What if Sam Bennett has another good playoff performance?

[kurwamac]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

To me, this team needs guys who care about winning and perform at the most important time of the year. I should rephrase that - this team needs more guys who can execute at the most important time of the year. I’m sure others care, but they seem to struggle hugely when the stakes get raised.

This team needs less money tied up in players who vanish during key times. Give Bennett the ice time/role he’s actively earning right now and he’ll prove he’s pretty damn good value - and we have next season to see that come to fruition, so no risk there.

Bennett has 7 points in 8 playoff games while playing 4-6 minutes less per game than others who have produced similarly/more around the league. Ignore that type of production during key times at your own peril.

The question is where is his drop off? His value has to be high right now. The risk is, you hold onto him, he flops next season and playoffs. So yes there absolutely is risk.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kurwamac

The question is where is his drop off? His value has to be high right now. The risk is, you hold onto him, he flops next season and playoffs. So yes there absolutely is risk.

There is risk with every single player. So trade them all?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Or teams that fail to make the playoffs.

Teams that fail to make the playoffs need to get better as a team. No one except Edmonton blames their 14th highest paid player for missing the playoffs.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Teams that fail to make the playoffs need to get better as a team. No one except Edmonton blames their 14th highest paid player for missing the playoffs.

Is he not part of the team that needs to get better in this scenario? Or is this special Sam that is beyond criticism even though he contributes very little to regular season success? I mean one would think that players on pace for 19 point seasons aren't exactly celebrated by their own, but instead looked at to be improved upon if even from that same player. Maybe that's just me though.

And you'll have to excuse me I must have missed the post you are referring too....who is blaming him for anything?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Is he not part of the team that needs to get better in this scenario? * Or is this special Sam that is beyond criticism even though he contributes very little to regular season success? I mean one would think that players on pace for 19 point seasons aren't exactly celebrated by their own, but instead looked at to be improved upon if even from that same player. Maybe that's just me though.

And you'll have to excuse me I must have missed the post you are referring too....who is blaming him for anything?

* Um... the Flames made the playoffs

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Is he not part of the team that needs to get better in this scenario? Or is this special Sam that is beyond criticism even though he contributes very little to regular season success? I mean one would think that players on pace for 19 point seasons aren't exactly celebrated by their own, but instead looked at to be improved upon if even from that same player. Maybe that's just me though.

And you'll have to excuse me I must have missed the post you are referring too....who is blaming him for anything?

Who said he was beyond criticism or that his 19 points last season were being celebrated?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

* Um... the Flames made the playoffs

Quite aware of that...thanks tips. You might want to follow the conversation a little closer though.

I will say this...and maybe people forget cause it was long ago...but had the stoppage never happened, this club was far from guaranteed a playoff spot. In fact they were in a fight for their playoff lives. Part of that struggle was Bennett who was contributing next to nothing (not the only guy but certainly part of it)....and is that not who this entire thread is about?

It's remarkable to me that a guy who averages 29 points a season has people doing mental gymnastics to defend him as the second coming himself because he has been tremendous in the playoffs. Its just weird.

Hopefully this time (6th times a charm right?) he figures out how to play in the regular season (cause again you need to get into the playoffs to perform well in them) and earns not just his current salary but a healthy raise. But if there are people that are hesitant that it happens, you can hardly blame them based of Sams very own history.

[AustinL_NHL]

Glad to know we care more about regular season stats than we do playoff stats.

I guess when you're a fan of a team that's had next to no success in the playoffs for the last 30+ years outside of one run, you tend to toss individual playoff success aside and care more about how players perform in the regular season.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Quite aware of that...thanks tips. You might want to follow the conversation a little closer though.

I will say this...and maybe people forget cause it was long ago...but had the stoppage never happened, this club was far from guaranteed a playoff spot. In fact they were in a fight for their playoff lives. Part of that struggle was Bennett who was contributing next to nothing (not the only guy but certainly part of it)....and is that not who this entire thread is about?

It's remarkable to me that a guy who averages 29 points a season has people doing mental gymnastics to defend him as the second coming himself because he has been tremendous in the playoffs. Its just weird.

Hopefully this time (6th times a charm right?) he figures out how to play in the regular season (cause again you need to get into the playoffs to perform well in them) and earns not just his current salary but a healthy raise. But if there are people that are hesitant that it happens, you can hardly blame them based of Sams very own history.

oh there are people doing mental gymnastics alright

[transplant99]

Holy crap...its like people dont even try and follow.

Enjoy.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Teams that fail to make the playoffs need to get better as a team. No one except Edmonton blames their 14th highest paid player for missing the playoffs.

Originally Posted by transplant99

Is he not part of the team that needs to get better in this scenario?

Haha. You are challenging my ability to read?

Maybe you don’t understand what you wrote.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

oh there are people doing mental gymnastics alright

I'll get ya started.....and self-awareness is a good thing. Good for you.

Did you know that Sam Bennett is just fine as a finisher?

LOL

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Haha. You are challenging my ability to read?

Maybe you don’t understand what you wrote.

Eh?...in the scenario that a team misses the playoffs the 14 highest scorer is not to blame apparently....thats what i was responding too.

In the flames case, it would be Sam Bennett if this team missed...yes or no?

So again....what?

[Enoch Root]

Zing, you got me!

Bennett has 11 goals in 28 playoff games. That's a 32 goal pace.

Monahan has 10
Gaudreau has 7
Backlund has 6

now consider TOI and PP opportunities

[Roof-Daddy]

Bennett being great in the playoffs is excellent, but it does the Flames little good if they miss the playoffs in part because Bennett doesn't show up in the regular season.

If this is Bennett's coming out party and he's going to be like this all the time, great...let's keep him.

If not though, best to sell high on him while you have the opportunity.

I'm glad it's not my job to figure out which one it is.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Bennett being great in the playoffs is excellent, but it does the Flames little good if they miss the playoffs in part because Bennett doesn't show up in the regular season.

If this is Bennett's coming out party and he's going to be like this all the time, great...let's keep him.

If not though, best to sell high on him while you have the opportunity.

I'm glad it's not my job to figure that out.

And has been said about 50 times already: let's actually give him that opportunity, at C, with decent line-mates, before selling high

and even if his regular season numbers remain sub-par, I still want him for the playoffs. Because, again, the Flames are a playoff team. And if they aren't next year, their problems are WAY bigger than Bennett.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Zing, you got me!

Bennett has 11 goals in 28 playoff games. That's a 32 goal pace.

Monahan has 10
Gaudreau has 7
Backlund has 6

Oooh boy.

Yup...you win.

Now do regular season where i am arguing that he does very little to actually get the team to the playoffs where he can then perform as he has...as i have stated repeatedly. I mean whats the point of having a playoff specialist of you dont even make the playoffs? Something that was extremely possible this very year.

But carry on....bringing up how much you pay a guy who is a playoff beast but is replacement level during the regular season is far too much for many to handle apparently.

Funny thing is...im not even advocating getting rid of him or whatever. Just trying to parse what his cap hit is/should be. Bingo thinks he is a million overpaid, but makes up for that with other things. I disagree with that and have explained why.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And has been said about 50 times already: let's actually give him that opportunity, at C, with decent line-mates, before selling high

and even if his regular season numbers remain sub-par, I still want him for the playoffs. Because, again, the Flames are a playoff team. And if they aren't next year, their problems are WAY bigger than Bennett.

Lets give everyone better line mates then...and everyone will be better....right?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Oooh boy.

Yup...you win.

Now do regular season where i am arguing that he does very little to actually get the team to the playoffs where he can then perform as he has...as i have stated repeatedly. I mean whats the point of having a playoff specialist of you dont even make the playoffs? Something that was extremely possible this very year.

But carry on....bringing up how much you pay a guy who is a playoff beast but is replacement level during the regular season is far too much for many to handle apparently.

Funny thing is...im not even advocating getting rid of him or whatever. Just trying to parse what his cap hit is. Bingo thinks he is a million overpaid, but makes up for that with other things. I disagree with that and have explained why.

As Bingo already stated, his ability to exceed his pay grade in the playoffs makes up for his inability to earn his salary in the regular season. Clearly, all of us supporting Bennett here feel that way. You don't. Nothing new is being presented, so why are you getting so worked up about it and trying to imply that no one else is following the conversation?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Lets give everyone better line mates then...and everyone will be better....right?

let's give our second leading playoff scorer over a five year span better linemates than the perennially absolute worst players on our roster in the regular season at the expense of players who produce less in the playoffs than he does.