2019-2020 Stats:
In 52 games: 8 goals + 4 assists = 12 points, 101 hits.
In 10 playoff games: 5 goals + 3 assists = 8 points, 54 hits (with a torn triceps)
I was literally able to put more highlights together from his 10 playoff games than from his 52 regular season games... Which says a lot about both his regular seasons as it does his playoffs. Frankly, this is likely the deciding year for him with the Flames on a couple of fronts. It's a contract year for Bennett and I believe he's UFA eligible as of 2022... so a short term extension is likely off the table. Plus the Seattle expansion considerations are obviously huge.
I would love to see him paired with Dube all year, or even Backlund again depending how Ward chooses to utilize Bennett or Lindholm at centre possibly as has been suggested this off-season.
Plan is for Monahan next, then Backlund, Gio, Lucic, and Gaudreau.
Watching this video, with him at centre, just watch at how much more ice he covers/how well he tracks the play and gets engaged.
Geoff Ward emphatically stating “Centre.” when he was asked “Where do you see Sam Bennett playing next season?” is exactly what we need to see. Hearing Connie say that he and Tree have both always viewed Bennett as a centre was also interesting.
A full (shortened) season at centre with solid wingers (Lucic + Dube has to be re-visited) is going to be fantastic.
He also pretty clearly tips the puck on the way to the net on Dube’s game 4 goal against Winnipeg which he didn’t get credit for - so it should be 9 points in 10 games.
My favourite Flame, and I’m ridiculously excited to watch him come out motivated to establish himself as a centre during a contract year.
(and no Bennett highlight reel would be complete without Bennett setting up Jankowski with a great chance, only for Jankowski to miss the net entirely...and it’s in there late in the WPG footage)
Thanks AC!
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to ComixZone For This Useful Post:
This is the guy that has to show up this coming season. If this guy shows up, we have an important player that can contribute to a winner. If its the guy from the other video, move the hell on as fast as you can. This guy is fun to watch. Another couple of things of note, Lucic was a different player from the regular season and Dube is just a beaut of a player. I think Dube is the straw that stirs the drink here, but that is open for debate. Bennett has to play like this to find his way to center and bump a player like Backlund if he's going to be a long term Flame. That, or learn to play wing with this level of intensity.
I agree with the sentiments here.
Keeping that line together seems to give us the best of Bennett and Lucic. It is a no brainer to keep them together this season.
Remaining questions:
Do we re-org the top 6? How can we improve the top line? Where does Leivo fit??
This is the guy that has to show up this coming season. If this guy shows up, we have an important player that can contribute to a winner. If its the guy from the other video, move the hell on as fast as you can. This guy is fun to watch. Another couple of things of note, Lucic was a different player from the regular season and Dube is just a beaut of a player. I think Dube is the straw that stirs the drink here, but that is open for debate. Bennett has to play like this to find his way to center and bump a player like Backlund if he's going to be a long term Flame. That, or learn to play wing with this level of intensity.
Is there really anything wrong if Bennett continues to put up about 25-30 points in the regular season and puts up just below a point per game in the playoffs?
Keeps his salary low and is a secret weapon come the most important time of the year.
The Following User Says Thank You to MrMike For This Useful Post:
Keep him at centre with Lucic on his line...the 3rd player on that line can be interchanged (e.g. Dube, Simon, Nordstrom, Leivo). Need Bennett to be an impact player in both the regular and post seasons. He can't play like he did in the playoffs for 82 games, but he can be a net positive player on more nights in the regular season. Hoping an extended regular season look at him at centre illustrates this.
Keeping Bennett at center will be a net benefit for him and his game during the regular season. Sounded like Ward plans on keeping him at center anyway so I expect Bennett to be a better producer this year.
Letting Janko walk was the best thing to happen for Bennett more than anybody else.
[Video] Bennett's 2019/2020 Highlights - Playoffs
