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

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

Bennett is quickly becoming one of my favourite Flames. I have been rather disappointed with him the past few seasons, but man this year he is a new player. I don't know if it's Neal, new coaching, new training or a combination of all 3 and more, but he looks so freaking good.

I think GG wasn't rewarding him for good play, Peters has instilled some belief in Bennett by making him earn and then rewarding him for his stellar play. This seasons Bennett plays for the coach and for the team; Last seasons Bennett was completely lost with little or no confidence under GG's direction.

[DeluxeMoustache]

It is simple and we have broken it down many times and many ways.

Some people, you put them in a solid situation with a role and support, they can thrive.

Shame on any ding dongs who continue to rail against the guy

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

I think GG wasn't rewarding him for good play, Peters has instilled some belief in Bennett by making him earn and then rewarding him for his stellar play. This seasons Bennett plays for the coach and for the team; Last seasons Bennett was completely lost with little or no confidence under GG's direction.

Never Earned Always TheSame
- Glen Gulutzan

[crapshoot]

Even if the score sheet is looking similar as last year for Bennett, his play is absolutely terrific. It doesn't even matter that he's not scoring when he is playing like this, causing havoc all over the place. Such an energetic player. His line had some shifts in the third where they absolutely killed the Oilers along the board and just kept bullying their way around the Oilers zone like it was their own back yard. It's fantastic to watch.

[SuperMatt18]

Correct Answer:

He is awesome.

/End Thread

[Lanny_McDonald]

He has to start producing. Period. Unless he's going to be playing for Garnett Hathaway money, he needs to do better than 20 points. Bennett is playing a similar game to what Ferland did when he started to break out, but that came with some production. He's playing better, but man, does he need to start finishing.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by New Era

He has to start producing. Period. Unless he's going to be playing for Garnett Hathaway money, he needs to do better than 20 points. Bennett is playing a similar game to what Ferland did when he started to break out, but that came with some production. He's playing better, but man, does he need to start finishing.

Yeah he needs to start producing, to be a true top six forward.

But if he doesn't he's a younger, much more difficult to play against Michael Frolik. A player that can ride shot gun to two top six fowards, do a lot of work on the forecheck, be responsible defensively, and bring an element of energy that is tough to find.

The player is no longer a fourth line player by a long shot. He's a promoted third liner that looks like he can play a role on the second line.

Valuable player on the team now.

Your Hathaway comparable is hyperbole, ... he's elevated well beyond that in ice time, role, impact and importance, ... so naturally he doesn't need to re-sign for Hathaway money.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah he needs to start producing, to be a true top six forward.

But if he doesn't he's a younger, much more difficult to play against Michael Frolik. A player that can ride shot gun to two top six fowards, do a lot of work on the forecheck, be responsible defensively, and bring an element of energy that is tough to find.

The player is no longer a fourth line player by a long shot. He's a promoted third liner that looks like he can play a role on the second line.

Valuable player on the team now.

Your Hathaway comparable is hyperbole, ... he's elevated well beyond that in ice time, role, impact and importance, ... so naturally he doesn't need to re-sign for Hathaway money.

But so is your Frolik comparison considering he isn’t scoring at anywhere near the level that Frolik has over his career.

That said I like his game and am optimistic that some points will come and I think he can be a Frolik, as long as the points come. I don’t see it getting much beyond that but if it does then that would be great as well. Got an assist last night didn’t he? Hopefully it starts to build now

[ForeverFlameFan]

That Bennett - Backlund - Tkachuk line is amazing.

A really hard-nosed, skilled, two-way play line that just gets the job done in whatever zone they’re in. I’m a huge fan. Bennett has earned every right to be in the top 6, he does so much more than just put up points.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

But so is your Frolik comparison considering he isn’t scoring at anywhere near the level that Frolik has over his career.

That said I like his game and am optimistic that some points will come and I think he can be a Frolik, as long as the points come. I don’t see it getting much beyond that but if it does then that would be great as well. Got an assist last night didn’t he? Hopefully it starts to build now

Frolik and that whole line sputtered last year. He had 10 goals and 25 points total, but still had value.

That's why I picked Frolik he's a second line guy that isn't a truly productive second line player.

Wasn't trying to insert hyperbole at all.

[TOfan]

For Bennett to be a legitimate top 6 forward, he needs to be putting up 40pts/season & continue to play with the edge we've seen from him so far.

Otherwise I suspect he will find himself back on the third line before too long.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Frolik and that whole line sputtered last year. He had 10 goals and 25 points total, but still had value.

That's why I picked Frolik he's a second line guy that isn't a truly productive second line player.

Wasn't trying to insert hyperbole at all.

Frolik had a serious injury last year. I don't put much stock in his season stats. I haven't looked, but it might be worth looking at what pace he was on prior to getting hurt.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

Even if the score sheet is looking similar as last year for Bennett, his play is absolutely terrific. It doesn't even matter that he's not scoring when he is playing like this, causing havoc all over the place. Such an energetic player. His line had some shifts in the third where they absolutely killed the Oilers along the board and just kept bullying their way around the Oilers zone like it was their own back yard. It's fantastic to watch.

Bennett was fantastic, he set the tone for the whole team in the first period and got them emotionally invested. The team didn't have time to think about being behind early because they were battle ready. Not only that, Bennett putting Nurse on his butt got the Oilers playing butt hurt and off their game. We took advantage if that. Not sure why some think Bennett needs to be producing when we are winning games and he is out there playing a solid 2 way defensive game. The coach called him a complete player, can't get a better complement than that. If Darryl Sutter was coaching he would be over the moon about Bennett's commitment to the defensive side of the game.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TOfan

For Bennett to be a legitimate top 6 forward, he needs to be putting up 40pts/season & continue to play with the edge we've seen from him so far.

Otherwise I suspect he will find himself back on the third line before too long.

The Flames are an odd team for line assignment though. How many NHL clubs have their second line as a shut down line.

Sam Bennett as a 40 point player would certainly round things out I agree ... but if he sticks to 25 points he may stay on that line anyway because there really isn't anyone that can replace him.

You need speed, be able to play defence, cycle the puck and contribute to some degree. Is there another guy on the team that can do that?

The 186th ranked forward had 33 points last year ... not a big stretch.

[Hackey]

I've been really happy with Bennett this year. Of course like everyone else I'd love to see him get rewarded on the score-sheet but he's definitely having an impact and playing with more confidence, so hopefully that eventually translates into better production. I had nearly written him off but I have renewed optimism.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Frolik and that whole line sputtered last year. He had 10 goals and 25 points total, but still had value.

That's why I picked Frolik he's a second line guy that isn't a truly productive second line player.

Wasn't trying to insert hyperbole at all.

Well you accused someone else of hyperbole while saying that Bennett is a ‘more difficult to play against’ Frolik all while dismissing the obvious difference between Frolik and Bennett- scoring. And NewEra is saying that Bennett needs to start scoring. Not even saying he has to score at a top line level, but he has to score more before you can say that his current downside is ‘a more difficult to play against’ Frolik. That is hyperbole.

Frolik for most of his career has been a .5ppg player. I’ll be very very happy if Bennett starts doing that- and I think he might with how he’s been playing.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Frolik had a serious injury last year. I don't put much stock in his season stats. I haven't looked, but it might be worth looking at what pace he was on prior to getting hurt.

Frolik is bound to slow down and score less going forward. But I guess when he calls him a ‘Frolik’ I personally take that to mean that he can have a Frolik type of career. Which he can but he’s gotta start scoring before you can say that’s what he is.

If he means that he can be the Frolik of today, which is an older player on the downside of his career, then no, I don’t think that is good enough. Frolik isn’t a top 6 player any more. Just because a team has to use him there doesn’t make them top 6 players.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Frolik had a serious injury last year. I don't put much stock in his season stats. I haven't looked, but it might be worth looking at what pace he was on prior to getting hurt.

He was on a 15 goal 33 point pace when he got hurt ... so basically teetering on the brink of worst 2nd line player, best 3rd line player in the league ... which was kind of my point.

He wasn't the offensive driver, he was the complementary player on a 2nd line.

And he was great last night actually with Neal and Ryan on a make shift third line.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Well you accused someone else of hyperbole while saying that Bennett is a ‘more difficult to play against’ Frolik all while dismissing the obvious difference between Frolik and Bennett- scoring. And NewEra is saying that Bennett needs to start scoring. Not even saying he has to score at a top line level, but he has to score more before you can say that his current downside is ‘a more difficult to play against’ Frolik. That is hyperbole.

Frolik for most of his career has been a .5ppg player. I’ll be very very happy if Bennett starts doing that- and I think he might with how he’s been playing.

I meant that Frolik has become a complimentary second line player, which I think is a role that Bennett is entering with hopefully more to come. I wasn't comparing career totals or points per game.

Hathaway is a fourth line energy player on near league minimum. I'm pretty comfortable with what is hyperbole and what is a projection comparison.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I meant that Frolik has become a complimentary second line player, which I think is a role that Bennett is entering with hopefully more to come. I wasn't comparing career totals or points per game.

Hathaway is a fourth line energy player on near league minimum. I'm pretty comfortable with what is hyperbole and what is a projection comparison.

Disagree, Frolik has always been a complimentary top 6 player and is now trending down to being a good 3rd line player. You need more than what you can get out of current Frolik for the top 6. For me the Mendoza line is pretty well .5 ppg for a top six position. Frolik was that for a long time, pretty well an ideal guy for rounding out the top 6. Hopefully Bennett gets to that point.