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

[stemit14]

Went under the radar a bit but I’m pretty sure Bennett had another big open ice hit last night... I think it was against Ehlers. The flames scored shortly after that. Funny that the jets didn’t seem to respond to it at all. Didn’t seem to go after him for it... in fact, they didn’t seem to respond with any physicality or attitude despite the flames dominating them in the 1st. I wonder if that was a message from the Jets’ coaching staff: not to get the flames riled up cause it would just play into Tkachuk’s hands the way Edmonton lost their cool because of him and Bennett. Similar to the message opposing coaches used to give when the flames had iginla... “don’t go after him, don’t get physical on him, don’t beak at him... don’t wake the beast.”

Bennett is becoming a physical force out there and is starting to put up points as well. He’s looking great on that second line. Hoping he has a big offensive night soon cause he deserves it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah that's my brain fart sorry ...

The rest seems a bit touchy. Are you sure you want him to succeed?

I mean I don't have his jersey, I don't cheer for individual players, but having Sam Bennett return to the land of the living is a pretty good thing for the team isn't it?

For two years I've seen Sam Bennett's development as one of the single biggest things in pushing this team forward. I'm personally happy it's happening to any degree.

I think it is more that some people care more about being right than about what is good for the Flames.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

I also agree with the sentiment that it looks like Gulutzan held him back far more than anyone realized. Thank god that period is over

That is starting to look like the biggest mistake Treliving has made as Flames GM was hiring and keeping Gulutzan around for 2 years.

I remember debating with a lot of posters last summer about how Dougie was the guy we needed to move. Most of the people against were pushing for Brodie and Bennett to be shown the door to upgrade our top 6. Dougie was always going to get us more (the trade has been fantastic for Calgary so far) and I believed that Brodie and Bennett would be better with a new coach and different role.

I always wanted to see Bennett and Tkachuk together and glad Peters has made the move.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think it is more that some people care more about being right than about what is good for the Flames.

Then again, if you stay positive about the team and it's players you can be right and the Flames succeed.

[robertsfanatic]

Is this poll still open? because I vote for awesome

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

That is starting to look like the biggest mistake Treliving has made as Flames GM was hiring and keeping Gulutzan around for 2 years.

I remember debating with a lot of posters last summer about how Dougie was the guy we needed to move. Most of the people against were pushing for Brodie and Bennett to be shown the door to upgrade our top 6. Dougie was always going to get us more (the trade has been fantastic for Calgary so far) and I believed that Brodie and Bennett would be better with a new coach and different role.

I always wanted to see Bennett and Tkachuk together and glad Peters has made the move.

Gulutzan almost single-handedly tried to ruin the careers of Bennett, Brodie and Hamonic, but they all seem to be doing just fine away from him.

and in fact even Troy Brouwer has been remarkably not an AHL level player down in florida this season away from Gully.

GG's player usage is really looking like a glaring fault and probably why he won't get another chance as a head coach in the NHL.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Gulutzan almost single-handedly tried to ruin the careers of Bennett, Brodie and Hamonic, but they all seem to be doing just fine away from him.

and in fact even Troy Brouwer has been remarkably not an AHL level player down in florida this season away from Gully.

GG's player usage is really looking like a glaring fault and probably why he won't get another chance as a head coach in the NHL.

Brodie looked like an all star yesterday. I’m almost angry that we lost two years of that pairing.

[Bunk]

Kudos to the organization to have patience. He seems like he is starting to find his game and the style he needs to play to be successful.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

That is starting to look like the biggest mistake Treliving has made as Flames GM was hiring and keeping Gulutzan around for 2 years.

I remember debating with a lot of posters last summer about how Dougie was the guy we needed to move. Most of the people against were pushing for Brodie and Bennett to be shown the door to upgrade our top 6. Dougie was always going to get us more (the trade has been fantastic for Calgary so far) and I believed that Brodie and Bennett would be better with a new coach and different role.

I always wanted to see Bennett and Tkachuk together and glad Peters has made the move.

I think both a coaching change and some roster moves were required for this team to take the next step.

The top 6 just wasn't good enough. The addition of Lindholm and hopefully Neal (though it hasn't happened yet) addresses that.

The Hamilton thing I just don't get. But it seems like, for whatever reason, the Flames wanted to and perhaps needed to - move on from him.

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Gulutzan almost single-handedly tried to ruin the careers of Bennett, Brodie and Hamonic, but they all seem to be doing just fine away from him.

and in fact even Troy Brouwer has been remarkably not an AHL level player down in florida this season away from Gully.

GG's player usage is really looking like a glaring fault and probably why he won't get another chance as a head coach in the NHL.

And he also told Ferland he shouldn't be "running around" when we were in the playoffs. Just an awful head coach.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by LIP MAN

And he also told Ferland he shouldn't be "running around" when we were in the playoffs. Just an awful head coach.

Hey you know that thing you do that singlehandley won us a playoff series? Don’t do that thing.

[transplant99]

The guys on Hockey Central were just discussing young Sam and it was an interesting back and forth.

Kypreos basically saying that Bennett is going to want to get paid when he looks at those guys around him in his draft and what they are earning. But he cant expect to be paid because he isnt putting up the points because he hasnt had the opportunity (which is not exactly true). there was some inference that he may want to go elsewhere so he can be "the guy".

Which brings me full circle back to a part of this debate i brought up a few weeks ago.

What does this guy get paid after this season? What if he wants 5 million a year because he is doing everything being asked of him (other than production thus far) and accepting a role that wont really see him get all the prime scenarios to put up big points. Injuries will still probably help answer this question before all is said and done this season....one way or the other.

[Toonage]

2 x $3M

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by transplant99

The guys on Hockey Central were just discussing young Sam and it was an interesting back and forth.

Kypreos basically saying that Bennett is going to want to get paid when he looks at those guys around him in his draft and what they are earning. But he cant expect to be paid because he isnt putting up the points because he hasnt had the opportunity (which is not exactly true). there was some inference that he may want to go elsewhere so he can be "the guy".

Which brings me full circle back to a part of this debate i brought up a few weeks ago.

What does this guy get paid after this season? What if he wants 5 million a year because he is doing everything being asked of him (other than production thus far) and accepting a role that wont really see him get all the prime scenarios to put up big points. Injuries will still probably help answer this question before all is said and done this season....one way or the other.

I think he gets the Backlund treatment. 2-3 year prove it contracts until he signs a big long term deal at 25...$3.5-4M MAX bridge next year.

[MacDaddy77]

I'd be happy with Bennett at 5 yrs $4MM/yr.

shows him commitment from the team with a significant bump in salary and if he keeps trending could be a steal.

If needed trade Frolik and there's money for Bennett. We have kids in the minors that can step into these bottom 6 roles.

[Strange Brew]

Luckily there is zero reason to sign Bennett to a new contract today and we get to see how he plays over a full season.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, one of the longest running themes last year was the debate about the primary problem with the team: the Gulutzan effect, or a lack of talent?

Obviously there was always some of both, but IMO, a lot of guys were playing nowhere near their potential. Bennett, Brodie and Hamonic are all completely different players this year, and their resurgence is a huge factor in why the team looks so much more talented. Obviously, adding guys like Lindholm is a huge factor as well. But the Gulutzan factor cannot be overstated.

I would argue that Giordano, Monahan, Gaudreau, and Tkachuk are all playing better than last year as well (though Monahan and Gaudreau were really good until injuries derailed the line).

Gulutzan sucked all the air out of this team. Peters revived it. And trading Hamilton for Lindholm has obviously been huge as well.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Luckily there is zero reason to sign Bennett to a new contract today and we get to see how he plays over a full season.

Exactly. And the best problem we could have is that he earns himself a huge raise.

[Huntingwhale]

I looked away from the TV for a moment during the Jets' game, and Hrudey was going on about how Bennett laid out a massive hit on a Jets' player. I don't recall seeing it on the replay. Anybody capture that moment?

Nice to see him putting up points and working his way up the lineup. Definitely the feel good player of the season. I can't remember that last time I was rooting hard for a player to break out in a big way, and it's fun to watch.

[automaton 3]

^If it was the hit I'm thinking about, Bennett took a pretty good run but didn't quite connect like he did on Nurse.