The Legend of Sam Bennett

[SportsJunky]

Sam Bennett has a hearing today with the NHL for the hit on Coleman last night. He's probably getting a game if they've called a hearing.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Sam Bennett has a hearing today with the NHL for the hit on Coleman last night. He's probably getting a game if they've called a hearing.

He should, that was targeted.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

He should, that was targeted.

As was Coleman’s hit to Barkov’s head and Wilson’s punch to the back of New York’s players head.

Parros is incompetent.

I guess Bennett’s response really should have been a blind headshot to Kucherov.

[Domoic]

Another classic Bennett --- had a goal disallowed in last nights game (bad call, IMO).

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

As was Coleman’s hit to Barkov’s head and Wilson’s punch to the back of New York’s players head.

Yup…I’m not saying otherwise.

[timbit]

For those who missed the Bennett penalty, that is being reviewed.

https://twitter.com/NHLSafetyWatch/s...13487337574401

[CliffFletcher]

All this Bennett love is overlooking one of the reasons why multiple coaches didn’t trust him - taking stupid penalties over and over and over again. Quenville will cut Bennett’s ice time if he doesn’t smarten up. And this is Sam Bennett, so the odds of him smartening up are low.

[timbit]

This is the Coleman hit on Barkov, which appears to be clean, as well as the response by Bennett.

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2174320

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Yeah, the Barkov hit wasn't egregious at all for playoff hockey. A half beat late, but you let it slide and then go hit their guys when given the chance.

You don't do what Sam did. Just dumb.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by timbit

For those who missed the Bennett penalty, that is being reviewed.

https://twitter.com/NHLSafetyWatch/s...13487337574401

That should be a lengthy suspension. Defenseless player? Check. Facing the boards? Check. Left his feet? Check. Hit him square in the numbers? Check. Zero defense of this stuff regardless of who the player is or who is being hit.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by timbit

For those who missed the Bennett penalty, that is being reviewed.

https://twitter.com/NHLSafetyWatch/s...13487337574401

I am pretty ambivalent on the whole Bennet thing. That hit was hellacious, however. My instant reaction is a 3 game suspension in the regular season. Because it is playoffs 1-2 games. NHL being the NHL (spins wheel....) 70 games or a fine.

[Robbob]

There was a lot of nastiness that game. The boarding on Duclair, the kneeing on Accari, hit on Barkov, and Bennet's boarding. If this becomes a long series then the team coming out will have paid a hell of a price. As it has been mentioned this is the MO that got Sam in the doghouse with coaches.

[Steve Bozek]

Not defending the Bennet hit. But Coleman’s hit on Barkov was clearly late, and I think a case could be made for saying it targeted the head. They both should be getting a hearing.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by UKflames

Too bad it took another team to give him confidence in his play and to use him correctly, not dropping him to the 4th line wasteland after one penalty.

See works both ways.

Still doesn't change that he has the hockey IQ of an eggplant. In 8 months this is going to become the biggest I told you so thread in CP history.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Still doesn't change that he has the hockey IQ of an eggplant. In 8 months this is going to become the biggest I told you so thread in CP history.

I think the last month it's already been the biggest I told you so thread, if it swings back the other way again, oh boy

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Still doesn't change that he has the hockey IQ of an eggplant. In 8 months this is going to become the biggest I told you so thread in CP history.

Here's hoping because it has been a ####ty 5 weeks for the Bennett haters. Finally had something to crow about with that hit on Coleman, which was a good reprieve for them after Sam got his playoff standard two points and a disallowed goal that should have been allowed.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Here's hoping because it has been a ####ty 5 weeks for the Bennett haters. Finally had something to crow about with that hit on Coleman, which was a good reprieve for them after Sam got his playoff standard two points and a disallowed goal that should have been allowed.

Nice to see you conveniently not mention the 2 MAJOR penalties he took last night that pretty cost his team a win...

"Playoff standard 2 points"!!?? Like seriously, that is some Mcdavid level loving.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Domoic

Another classic Bennett --- had a goal disallowed in last nights game (bad call, IMO).

Beauty of a goal, too. The call was okay IMO, but it was a very specific event in a very ambiguous rule. I'd prefer if it was akin to shot-follow-through not being high sticking - Bennett's interference was a direct result of directing the puck to the net with his stick.

It would be pretty tough to amend the rule to account for that, though.

Originally Posted by GioforPM

2 assists (one quite nice). +1. But two penalties, each leading to an important goal (tying goals). So it feels like a minus night for Sam.

Net even at worst.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

All this Bennett love is overlooking one of the reasons why multiple coaches didn’t trust him - taking stupid penalties over and over and over again. Quenville will cut Bennett’s ice time if he doesn’t smarten up. And this is Sam Bennett, so the odds of him smartening up are low.

Sam played 21 mins; only Barkov and Nutivarra played more.

In the context of that game, his hit wasn't particularly egregious. There were nearly a dozen dangerous boarding from behind plays (only a few were called).

Sam's hit was the most flagrant because of his speed, but nowhere near as dangerous IMO. In game 1 of 7 where whistles were in pockets, it's not a terrible risk to take. Of course, any penalty with a 1 goal lead under 10 mins isn't ideal, but it ended up being a game with 5 lead changes. I doubt many FLA fans are in hysterics about Bennett triggering that particular momentum change.


His penalty in the 2nd was fair enough, though a little ticky-tack compared to a lot of no-calls. The goal against on that PP was really bad luck...Barkov won a D-zone faceoff cleanly to Forsling, whose stick broke on receiving it. Of course there is no guarantee they kill it off, but that's just a bad break.

Tons of nice plays tonight; a deke in traffic into the slot for a good shot was a particularly high-skill play.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by timbit

For those who missed the Bennett penalty, that is being reviewed.

https://twitter.com/NHLSafetyWatch/s...13487337574401

Wow, that was horrendous. I'm cheering for Bennett and the Panthers but jesus... he should be out for a few games for that hit.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Robbob

There was a lot of nastiness that game. The boarding on Duclair, the kneeing on Accari, hit on Barkov, and Bennet's boarding. If this becomes a long series then the team coming out will have paid a hell of a price. As it has been mentioned this is the MO that got Sam in the doghouse with coaches.

I very much doubt it.

I don't think coaches are quite as nearsighted and reliant on confirmation bias as the general fan. Sam Bennett takes bad penalties sometimes. He also just generally takes penalties as a result of the way he plays the game. He was no worse for minor penalties on the Flames than guys like Backlund, Tkachuk, Gio, Andersson, or even Mangiapane (to name a few).

It's never mattered to some fans what the actual story is. The hit was definitely nasty and deserves a suspension. End of the day, though, that's the result of the way Bennett plays the game, and the way he plays the game is why he's been so popular in Florida in general and specifically with Q. As we've seen, when he's playing that way, he gets good results.

He got two points, led the team in blocks and takeaways, put up a good amount of shots and hits and was second only to Barkov for forwards icetime despite taking the two minors. There were also two other guys who took non-coincidental minors and Vatrano got a coincidental for embellishment. It's the way things go.

People talking like this is why coaches don't trust him are desperately reaching for something that makes this trade ok. Bennett just put up two points while playing a huge role in the playoffs for another team. It's tough to admit we messed up, but one bad penalty in the 3rd doesn't make it any less necessary to do so.