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

[Major Major]

That hit was glorious. If compher got hurt as a result, so be it.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think it’s respectful to know and be aware when one is derailing a thread and not continue once one has made their point

I believe you made a bad point. And on a message board I would like to debate why I believe it’s a bad point. But I suppose that’s too disrespectful.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think it’s respectful to know and be aware when one is derailing a thread and not continue once one has made their point

You have to admit. You did kind of drop a turd on the table and then left the room.

Back to the off topic point though. People talk about the good old days when players policed themselves, bla bla bla.

I don’t buy any of that. But the phenomenon of the huge hit and blowing guys up? I don’t believe that was such a part of the game in the 80’s and previous. Am I wrong? Guys weren’t as big and fast so maybe that’s it. Hockey has always been a violent sport though. As long as I have followed it. And a lot of people like that.

[gunnner]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think it’s respectful to know and be aware when one is derailing a thread and not continue once one has made their point

You are derailing alot of threads with drive by posts these days. Then hiding behind a "i dont want to derail another thread" type post? Too late, you derailed the thread with a stupid post.

Bennett is awesome so far this year!

[SilverKast]

This is the type of play we've been hoping to see from Bennett, I just hope he can maintain it and keep it going now. I'd be pretty happy if he can keep it up, it's been a rough ride for him so far as I think he's put a lot of pressure on himself to live up to his draft status.

I don't care about his draft status though, I just want him to be a valuable part of the team over the next few years. Hopefully this is the start of him becoming more confident and comfortable with what he can bring!

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by gunnner

You are derailing alot of threads with drive by posts these days. Then hiding behind a "i dont want to derail another thread" type post? Too late, you derailed the thread with a stupid post.

Bennett is awesome so far this year!

There is nothing stupid about his post. He gave his opinion and had the self-awareness to know that it's an opinion he's given on several other threads in regards to non-Flames. Just because you disagree doesn't make his post stupid. Ten years ago someone would have been similarly mocked if they argued that there is no place for staged goon fights in the NHL.

Personally, I'm on the fence. On the one had, the entire point of checking (including body checking) is to separate the player from the puck. In this case, the puck was already gone and Bennett was "finishing his check", which is a nebulous concept that we all kind of understand but not completely. On the other hand, physicality and intimidation have been a staple of hockey for probably 100 years. A big hit can change momentum. From a team approach big hits and "finishing your check" are legitimate tactics to help win a game. Bennett's hit was entirely within the rules of the game as it stands today.

These arguments are difficult because it ultimately boils down to a question of 'doing everything to win' vs. long term player safety. This is especially difficult knowing what we now know about brain trauma and it's long term affect on quality of life. But the players seem to understand the risk associated with it and sign up to play even knowing those risks.




So...yeah Bennett is looking good so far this year.

[RichKlit]

This is getting stupid, it was a clean hit. If you can’t stomach any physical contact watch figure skating. I suppose we will have to find a way to protect the figure skaters from falling down though, I mean they could hit their head and get a concussion. Maybe get rid of all contact in every sport? We can have chess and checkers as our national past time?

[Resolute 14]

I'm sorry, but if *that* is a hit we have to remove from the game, then we may as well just ban hockey. Because clearly nothing else will be good enough for some people.

[goflamesgo18]

Anyone have a video of the hit?

[Resolute 14]

https://www.milehighhockey.com/2018/...initely-injury

[Scroopy Noopers]

Clean hit.

It seems Compher hits the brakes and that results in his head lining up with Bennett’s shoulder, which is unfortunate. Especially because generally when a player holds up it minimizes the impact.

[Textcritic]

I am not interested in talking about Bennett’s hit. I did want to say that so far through the very early part of the season he looks like a player who could defy convention and still make a leap that sees him become a high impact forward. I know we have often drawn comparisons between Bennett and other players his age who have never amounted to much more than decent middle sizers—by far the normal trend for players in his situation, but his last three games have me believing that something special is happening this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by gunnner

You are derailing alot of threads with drive by posts these days. Then hiding behind a "i dont want to derail another thread" type post? Too late, you derailed the thread with a stupid post.

Bennett is awesome so far this year!

How are my posts drive-bys? Just because you disagree with them?
I've articulated my views on the subject, including the self awareness that not everyone, or even a lot of people, share that view.
What about that is a drive-by or stupid.

[Geeoff]

I think at some point you have to let people make their own decisions. Players know that hockey is a violent sport and eventually they are going to get hit hard. The same goes for boxing and MMA where 100% of the sport is physicality.

And let's call a spade a spade, watching one person hit another really hard is exciting.

[goflamesgo18]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I think at some point you have to let people make their own decisions. Players know that hockey is a violent sport and eventually they are going to get hit hard. The same goes for boxing and MMA where 100% of the sport is physicality.

And let's call a spade a spade, watching one person hit another really hard is exciting.

This.


Injuries happen in physical sports. Just because a guy gets a head injury from a clean hit doesnt mean we need to panic and punish the player who delivered the hit.

These players know exactly what they signed up for and how to avoid said hits.

There is a big difference between bennetts hit and Mathesons hit. One was playing hockey, the other let his anger and frustration get the best of him.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Personally I thought the Bennett hit was dirtier than the Matheson hit and I said so a few days ago. Looks to me like the head is one of the main points of contact in the Bennett hit.

[Tron_fdc]

I think you guys are missing Jiri's point. Correct me if I'm wrong, but what I'm seeing (and kind of agree with) is that the bodycheck these days can be used to injure, and is not what it was originally intended for, which is separating the player from the puck.

Did Bennett need to blow up Compher to get him off the puck? No he did not. That's Jiri's point here; if you want to get rid of head injuries you have to evolve the mentality of the body check from an intent to inflict damage to simply moving a player off the puck. There is contact, but not contact intended to take a player off the puck/out of the play with the maximum force you can muster.

Back in the days of yore that's exactly what the bodycheck was. It was not used as an aggressive or intimidating play (from what I understand) until the 50's/60's. The Broad Street Bullies then took it to the next level, and everyone followed suit. Hockey evolved into Don Cherry rock em sock em, and the question being raised is "Has it gone too far"? It would appear the league is saying yes (in MOST instances, because we all know what the wheel of inconsistent justice is doing these days).

I am neither for or against it. I don't see players ever getting away or passing on an opportunity for a momentum changing body check. Players also do it to intimidate others, or "get noticed" by coaches (how many here LOVE watching the rookie come in and hit everything in sight?). However, if that is allowed to happen guys are going to get head injuries. You can teach them to keep their heads up and protect themselves, but at some point SOMEONE is going to get themselves into a vulnerable position and get drilled.

I think people should give it a little more thought and add to the constructive discussion before being so dismissive and saying something like "go watch figure skating". There are some really valid points on either side, and having someone share their opinion that is clearly against the grain shouldn't be shouted down in this case.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Back in the days of yore that's exactly what the bodycheck was. It was not used as an aggressive or intimidating play (from what I understand) until the 50's/60's

Bull####.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Bull####.

Do tell.

You just proved my point BTW.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I think you guys are missing Jiri's point. Correct me if I'm wrong, but what I'm seeing (and kind of agree with) is that the bodycheck these days can be used to injure, and is not what it was originally intended for, which is separating the player from the puck.

Did Bennett need to blow up Compher to get him off the puck? No he did not. That's Jiri's point here; if you want to get rid of head injuries you have to evolve the mentality of the body check from an intent to inflict damage to simply moving a player off the puck. There is contact, but not contact intended to take a player off the puck/out of the play with the maximum force you can muster.

Back in the days of yore that's exactly what the bodycheck was. It was not used as an aggressive or intimidating play (from what I understand) until the 50's/60's. The Broad Street Bullies then took it to the next level, and everyone followed suit. Hockey evolved into Don Cherry rock em sock em, and the question being raised is "Has it gone too far"? It would appear the league is saying yes (in MOST instances, because we all know what the wheel of inconsistent justice is doing these days).

I am neither for or against it. I don't see players ever getting away or passing on an opportunity for a momentum changing body check. Players also do it to intimidate others, or "get noticed" by coaches (how many here LOVE watching the rookie come in and hit everything in sight?). However, if that is allowed to happen guys are going to get head injuries. You can teach them to keep their heads up and protect themselves, but at some point SOMEONE is going to get themselves into a vulnerable position and get drilled.

I think people should give it a little more thought and add to the constructive discussion before being so dismissive and saying something like "go watch figure skating". There are some really valid points on either side, and having someone share their opinion that is clearly against the grain shouldn't be shouted down in this case.

The game is much faster now than it used to be. Bennett was comitted and too close to avoid the hit by the time Compher got rid of the puck. If Bennett tries to bail on the hit when Compher gets rid of the puck he either risks injuring himself or taking himself out of the play.

It was a clean hit, if you want to say that hit doesn't need to happen then just take out hitting completely. If that's your opinion (like Jiri) then fine, but I disagree.