The Legend of Sam Bennett

[Strange Brew]

Well we know he won’t play like this in the playoffs.

Oh wait.

[Iggy Snipe]

Bennett is a good hockey player. Good on him to demand a trade and get out of Calgary before his entire career was ruined. He already looks like the 1st round pick we all thought we was, and he is now getting an opportunity of a life time playing with good players and getting real top line minutes consistently, and being used in all situations. They are treating him like a top player, and are getting the reciprocal effects of that. Sam NEVER got this treatment in Calgary. Ever.

Oh btw

Treliving, you need to be fired.

[SuperMatt18]

I’m happy for Sam.

I’m not going to dwell on the trade because honestly for the player Sam has been the last two years the return the Flames got was good but the mistake was made by previous coaches in how they used Sam.

Sam looks to be settling into role with top 6 minutes with skilled linemates playing Center in a sheltered offensive role, which he never got the chance to do here. Unfortunately this team gave that role to Monahan for the most part, and Bennett never got to play Center with skilled linemates in an offensive role.

The production is not going to last at this level because the shooting percentages are not sustainable but I think he could be a 50 point top 6 Center if used in the right situation with skilled linemates in an offensive role. While still bringing some grit and jam.

Unfortunately it feels like this organization just wanted San to be gritty and physical and forgot that he did have some offensive skill under that, he just needed the opportunity and a coach to show confidence in him.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Well we know he won’t play like this in the playoffs.

Oh wait.

Man, hold onto your butts. If playoff Bennett is superior to reg season Bennett he's a darned lock for the conn Smythe if that logic is true.

[dammage79]

Happy for Bennett. Beyond effing pissed it came to this. This was supposed to happen on the Flames.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Florida keeps rolling even without my boy Verhaeghe. Lots of depth there, fun team to watch.

Confidence is a wonderful thing, Sam is full of it right now. Interested to see how the next 400 games of his career goes.

It was always said that he was his worst enemy because he put a lot a pressure on himself and was a bit fragile because of that. Getting away from those expectations and going on this little run is the the best thing that could happen to him.

[oldschoolcalgary]

good for Sam.

Its probably a combination of factors: more talent, a great, proven coach and a change of scenery.

While he was better under Sutter, I think the team has deeper issues related to the core...its interesting as Florida wasn't exactly a great organization, but they were smart enough to hire Quenville asap when he was available and were not afraid to move on from Trochek because they didn't feel like he was the right fit.

Bennett wasn't going to play like this regularly, if he is able to maintain it, with Calgary.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by New Era

Nope, not taking the bait.

Own up to it. It is so pathetic how you behave and when faced with what at BEST is a chance that you might be wrong about Bennett (let alone completely owned) you try to stake what? A contrarian view? A denial? What is this?

You wasted so much of our server space with your drivel. You are more tedious than ever. And that comes from someone who used to defend you. Apologies if you have already admitted you might be wrong or ate the pube sandwich and I missed it.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Own up to it. It is so pathetic how you behave and when faced with what at BEST is a chance that you might be wrong about Bennett (let alone completely owned) you try to stake what? A contrarian view? A denial? What is this?

You wasted so much of our server space with your drivel. You are more tedious than ever. And that comes from someone who used to defend you. Apologies if you have already admitted you might be wrong or ate the pube sandwich and I missed it.

He did step up and offered to eat crow! I don't think it is enough, I think we need to hold him down and feed him a few magpies too!

[RedHawk12]

As long as Bennett gets regular playing time with Barkov and/or Huberdeau, he's going to be putting up some big points. Better get used to it now!

Edit: also watching Bennett do so well with Barkov and Huberdeau reinforces my belief that we need to tank and draft a Wright or Bedard. We just have never had that kind of a game-breaker.

[shadowlord]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Own up to it. It is so pathetic how you behave and when faced with what at BEST is a chance that you might be wrong about Bennett (let alone completely owned) you try to stake what? A contrarian view? A denial? What is this?

You wasted so much of our server space with your drivel. You are more tedious than ever. And that comes from someone who used to defend you. Apologies if you have already admitted you might be wrong or ate the pube sandwich and I missed it.

See post 1323

[Patek23]

Not surprised in the slightest with his output. Been saying for years that when Bennett moved on we'd see that untapped potential and he could still be a star. Sometimes people just need a change. Happy for Sam.

[Huntingwhale]

I'm glad to see Bennett doing well. I don't hold it against either Bennett or the Flames for his lack of success in Calgary vs Florida. Sometimes people just need a change. It's no different than ANY of us who have done the same during our careers; sometimes you need a change of scenery when things get stale and when you finally get that new job you have a new zest for your life and work. It happened to me recently and sometimes hockey players are no different.

Florida is lucky to have him, but that was never going to pan out that way in Calgary. Yes we saw glimpses of it at times, but those were few and far in between. Just because Bennett had PPG for the last 6 games under Sutter doesn't mean he was going to sustain it. We've all worked for groups where individually we're all good workers but as a team things seem off. That's where the Flames are at now so I'm not buying that Bennett would have found the same success here.

So I'm glad for him and rooting for him to find success in Florida. But I don't look back and think BT should be fired for how much success Benzo is having. It was never going to happen here and I'm just glad the Flames at least got something in return.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Iggy Snipe

Bennett is a good hockey player. Good on him to demand a trade and get out of Calgary before his entire career was ruined. He already looks like the 1st round pick we all thought we was, and he is now getting an opportunity of a life time playing with good players and getting real top line minutes consistently, and being used in all situations. They are treating him like a top player, and are getting the reciprocal effects of that. Sam NEVER got this treatment in Calgary. Ever.

Oh btw

Treliving, you need to be fired.

It's 6 games.

Pump the brakes on the grand declarations.

He was given opportunities on a number of occasions, didn't seize it.

[Dajazz]

Glad to see he’s doing well. He always plays great when emotion and energy is high (ie playoffs).

While I don’t think this is sustainable, he’ll be better in Florida than here so it’s a triple win.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

It's 6 games.

Pump the brakes on the grand declarations.

He was given opportunities on a number of occasions, didn't seize it.

Did he ever play as many minutes for Calgary in a seven game stretch as he's done in Florida? Curious because I can't remember it if he did. Especially as a center.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

It's 6 games.

Pump the brakes on the grand declarations.

He was given opportunities on a number of occasions, didn't seize it.

Like when? He has a few opportunities on the wing with better players, put up some points, and was promptly demoted.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

The fact that Bennett is making so much of this opportunity is a real tip of the cap to him. Gusev was also placed on the top line after he was signed but he very quickly slipped back into mediocrity.

[dissentowner]

I always believed. Remember this thread? I hope some people are ready to eat some serious crow because he will get there.
https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showth...tt#post7407275

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I always believed. Remember this thread? I hope some people are ready to eat some serious crow because he will get there.
https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showth...tt#post7407275

It's no slam dunk he ever hits 70 points. It's possible but that's a massive increase over his previous best season total of 36 points. I won't be surprised if he tops 50 or even 60 points providing he plays a top 6 role for an entire season but I think we have to take a step back here and realize this is a small sample size and there will be peaks and valleys over his next full season.