Practice Notes - December 30, 2019

[Bingo]

I'm with Strange Brew on this one ...

Bennett is a bottom six player in Calgary, and whether you like the team's depth or not, it makes more sense to cycle these players on a rotation then have your 13th and 14th forwards go cold and become ineffective in case they're needed.

Bennett is a lightning rod between those that think he's been ripped off and those that want to call him replacement level - I'm in neither camp.

But the way he's played this year, and the circumstances (injured for a good spell) means he's certainly not beyond taking a sit down on a rotation.

Hoping playoff Bennett is the guy we see when he gets his next chance.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm with Strange Brew on this one ...

Bennett is a bottom six player in Calgary, and whether you like the team's depth or not, it makes more sense to cycle these players on a rotation then have your 13th and 14th forwards go cold and become ineffective in case they're needed.

Bennett is a lightning rod between those that think he's been ripped off and those that want to call him replacement level - I'm in neither camp.

But the way he's played this year, and the circumstances (injured for a good spell) means he's certainly not beyond taking a sit down on a rotation.

Hoping playoff Bennett is the guy we see when he gets his next chance.

If 'playoff Bennett' was 'all the time Bennett' or even 'half the time Bennett' the Flames have the player they wanted when they called his name 4th overall and we're not having these discussions.

Unfortunately during the regular season we nearly always get 'where is Bennett'.

[bdubbs]

Playoff Bennett only works because they don't call nearly as many stick infractions in the playoffs as they do during the regular season. He's ineffective because he can't play his game how he wants to.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

Playoff Bennett only works because they don't call nearly as many stick infractions in the playoffs as they do during the regular season. He's ineffective because he can't play his game how he wants to.

Stick infractions isn't what prevents Bennett from playing the way he wants to.

I doubt Bennett thinks to himself before a playoff game 'sweet, now I get to trip a guy 80 ft from my own net'.

He takes dumb penalties because he is out of position. He doesn't know where to go or where he's supposed to be.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TOfan

If 'playoff Bennett' was 'all the time Bennett' or even 'half the time Bennett' the Flames have the player they wanted when they called his name 4th overall and we're not having these discussions.

Unfortunately during the regular season we nearly always get 'where is Bennett'.

Not true.

This year he's been off. But in the previous seasons he's up the list for chance generation, hits, fights ... but doesn't finish.

He'll never be the star that he was envisioned to be when taken 4th overall, but regular season Bennett has been just fine as a 2nd / 3rd line tweener over the past three seasons.

This year though ... not the same player.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not true.

This year he's been off. But in the previous seasons he's up the list for chance generation, hits, fights ... but doesn't finish.

He'll never be the star that he was envisioned to be when taken 4th overall, but regular season Bennett has been just fine as a 2nd / 3rd line tweener over the past three seasons.

This year though ... not the same player.

Sure. He's an NHL player, if you look hard enough I'm sure you will find he does do some things adequately.

From what we've seen so far this year (small sample size etc etc) would the Flames see a big drop, if any, if they dealt Bennett and replaced him with Rinaldo?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Sure. He's an NHL player, if you look hard enough I'm sure you will find he does do some things adequately.

From what we've seen so far this year (small sample size etc etc) would the Flames see a big drop, if any, if they dealt Bennett and replaced him with Rinaldo?

So you want to make that decision on what you've seen this year? Or do you want to look into the last three or four years for both Bennett and Rinaldo?

I know where I'm leaning.

I'm fine in moving on from Bennett in a good hockey trade. I'm not down for that if it's a shed him for nothing and promote a tweener to take his place.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not true.



This year he's been off. But in the previous seasons he's up the list for chance generation, hits, fights ... but doesn't finish.



He'll never be the star that he was envisioned to be when taken 4th overall, but regular season Bennett has been just fine as a 2nd / 3rd line tweener over the past three seasons.



This year though ... not the same player.

The only year he’s produced like a 2-3rd line player was his first year. He may of been playing on the 3rd line the last few but he’s been producing like a 4th line replacement level player. It’s kind of sad that Kris Versteeg had a better season with the flames in 16/17 than any of Bennett’s season to date. He’s not a tweener, imo he’s a plug.

We’ve all been waiting for Bennett to turn the corner, but the problem is he hasn’t learned anything. He still tries that dumbass toe drag, plays routinely die on his stick, he still takes dumb penalties, and he has not developed a shot. If we are comparing to Mangiapane, when was the last time Bennett made a pass like the one Mangi made to Tkachuk vs the Oilers. He’s gotten worse every single season. For a player whose biggest attribute when drafted was his tenacity he really hasn’t shown any tenacity to learn how to play the game the right way in the NHL.




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[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

So you want to make that decision on what you've seen this year? Or do you want to look into the last three or four years for both Bennett and Rinaldo?

I know where I'm leaning.

I'm fine in moving on from Bennett in a good hockey trade. I'm not down for that if it's a shed him for nothing and promote a tweener to take his place.

For sure it has to be a good hockey trade and Bennett is the better player. I just think Bennett has likely been passed, or soon will be, by Dube & Mangiapane.

It seems like the only coach who has been able to get the most out of Bennett consistently was Peters. There probably are teams out there who would like to get their hands on him.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Bennett doesn't have to score to be an effective player for Calgary, but he does need to play with some passion and a bit of an edge.

there were regular season games last year, like the first BOA game or the game versus Minnesota, where he flashed some passion...

that's what is needed from Bennett... Not being able to translate scoring from junior to the NHL is understandable; not playing with some GAS has been his problem imo.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Beninho

The only year he’s produced like a 2-3rd line player was his first year. He may of been playing on the 3rd line the last few but he’s been producing like a 4th line replacement level player. It’s kind of sad that Kris Versteeg had a better season with the flames in 16/17 than any of Bennett’s season to date. He’s not a tweener, imo he’s a plug.

We’ve all been waiting for Bennett to turn the corner, but the problem is he hasn’t learned anything. He still tries that dumbass toe drag, plays routinely die on his stick, he still takes dumb penalties, and he has not developed a shot. If we are comparing to Mangiapane, when was the last time Bennett made a pass like the one Mangi made to Tkachuk vs the Oilers. He’s gotten worse every single season. For a player whose biggest attribute when drafted was his tenacity he really hasn’t shown any tenacity to learn how to play the game the right way in the NHL.

Sorry man but that's just a made up fact.

If you take forwards that played more than 425 minutes last year which gives you 370 (370/31 is roughly 12 per team), and then look at production per 60 minutes, Bennett was ranked as a 6.5 forward last year.

That's right between the 2nd and 3rd lines.

You can not like Bennett. You can be disappointed in his not turning into the player we hoped he would be. But enough of the false replacement player narrative.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TOfan

For sure it has to be a good hockey trade and Bennett is the better player. I just think Bennett has likely been passed, or soon will be, by Dube & Mangiapane.

It seems like the only coach who has been able to get the most out of Bennett consistently was Peters. There probably are teams out there who would like to get their hands on him.

Agreed.

Mangipane and Dube have both stepped into the planned Bennett role, and are to some extent running with it.

Mangipane looks arrived to me. Dube though is still very Bennett-esque in his up and down performances ... which is fine given his age.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Agreed.

Mangipane and Dube have both stepped into the planned Bennett role, and are to some extent running with it.

Mangipane looks arrived to me. Dube though is still very Bennett-esque in his up and down performances ... which is fine given his age.

Honestly, it wouldn't be shocking to hear, after the fact if it comes to fruition, that Bennett may have approached the Flames and have said 'if there's a chance, we would welcome a move'.

Burke was on the radio recently talking about how ill advised it is for young players under team control to go public with trade demands. The Flames keeping Bennett out might be a sign discussions are being had. Pure speculation on my part, obviously.

[Toonage]

Someone with a better memory can assist me here but my understanding was that Bennett's agent did in fact approach Flames management about his usage there maybe a year or two ago. Friedman (or the like) reported on it.

[calculoso]

Looks like Bennett gets a chance tonight

https://twitter.com/fan960steinberg/...267533825?s=21

#Flames# projected tonight vs. Chicago:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Bennett-Monahan-Backlund
Lucic-Ryan-Gaudreau
Rinaldo-Rieder-Frolik

Giordano-Andersson
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Stone

Rittich

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Looks like Bennett gets a chance tonight

https://twitter.com/fan960steinberg/...267533825?s=21

#Flames# projected tonight vs. Chicago:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Bennett-Monahan-Backlund
Lucic-Ryan-Gaudreau
Rinaldo-Rieder-Frolik

Giordano-Andersson
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Stone

Rittich

Good. Let's hope he does something with it.

[SeanCharles]

Would be nice:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Bennett-Monahan-Gaudreau
Rieder-Backlund-Frolik
Lucic-Ryan-Rinaldo

[Stanley]

They should bring back Bennett/Backlund/Frolik

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Stanley

They should bring back Bennett/Backlund/Frolik

I like this idea too.

Why not move Rieder to 2RW with Gaudreau & Monahan? Backlund-esque. He's quick, defensive, doesn't produce a whole lot (I kid, I kid)

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Gaudreau-Monahan-Rieder
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Rinaldo-Ryan-Lucic

4L is a mess, but maybe in a bench shortening situation the top 9 works?

[SeanCharles]

If they are really pressing for the defensive support thing on the Monahan line they should perhaps see if the following would work considering he and Johnny have show chemistry in the past:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ryan
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Lucic-Rieder-Rinaldo

I get that Lucic is better with a RH center but we have bigger problems than worrying about Lucic’s ideal pivot.