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

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yes, odds are Bennett gets better. But not much better.

I’m fine with this. He’s a player the flames can definitely use, it’s just unfortunate he isn’t the answer we were all hoping for.

Kid still has fire and grit, with skill to top it off.

[pepper24]

So basically Bennett will never live up to 4th OA potential and play top line minutes. Middle 6 forward ceiling. Disappointing.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yes, odds are Bennett gets better. But not much better.

The analysis in the article actually concludes that the vast majority of players don’t improve- what you see at 200 games in terms of points per game is generally what you’re going to get in the future.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yes, odds are Bennett gets better. But not much better.

300 other NHL players out pointed him last year, so it wont be hard to be a least a bit better in that sense.

I still think if they can get something useful for him this summer...it has to be done.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by transplant99

300 other NHL players out pointed him last year, so it wont be hard to be a least a bit better in that sense.

I still think if they can get something useful for him this summer...it has to be done.

I think he is useful, and will improve. Selling him now...why? Who are you bringing in to improve the 3rd line?

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I think he is useful, and will improve. Selling him now...why? Who are you bringing in to improve the 3rd line?

I'd give Dube, Foo or Mangiapane a chance if Bennett is traded.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Interesting Bennett article (by Kent Wilson) in the Athletic today comparing Bennett to the other 82 players in the NHL who played 200+ games before turning 22, since 2005.



But in the end

It read exactly like that one article about how the Flames shouldn't have signed 21 year old Jankowski and held out for a compensation pick. Same tunnel-vision.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by pepper24

I'd give Dube, Foo or Mangiapane a chance if Bennett is traded.

So we could rush another prospect and then boot them out the door when they fail to carry a line by themselves as well? Simply swapping Bennett out and inserting a different young player, while feeding them the craptastic circumstances Bennett got would be a disaster.

We saw what Eatbread looked like with Brouwer, Stajan, Lazar and Hathaway. He was useless. Unless there are significant changes to the bottom 6, I'd sooner keep Eatbread in the AHL so he can continue to develop.

The bottom 6 next year should look like this in my opinion:

Bennett - Jankowski - New scoring winger
Mangiapane - New centre - Lazar
Shore, Hathaway

Foo and Dube can act as call-ups (as could Hathaway if the Flames want him playing in the AHL rather than sitting in the NHL).

There's no place on this team for line crushing veterans anymore. No more carrying bad/unproductive veterans just for the sake of having veterans on the team.

[Harry Lime]

You know how you fix the production inbalance...

Top Line - Top Line - Top Line
Bennett - Backlund - Ferland
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Frolik
Bottom Line - Bottom Line - Bottom Line

There are internal solutions to the middle six that look really good, and then fixing the rest of the team doesn't seem like such a monumental task.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

You know how you fix the production inbalance...

Top Line - Top Line - Top Line
Bennett - Backlund - Ferland
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Frolik
Bottom Line - Bottom Line - Bottom Line

There are internal solutions to the middle six that look really good, and then fixing the rest of the team doesn't seem like such a monumental task.

So now you are proposing giving Bennett more ES time than Tkachuk and saying that is a "fix" of some sort?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I think he is useful, and will improve. Selling him now...why? Who are you bringing in to improve the 3rd line?

As what? I do know he didn't improve any line he played on at any point the last 2 seasons.

He is not an offensive threat. He is average defensively. He looked OK when killing penalties. He was also a liability with his prowess for taking penalties himself.

If he can be included in a deal that brings back someone to help balance the top 3 lines, then they have to include him, as he simply isnt a player you can rely on moving forward as anything more than "a guy".

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

So we could rush another prospect and then boot them out the door when they fail to carry a line by themselves as well? Simply swapping Bennett out and inserting a different young player, while feeding them the craptastic circumstances Bennett got would be a disaster.

Depends what Bennett can get the Flames. If Bennett and D prospect gets Flames a top 6 winger then you have options. Ferland replaces Bennett, Mangiapane replaces Hathaway. Both are upgrades.

Jonny - Monny - New Winger
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Janko - Mangiapane
Hathaway - Shore - Brouwer

I'd prefer Flames buyout Brouwer but not sure if they do it.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by pepper24

I'd give Dube, Foo or Mangiapane a chance if Bennett is traded.

2 of those three guys might be on the roster out of necessity.

I love the way Hathaway plays, but if he gets more than 9-10 minutes a night for Calgary next year the team will be in trouble.

Quality depth remains an issue that needs to be addressed.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

2 of those three guys might be on the roster out of necessity.

I love the way Hathaway plays, but if he gets more than 9-10 minutes a night for Calgary next year the team will be in trouble.

Quality depth remains an issue that needs to be addressed.

Yep, our forward prospect depth is weak. They are our 3 best forward prospects and probably middle 6 forwards at best. One of them can replace Hathaway on the 3rd line this season. Probably Foo or Mangiapane. Hathaway can then move to 4th line role where he is better suited.

[Toonage]

I'd like to see Bennett-Jankowski-Tkachuk but I'm guessing we could see as a bottom 6:

Bennett-Jankowski-Foo
Ferland-Shore-Lazar

or they try Bennett with Jankowski & Tkachuk on the 2L and try Mangiapane-Backlund-Frolik as a 3L

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I'd like to see Bennett-Jankowski-Tkachuk but I'm guessing we could see as a bottom 6:

Bennett-Jankowski-Foo
Ferland-Shore-Lazar

or they try Bennett with Jankowski & Tkachuk on the 2L and try Mangiapane-Backlund-Frolik as a 3L

Why would you bury Ferland who got 21 goals (albeit with top line) on the 4th line? Where's Brouwer?

[Toonage]

Where's Brouwer? Gone. Bought out. Its my fake line up so I fake got rid of him.

Ferland had a great half a year up top. Until he didn't. Then he spent the back half of the year floating. My belief is that the Flames will address the need for a true RW to play up there with Gaudreau & Monahan in the off season. You need an energy line in a traditional line up, (assuming all coaches/GMs don't follow the Vegas model thinking it can work with every team) and to me that trio works in that regard.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Where's Brouwer? Gone. Bought out. Its my fake line up so I fake got rid of him.

Ferland had a great half a year up top. Until he didn't. Then he spent the back half of the year floating. My belief is that the Flames will address the need for a true RW to play up there with Gaudreau & Monahan in the off season. You need an energy line in a traditional line up, (assuming all coaches/GMs don't follow the Vegas model thinking it can work with every team) and to me that trio works in that regard.

Agree with Brouwer. We'll see though if the Flames buy him out.

Ferland is easily top 9. He showed he can contribute on top line and if they can improve he his more than capable on 2nd or 3rd line. He shouldn't be anywhere near the 4th line. His production fell around the time Monahan played hurt then eventually was sidelined. He was on pace for 30+ goals after Xmas.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I think he is useful, and will improve. Selling him now...why? Who are you bringing in to improve the 3rd line?

Packaging him with Brodie/D prospect for a better winger would be my thought process. By default that would bump down a winger already ahead of Bennett.

[Toonage]

I think we've seen Ferland both hot and cold on the top line. When he's on, he's on. But he isn't consistent and the Flames will look to remedy that. If they can't, or they change their attention to another center rather than a RW, then he probably gets the gig. If they do find a RW to replace him, then he drops. His prowess is totally reliant on Gaudreau & Monahan. He couldn't replicate his play with anyone else and he won't replace Tkachuk on the 2L. Maybe he finds a spot on the 3L, but the Flames will likely (IMO) have Bennett there. Maybe Ferland goes back to RW on another line, but I can't see that either.