The Legend of Sam Bennett

[TheIronMaiden]

Makes me sad to watch Bennett be so good.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Makes me sad to watch Bennett be so good.

Not mad, just disappointed.

He needed the fresh start, he needed a team who would let him play his game in a top 6 role.

I still think Daryl would have helped changed his confidence and turn him around in Calgary but hey, I'm happy to see him likely win a cup with Florida.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Not mad, just disappointed.

He needed the fresh start, he needed a team who would let him play his game in a top 6 role.

I still think Daryl would have helped changed his confidence and turn him around in Calgary but hey, I'm happy to see him likely win a cup with Florida.

This was actually already taking shape when he was traded to Florida. It's too bad.

[CliffFletcher]

It’s not a given Bennet would have played this well if he stayed in Calgary - even with different coaching. There’s a long history of change of scenery trades changing the fortunes of a player. It often gives them a mental reset that they would never get with their original team.

[Erick Estrada]

Regardless of what happened in Calgary I'm extremely happy for Bennett. He's maybe not lived up to the expectations of a 4th overall pick but he's the very definition of a clutch playoff performer and the type of player that every cup contender needs/wants to have on their roster for the playoffs. He's simply a beast of a player this time of year.

[Roof-Daddy]

He went from being a 4th overall and highest pick in franchise history in a Canadian hockey hot bed market to a guy that was acquired with just a mid prospect and a 2nd round pick in sunbelt market where hardly anyone gives a flying EFF about any of it anyways.

Hard to say whether or not he'd be the same player here.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by jayswin

This was actually already taking shape when he was traded to Florida. It's too bad.

This. There was a good two months between request and trade, and the distance he had already travelled under Sutter had me hoping he'd rescind.

Flames should be a case study on the importance of hiring the right coach... or at the very least, not hiring the wrong coach.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I will never buy into the thinking: "It wouldn't have worked out here". In my opinion, that's a cop-out for glossing over the many mistakes that were made.


I am glad that Conroy is in charge now. I have always agreed that Bennett didn't get enough consistent opportunity in Calgary. Conroy stated as much, so it gives me hope that a mistake like this will be in the past.


I look forward to Bennett lifting a cup in Florida. He is a player that I will always root for, because he bled for this team. I saw him as a guy who did care and who did try. He just needed more patience and more opportunity. However, I am done lamenting losing him here. I am just glad that Conroy is in charge now, and hopefully there won't be any further mistakes. I like how Huska has been giving prospects opportunity after opportunity, even after they stumble with it. It gives me hope that with Conroy as the GM, and Huska as the coach, that they Flames won't be making any major blunders through this "insert whatever R word you want" era.



This is going to be extra amazing watching Tkachuk and Bennett lifting up the Cup and bathing in the sea of tears that will be Edmonton.

[Johnny Makarov]

If you take out the Oilers in the finals you are a legend! Zero pullups are forgiven! lol

[blankall]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

What on earth are you going on about?

Brayden Point is an elite talent, in another lifetime he'd be in the conversation with names like Yzerman but he is overshadowed a little by Kucherov.

Washington had two number one centers. They may have declined now, but Backstrom and Kuznetsov circa 2018 were a pipe dream down the middle.

ROR is a Selke tier center, not unlike Toews or Kopitar.

Eichel isn't elite? Huh? He's more potent and effective than... probably any single skater in Flames franchise history

We're talking about contributions from elite centres that can't be replaced from other parts of the lineup. Prime Gaudreau was doing just as much as Point. Backstrom/Kuznetsov both clearly benefited hugely from playing with the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. Once again, not an elite irreplaceable talent. Lindholm was doing the same thing when he was gelling with Gaudreau.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Mangiapane

With a healthy Monahan, this is a competitive lineup. The Flames issues did not arise from pulling the plug early on a rebuild. It was everything that happened after.

Are you stating that lineup couldn't win unless they had a Kuznetsov or a Backstrom in there too?

[8sPOT]

I thought it was going to be tough watching Bennet and Tkachuk in the Stanley Cup Finals, but no, it's actually been a treat watching them crush the dreams of the Oilers, and potentially ending their contention window.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It’s not a given Bennet would have played this well if he stayed in Calgary - even with different coaching. There’s a long history of change of scenery trades changing the fortunes of a player. It often gives them a mental reset that they would never get with their original team.

Like Sharky

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Makes me sad to watch Bennett be so good.

Some people talked about Bennett's low IQ, and some people even called him a replacement level player while he was with the Flames, but he wasn't developed yet or used properly.

I would argue Florida doesn't get to the SC without Sam Bennett. It's like an addiction, sometimes you can't get help until you recognize there's a problem. The Calgary Flames have to be better at a lot of things than they have been the last few years. At one time it was people defending management decisions, coaching decisions, or just calling Sam Bennett a lousy player; But there were those of us who believed he wasn't being given a proper opportunity, and wasn't utilized the way he needed to be. Shortly after Sam Bennett got to Florida he said he was the happiest he'd ever been. That tells you that he wasn't happy in Calgary. I believe Conroy recognizes this because he talked about giving the players more opportunities, and that he wanted them using their skills. Conroy complained and had to talk with the coach when Sharangovich, was moved down the lineup. Sam Bennett is turning out to be a fantastic player.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I really want Sam Bennett to win the US Open this weekend.

A Sam Bennett Stanley Cup Saturday and Sam Bennett US Open on Sunday would be one great weekend for Sam Bennetts.

[monkeyman]

Sam Bennett is a beast. totally mishandled here in Calgary.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by blankall

We're talking about contributions from elite centres that can't be replaced from other parts of the lineup. Prime Gaudreau was doing just as much as Point. Backstrom/Kuznetsov both clearly benefited hugely from playing with the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. Once again, not an elite irreplaceable talent. Lindholm was doing the same thing when he was gelling with Gaudreau.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Mangiapane

With a healthy Monahan, this is a competitive lineup. The Flames issues did not arise from pulling the plug early on a rebuild. It was everything that happened after.

Are you stating that lineup couldn't win unless they had a Kuznetsov or a Backstrom in there too?

Backstrom and Kuznetsov were profoundly more dynamic down the middle than Monahan. And Bennett was a winger for us, Backlund was our 2C

Pretty sure 2018 Kuznetsov actually led the Caps in playoff scoring, not Ovechkin, just going off memory.

And yes the center position is not the same as the winger position. Even as a huge Gaudreau fan, Point impacts the game in so many more ways because of positional role.

[EVERLAST]

I'm gonna be that guy....

To those.who wanted Bennett gone and fired into the sun....where are you? Honestly? You know who you are.

Gonna be pretty happy for this young fella

[Toonage]

And at 18 years of age he won't even be able to legally drink out of the cup.

[dustygoon]

Many said it was a stupid trade at the time. It still looks stupid.

"Both sides are to blame". Nah. He was improperly developed and subjected to the carousel of coaches. This is mostly on Treliving.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Many said it was a stupid trade at the time. It still looks stupid.

"Both sides are to blame". Nah. He was improperly developed and subjected to the carousel of coaches. This is mostly on Treliving.

Yep.