[PGT] Flames jobbed by officiating. Lose 3-1 to the Sharks.

[Table 5]

Unfortunately, finishing has always been Bennett's problem. He can get the high danger chances, but he's always been very poor at converting them. He's the Paul Ranheim or Matthew Lombardi of this generation of Flames...a tease, but one who never really puts it together. Getting high-danger chances is nice, but converting those chances is what separates great players (and teams) form the mediocre ones.

[Flash Walken]

Don't look now but Jake Virtanen has 7 goals.

[tvp2003]

I think getting benched is as close as Peters will go with Neal without actually benching him. I'm not sure a night in the press box would help him at this stage of the career -- he just needs to keep skating and getting scoring opportunities. He also needs to be a veteran leader on this team which means he needs to play his way out of it.

Meanwhile, Smith (another veteran leader) looked less "flailing" and seemed a little quieter compared to the Anaheim game. Hopefully he's able to adjust and modify his game -- I think he needs to use his size and be more of a blocker at this point in his career. Best case scenario is that he settles into a 1B role with Rittich as a 1A.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Don't look now but Jake Virtanen has 7 goals.

Which actually gives me hope that Sam can figure it out still.

Time is getting short for that to happen though.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Which actually gives me hope that Sam can figure it out still.

Time is getting short for that to happen though.

Bennett cant shoot the puck though

[activeStick]

I acknowledge the missed calls, but it happens to every team. I feel like whining about it constantly is a bad look. Put in another way, if Bennett scores on his PS and Jankowski does the same, the Flames win 3-2.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I don't care how good Smith played. We would have won if we started Rittich.

But what if he played better than Rittich would have?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Scoring chances are absolutely subjective, Jesus. They’re based on whether the person counting them considers something a scoring chance, doesn’t at all matter if it is third party. That’s what subjective means, if something is of someone’s opinion. An objective stat is a goal. There is no arguing whether something is a goal. There is nothing objective about ‘scoring chances’.

And I am not at all saying that Bennett isn’t producing them. He’s been ok. I’m saying in the end it doesn’t really matter and until he starts finishing then he doesn’t belong in the top 6, which is what I was originally responding to. The idea that Backlund is just a checker and Bennett should be in the top 6.

Disagree.

A scoring chance has to come from within a designed perimeter home plate on the ice. That's as objective as it comes. Human error can appear in missing one or so, but it's not interpretational.

A high danger chance is the same but with a pass or deflection.

Defining an area and simply counting from an independent base is as objective as you can get.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So now anyone who disagrees with you is "pissy"?

Allrighty then.

I would still like to know if you think Bennett gets a raise after this year based on what he have seen thus far and assuming it stays somewhat the same.

A quick count I just did and may be off a few either way.

113 players in the NHL have more points than Bennett....and make less money.

No this is pissy ...

OK then.....Bennetts great cause......fancy stats.

And I think you know it.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Unfortunately, finishing has always been Bennett's problem. He can get the high danger chances, but he's always been very poor at converting them. He's the Paul Ranheim or Matthew Lombardi of this generation of Flames...a tease, but one who never really puts it together. Getting high-danger chances is nice, but converting those chances is what separates great players (and teams) form the mediocre ones.

Absolutely my fear too ...

But if I was to make a list of players for the Flames to acquire I would look at;

1. lots of scoring chance but low counting stats
2. still young
3. not expensive

And Bennett would be at the top of that list league wide right now.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Absolutely my fear too ...

But if I was to make a list of players for the Flames to acquire I would look at;

1. lots of scoring chance but low counting stats
2. still young
3. not expensive

And Bennett would be at the top of that list league wide right now.

This would be my #1

1. Eye test. Live Scouting.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bingo

But if I was to make a list of players for the Flames to acquire I would look at;

1. lots of scoring chance but low counting stats
2. still young
3. not expensive

And Bennett would be at the top of that list league wide right now.

There are definitely still enough aspects to Bennetts game that make him intriguing to an outsider, but at this stage he's firmly on the "Projects" list for any GM. He's become a Lazar or Baertschi or Shinkaruk. You'll get a 2nd round pick at best, or another guy off that list.

[David Struch]

If Bennett remains on pace and only produces 18 points this season, there is no way he gets a raise... despite how many scoring chances he creates.

[Kasi]

Which would be perfectly fine, since I don’t think Calgary would feel bad paying 3 million for what he’s doing now. Maybe they could lock him into a longer term contract and benefit from some time in the future where he puts things together. (Aka his finish catches up with his effort and shot creating)

As for the game last night lots of good things. Especially Smith getting back on track and Jankowski continuing to be better. Main line struggling and Neal not working out on line 2 are negatives but still that was a solid enough road game on a back to back. Little more luck (or better officiating) could have got that to OT.

I wish this board wouldn’t get so miserable after any loss and some posters we’d to seriously quit with the hysterical trolling anytime Calgary loses. We’re not going to go undefeated or even be Nashville/Tampa. But it’s been a while since the Flames were outplayed. Last night was probably the first of those since Pittsburgh and it wasn’t by much and San Jose is a good team. If we continue to do that and the goaltending stabilizes they will be a solid playoff team. Which I think is a realistic outcome since I don’t expect them to challenge Nashville until Anderson/Valimaki/Bennett/Jankowski/Dube develop more.

[Tyler]

Not a hockey quote, but applicable IMO when we talk about a guy who has no finish but generates lots of scoring chances:

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bingo

No this is pissy ...



And I think you know it.

Your entire argument that he is more valuable than i believe are based on fancy stats...no?


I guess discussing that is off the table though and dismissed because, along with many, i simply dont put anywhere near as much importance on them as you do.

OK then.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by David Struch

If Bennett remains on pace and only produces 18 points this season, there is no way he gets a raise... despite how many scoring chances he creates.

I don't think 18 points is realistic considering how well Bennett is playing. I still think he will go on a hot streak and have his best point total yet, since he is playing his best hockey yet.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I don't think 18 points is realistic considering how well Bennett is playing. I still think he will go on a hot streak and have his best point total yet, since he is playing his best hockey yet.

Hope you are right....and maybe it happens, but the liklihood is low.

He would need to go on .5 ppg pace and not miss a game the rest of the way.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Bingo

What data were manipulated?



I'm dying to know.

Okay maybe not manipulated but you can find any stat you want to support pretty much any argument you have.

[ResAlien]

Hey plus side is Smith only let in two goals so he’s getting better, Rittich should start Thursday and play lights out, Neal will respond to his 3rd period benching, Rasmus draws back in, and worrying about out bottom six grinders will be the least of our worries.