Sam Bennett Value: Have the Flames held on TOO long? OR is he awesome?

[Brick]

Sam's a keeper.

[CliffFletcher]

Griffin Reinhart is 24, and I'm pretty sure the Isles are glad they traded him two years ago. If they'd been more patient with him they wouldn't have Barzal.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Griffin Reinhart is 24, and I'm pretty sure the Isles are glad they traded him two years ago. If they'd been more patient with him they wouldn't have Barzal.

On the other hand, there was a lot of talk about trading Sam Reinhart at the beginning of the year, but that's quieted right down. Same draft year as Bennett but didn't lose the year due to injury like Bennett.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Griffin Reinhart is 24, and I'm pretty sure the Isles are glad they traded him two years ago. If they'd been more patient with him they wouldn't have Barzal.

I don't see the comparison.

Bennett has shown that the tools are there, it's a confidence, between the ears issue (though figuring out how to use linemates and speeding up his shot release is also important). In a fast nhl, he's got the wheels and puck skills to be effective. Throw in his physicality, and the upside is even greater.

Reinhart had questions about his skating and playing speed from junior, so I don't think they are comparable prospects.

[yourbestfriend]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Mark Scheiffele for example didn't break out until 2015-16 after being drafting in 2011. Bennett was drafted in 2014 and therefore the corresponding season for him would be 2018-19, next season.

The difference between Bennett and Scheiffele is that Bennett's play has not improved since his rookie season. Points aside, his play isn't dramatically better now than it was two seasons ago. There would be much less complaining if Bennett put 26points but developed this year into a defense beast. As it stands his development as a player have been marginal at best.

[Huntingwhale]

Sam Bennett really is an enigma. Had he lived up to his potential, the Flames depth down the middle looked pretty good. But given he's now pretty much a winger, suddenly we have less to work with and are probably middle of the league at best at that C position. While it's not fair to pin the team's problems on him alone, him not panning out like a 4th overall should really does prevent the team from taking the next step forward.

I still do believe we should be very patient with him. He's still only 21, has a strong toolbox and isn't completely useless. He's also on a very team friendly contract, so it's not like he's overpaid. There's plenty of teams who would take a player of his age at his contract. Had he been drafted in later in round 1 or beyond, this discussion likely doesn't exist.

Unless the return in a trade is a player clearly better then him, I'd still keep him on the team. There's still use for players like him. But I agree with most; it stings like hell that he's likely never going to be the PPG center the team coveted that would elevate the team to contender status.

Most of us had big hopes for a big step forward from him last off season. I still think he can do it under a new coach. But at this point I'll be happy with him if he can prove himself to be a reliable top 6, or even middle 6 forward.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Alexi Yashin played 12 years in the NHL, but is still considered one of the biggest busts of all time. Any time you draft in the top 5 and can only walk away with a "bottom 6 energy guy" at best, it's a failure

No one should be calling Yashin a bust.
He was nearly a PPG player for 850 games.
Nothing about him was a bust, let alone one of the biggest busts of all time.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

No one should be calling Yashin a bust.
He was nearly a PPG player for 850 games.
Nothing about him was a bust, let alone one of the biggest busts of all time.

The guy meant Alex daigle even if he hasn’t come back to say so

[Table 5]

I agree that Sam Bennett may still have some upside. But I also believe that he needs a fresh start to tap into it again.

I don't see a resurgence happening with the Flames, and especially not if the current coaching staff comes back. At this stage, I think the best we can hope for is a trade for an equally enigmatic prospect.

[bubbsy]

Hearing the 'needs a fresh start' statement a lot.

Is a new coaching staff equivalent?

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Hey, if he's like Taylor Hall, Awesome!!! Flipping MVP this year.

I'll even take an Oiler's Taylor Hall at this point. 70 points, -35, less than 40 offensive zone penalties.

[ComixZone]

Patience is rarely a mistake, impatience is often a mistake.

As a fan base, we've been very blessed with getting some NHL-ready players in the draft in recent years with Monahan and Tkachuk. We've also seen some good players develop away from the team in Gaudreau and Jankowski.

Then, for comparison's sake - look at the players who have been actively developed by the Flames at either the AHL or NHL level. Across the board there has been an awful lot of impatience. Plenty of people on CP have had their pitchforks and torches out for every single young player.

Andersson, Bennett, Ferland, Lazar, Kylington, Gillies, Hathaway, Hamilton - heck, even Gaudreau and Monahan at times - they get eviscerated around here. It seems like typical over-exposure leading to hyper critical eyes.

I sincerely hope the Flames stay patient with Bennett, a player who still hasn't seen good playing circumstances since his rookie year. Thankfully due to the arrival of Jankowski he's actually been playing with someone that has potential and not some non-NHL plug, or bottom of the barrel free agency failure. Bennett needs development time, and tasking him with that while always weighing him down with awful players in 16/17 was an impossible hill for any young NHL'er. Things improved in '17/'18 with the arrival of a good/potentially good player in Jankowski - even then, you had two young developing players battling consistency issues while also playing with a player who just isn't ready for the NHL level yet (Hathaway). This year was an improvement, but still not an ideal situation for Bennett (or Jankowski). Inconsistency is part of the game for the vast majority of young players.

I like where things are headed with Bennett. I like where things are headed with Lazar and Jankowski as well. Patience will pay off. Improvement is there, and I believe it will continue to show.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

The difference between Bennett and Scheiffele is that Bennett's play has not improved since his rookie season. Points aside, his play isn't dramatically better now than it was two seasons ago. There would be much less complaining if Bennett put 26points but developed this year into a defense beast. As it stands his development as a player have been marginal at best.

Development isn't always linear. Sometimes players take a step back. Sometimes they take two steps forward.

Obviously his regression is why some fans have soured on him. I'm arguing that he isn't worth giving up on at this point. I'm arguing his upside is probably greater than what we can trade him for. It's a matter of opinion and people are welcome to disagree.

[Galakanokis]

At 21 there is no way in hell you trade Bennett unless he returns a much more significant piece in some sort of package. He's young and definitely behind on development but I see no reasons to move him, he can play in the NHL and has potential to do more.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Griffin Reinhart is 24, and I'm pretty sure the Isles are glad they traded him two years ago. If they'd been more patient with him they wouldn't have Barzal.

I would trade Bennett in a heartbeat if we can get that kind of package for him

[Classic_Sniper]

I was in favor of keeping him around the December mark when he was on fire. But his last 3.5 months has soured me on that idea. He’s had his chances in offensive roles and had several chances to play with Gaudreau and he just didn’t look very good at all. His hockey iq just isn’t at the same level as legit young skilled guys like Gaudreau, Monahan and Tkachuk.

The fact that he was a -18 and took more minors than he had points is just baffling. He hurt this team more than he helped this season which definitely contributed to the team missing the playoffs. I don’t doubt that he can one day be a 20 goal 20 assist player one day, but this team just isn’t strong enough to offset his deficiencies.

[SeanCharles]

He was given a two year "show me" contract so let's all cool our jets and give him the 2 years to show us.

If he is a huge disappointment next season then we can begin serious talks about him being a bust of some form.

He was the 2nd youngest player on the entire team.

His playoff performances alone should be enough to give everyone pause, let alone his age, potential and trade value at the moment.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Mark Scheiffele for example didn't break out until 2015-16 after being drafting in 2011. Bennett was drafted in 2014 and therefore the corresponding season for him would be 2018-19, next season.

Scheifele was always progressing, never stalling though. To the point that I'm not sure you can say he actually brokeout, just improved each season.

Dominate in the OHL as a 19 year old. With a handful of games in the NHL as tryouts sprinkled in.

An uneventful but hopeful rookie season as a 20 year old where he was on pace for 44 points before he went down for the season injured (which is already better than anything Bennett has done).

As a 21 year old he put up 50 points. Nearly double what Sam Bennett did in his 21 year old season...

60+ as a 22 year old. PPG as a 23 year old and beyond.

Bennett is taking the opposite route as Scheifele so far...

[H2SO4(aq)]

I’m not worried in the least about Sam. He has the tools it’ll come.

[Shawn_Cronin44]

To my eyes, Bennet is Oleg Saprykin with better balance...