain he will get setup by Johnny and score a goal tonight.

And was also mentioned earlier, the Stars took a couple cheap shots last game against the top line and Ferland really didn't do too much to stop that. Stewart is a real life monster, and I'm willing to bet he puts a quick stop to that. Ferland has his moments, but isn't really a deterrent that often. Monahan sure isn't one. I totally get why Stewart is put in that roll. Leave the 3M line intact. So obviously someone has to drop down the depth chart, and that is Bennett.

If things don't work out, then likely Bennett is back up on line #1 and Stewart drops down to the 3rd line. I actually really like the make up of that line.

Stewart - Jankowski - Ferland

That's a beefy 3rd line. If Ferland and Stewart can feed off of each other, it has the potential to be really great.

Otherwise it's 10+ pages in a GDT. Haven't seen that in a while. Stewart the new whipping boy and he hasn't even played a game yet.

This is why I come to CP. To see the drama unfold.

[GioforPM]

FWIW Minnie fans say that Stewart's hot start was because he was filling in on the top lines, and his production dropped after the normal top guys returned and he was shuffled down.

I don't know if that's true or not, but it suggests that he can produce if given the opportunity (and motivation at that time probably had a lot to do with it).

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I get that Stewart will be motivated and you want to get him feeling good but if it comes at the expense of Bennett’s confidence is it really worth it?

Why does it have to?

In a perfectly plausible alternative scenario Bennett carries his good play from the past two games over tonight and provides a bump to Jankowski very much like what happened when these two were first put together in November.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Seriously?

I just don't get this. Jets fan goes out of their way to sign up on a Flames message board, touts the Jets, completely indifferent to the Flames.

Whats the point, right?

Its like if I sought out and went through the hassle of signing up on a Rangers board, then logged in each day to talk about the Flames. When the time comes to make a prediction or comment on the Rangers I just go "meh".