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

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

But I guess you're right. I'm arguing he's a 7th or 8th forward on a team. You're likely arguing he's a 6th or 7th. Not a huge difference, but no matter what that's a hugely disappointing outcome for the Calgary Flames highest drafted player ever.

I’ll never understand why people talk about a player as young as Bennett is as if hes a finished product that won’t continue to improve. Disappointing outcome? It’s still too early to judge him as a finished product. We don’t know yet what he may still become. The vast majority of players have not peaked at age 22. So shortsighted to think he’ll only ever be what’s he’s shown so far.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

Remind me again how good the 2nd PP unit has looked this year without Bennett, regardless of having the man advantage.

Bennett has been on the second unit with regularity since the last week of October. Prior to that he was on PK but not PP. Peters seems to like him on only one special team.

You are completely missing my point, anyway. His points had nothing to do with being on Backlund's line. They are pretty much a non-factor in whether he he good on that line or not. I am not advocating that he be taken off of it.

[blankall]

Bennett has had really bad luck so far this year, which seems to be recently turning around. He's hit a lot of posts, had goals taken back, and been flat out robbed. It also didn't help that Jankowski's (who Bennett had chemistry with last year) play has fallen off a cliff.

I see Bennett putting up just under 40 points this year once his shooting percentage and luck normalizes.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

give it up. Can't cry over sunk cost.

Well that was the entire point of the thread originally actually.

[David Struch]

Originally Posted by blankall

I see Bennett putting up just under 40 points this year once his shooting percentage and luck normalizes.

I doubt Sam reaches 26 points again, nevermind 36 points.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I’ll never understand why people talk about a player as young as Bennett is as if hes a finished product that won’t continue to improve. Disappointing outcome? It’s still too early to judge him as a finished product. We don’t know yet what he may still become. The vast majority of players have not peaked at age 22. So shortsighted to think he’ll only ever be what’s he’s shown so far.

That's perfectly fair response.

Counterpoint though, by the time Yakupov was traded by the Oilers, we unanimously agreed (I'm sure we wrote it down in the monthly meeting minutes) to call him a bust on CP and laugh at the Oilers expense. He was younger than Bennett is now.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

That's perfectly fair response.

Counterpoint though, by the time Yakupov was traded by the Oilers, we unanimously agreed (I'm sure we wrote it down in the monthly meeting minutes) to call him a bust on CP and laugh at the Oilers expense. He was younger than Bennett is now.

But that's different because Yakupov actually sucked, we were right, and he had no other redeeming qualities, while Bennett has lots, including grit, effort, toughness, etc.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Well, I'd say we are talking about 15 points. If an above-average complementary winger is 40 points, and Bennett is on pace for ~25 points after 2 seasons of 25 points. That's a 60% difference.

But I guess you're right. I'm arguing he's a 7th or 8th forward on a team. You're likely arguing he's a 6th or 7th. Not a huge difference, but no matter what that's a hugely disappointing outcome for the Calgary Flames highest drafted player ever.

Exactly ...

Your additional comments. I've let go his draft position a long time ago. He's a player now not a draft pick. They nailed it in 2013 and 2016 with high picks, and they have what looks to be an average player or better in all three if you include Bennett.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by David Struch

I doubt Sam reaches 26 points again, nevermind 36 points.

Boooooo

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by david struch

i doubt sam reaches 26 points again, nevermind 36 points.

ROFL! First we had Gaudreau's agent posing as a CP member trying to pump up his value. Is that you, Treliving, trying to talk down the price of Bennett's extension?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by David Struch

I doubt Sam reaches 26 points again, nevermind 36 points.

He's on a 25 point pace after last night so that's pretty bold

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Bennett has been on the second unit with regularity since the last week of October. Prior to that he was on PK but not PP. Peters seems to like him on only one special team.

You are completely missing my point, anyway. His points had nothing to do with being on Backlund's line. They are pretty much a non-factor in whether he he good on that line or not. I am not advocating that he be taken off of it.

It seems as if everyone who has played on that line except Tkachuk is having trouble finishing, and Backlund seems particularly snakebitten. I'm thinking that Backlund is likely playing hurt, and when combined with their defensive responsibilities, they are playing more the role of an elite shutdown line. Frankly, Bennett has looked much better on that line than Neal did.

[Tibnadian_tpd]

Originally Posted by Bingo

He's on a 25 point pace after last night so that's pretty bold

23.4 point pace as of now, round down to 23, or up to 25?

[I_H8_Crawford]

What I find interesting is after his first playoffs then season with the Flames under hartley, he was looking like the future top liner with the Flames.

Then GG comes in, destroys his confidence and almost ruins him.

Now Peters is working to piece him together again - hopefully he can get back to that level he was at under Hartley now that GG is gone.

I think Bennett will start producing again as he continues to regain confidence in himself.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

ROFL! First we had Gaudreau's agent posing as a CP member trying to pump up his value. Is that you, Treliving, trying to talk down the price of Bennett's extension?

Treliving doesn't need to negotiate this one. Arbitration eligible, pretty much a take it or leave it otherwise have fun getting destroyed in arbitration.

Unfortunately for Bennet's agent, how many posts he hit are not eligible to be discussed during the arbitration.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Actually, maybe arbitration would be bad for the Flames. If they need to find comparable players to Bennett and present their contracts, then the arbitrator might end up awarding him a KHL contract.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Treliving doesn't need to negotiate this one. Arbitration eligible, pretty much a take it or leave it otherwise have fun getting destroyed in arbitration.

Unfortunately for Bennet's agent, how many posts he hit are not eligible to be discussed during the arbitration.

I'm hoping he shows enough this season to get a long-term contract offer at a team-friendly cap hit. After all, we'll need the cap space to sign Tkachuk and a legit #1 or at least 1B goaltender, and it would really suck for Bennett to have a breakout season and then need to sign him for big bucks when we'll already be paying Tkachuk handsomely, not to mention the potential cap hell if Gaudreau re-signs.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

I'm hoping he shows enough this season to get a long-term contract offer at a team-friendly cap hit. After all, we'll need the cap space to sign Tkachuk and a legit #1 or at least 1B goaltender, and it would really suck for Bennett to have a breakout season and then need to sign him for big bucks when we'll already be paying Tkachuk handsomely, not to mention the potential cap hell if Gaudreau re-signs.

Would like to see him get a similar contract to alex tuch in LV.

Pay him around 3-4 and get him locked in for 7 or 8 years and you've made a killing if he continues to improve.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Would like to see him get a similar contract to alex tuch in LV.

Pay him around 3-4 and get him locked in for 7 or 8 years and you've made a killing if he continues to improve.

8 years at 3 per would be outstanding!

I would even take 7 at 3 per or 8 at 3.5.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

8 years at 3 per would be outstanding!

I would even take 7 at 3 per or 8 at 3.5.

He should get at least Ryan money, and probably closer to frolik money and if shorter term then backlund money.

But it hinges on him continuing to play well the last 3/4 of the season like he has for the first 1/4