Sam Bennett/Kingston Frontenacs discussion

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by TheCommodoreAfro

Us old guys remember Doug Gilmour. The comparison is almost perfect. I haven't seen that kind of Tasmanian devil pugnaciousness on a player since then. No quit, just like "killer" was.

While I appreciate the comparison to Gilmour, Bennett reminds me even more of Bobby Clarke:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...y.php?pid=1019

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

While I appreciate the comparison to Gilmour, Bennett reminds me even more of Bobby Clarke:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...y.php?pid=1019

l don't know about that. When I think Bobby Clark, I think talented but dirty player. Never liked Clark... Especially after he purposely slashed and broke Vharlimov's ankle to get him out of the game and tournament. Just plain dirty win at any cost type player.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

While I appreciate the comparison to Gilmour, Bennett reminds me even more of Bobby Clarke:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...y.php?pid=1019

Bobby Clarke was just a big mouth midget, talented YES but a real arsehole that I hope Sam doesn't become.

I hope Bennett molds his own identity, and there's plenty of former stars to compare this kid too, Playing style? Brent Sutter or Jeremy Roenick are my picks.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Rerun

l don't know about that. When I think Bobby Clark, I think talented but dirty player. Never liked Clark... Especially after he purposely slashed and broke Vharlimov's ankle to get him out of the game and tournament. Just plain dirty win at any cost type player.

I think you mean Kharlamov. "The Slash" was at the request of John Ferguson and not Clarke's idea.

[flamesfan55]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Random guess at a starting lineup next season:

Colborne-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Ferland-Shore-Jooris

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Wotherspoon-Engelland

Ortio

Would similar to that but, Ortio will not be the starter over Hiller or Ramo and they will have some off season signings.

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Random guess at a starting lineup next season:

Colborne-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Ferland-Shore-Jooris

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Wotherspoon-Engelland

Ortio

I would say you have all the right forwards penciled in. And when you look at whats on the farm for young forwards... yikes! You can maybe put Carroll in place of Jones if he is ready but none of the other young guys will ever get a sniff..

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Random guess at a starting lineup next season:

Colborne-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Ferland-Shore-Jooris

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Wotherspoon-Engelland

Ortio

I think Poirier will continue to marinate in the AHL (until Jones is off-loaded)
I think one of Raymond or Stajan will stay in the line-up next year and one of Wolf or Ferland will make the club. Byron will also be in the mix.

On D I think you are spot-on, with Smid or Diaz as the 7th.

In goal I think we off-load Hiller this off-season


So basically, I see it as:

Gaudreau Monahan Hudler
Bouma Backlund Jones
Bennett Shore Jooris
Ferland Stajan Colborne
Byron

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

I would say you have all the right forwards penciled in. And when you look at whats on the farm for young forwards... yikes! You can maybe put Carroll in place of Jones if he is ready but none of the other young guys will ever get a sniff..

?

Why would you think it is necessary to add more rookies to the roster next season? Three is plenty.

I'm not sure why you're worried about added depth that is on the farm either. Arnold and Granlund both look like promising forwards to add in the next year or two. And then there will also be Klimchuk and Jankowski turning pro in the next two years. Virtually every one of these four—and probably several others—are guaranteed to "get a sniff."

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I think you mean Kharlimov. "The Slash" was at the request of John Ferguson and not Clarke's idea.

I think you both mean Kharlamov.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I think you mean Kharlamov. "The Slash" was at the request of John Ferguson and not Clarke's idea.

Yeah, but Clarke then did it, on purpose, to take the guy our of the game. That just makes them both a-holes.

I would hope if Hartley told Monahan to break someone's leg and take them out of the game Monnie would say no.

[Locke]

Guys, this is hockey in 2015 not 1972, the sport has changed completely since then.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yeah, but Clarke then did it, on purpose, to take the guy our of the game. That just makes them both a-holes.

I would hope if Hartley told Monahan to break someone's leg and take them out of the game Monnie would say no.

Different situation.

That summit series was pretty much a true battle between two nations.

You can't compare anything to that IMO.

[Gaudfather]

Some excerpts from a Kingston Whig article on Bennett's performance last night. Both Treliving and Conroy were at the game. Also nice to see Bennett has teammates that have his back.


"Chief among them was that Bennett's timing is getting better each game.
Craig Conroy, the Flames assistant general manager who was at the game along with general manager Brad Treliving, noted that in saying Bennett had a really strong game.
"It's tough when you have been out that long. I know all about that," Conroy said. "You could see it coming. His timing is not quite there."
"The timing is a little off. The hands are little slow. But I think that happens after not playing for five months," Bennett said."

"McFarland said it will take a little bit for the Bennett line — he was playing with Spencer Watson and Lawson Crouse — to get their chemistry going.
"Sam will get better with each and every game. He is such a competitor on the ice. He's got to continue to lead that way for us," McFarland said."

"Bennett didn't know Treliving or Conroy were at the game until they made a visit to the dressing room before game time.
"It was a nice surprise," said Bennett, who then went out and had a whale of a first period."

"Before Bennett’s first goal, Mississauga's Damian Bourne tried to take Bennett out with a high hit that could have easily been called for a head shot. A few shifts later, after Bennett had scored on a power play, Cody Caron engaged Bourne in a mammoth scrap."

"Bennett gave a pat to Caron when he was leaving the game.
"That's awesome stuff. I'm so proud of Caron. When you have guys like that on your team that just makes you more confident," Bennett said.
"It lets players like myself be able to play my game. It shows (Caron's) character. I owe him breakfast after that one."
Bennett, in his much heralded return to the OHL, is a bit of a marked player. He realizes that."

http://www.thewhig.com/2015/03/04/fr...ter-steelheads

[getbak]

6 points in 4 games and he still doesn't have his timing back.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Different situation.

That summit series was pretty much a true battle between two nations.

You can't compare anything to that IMO.

It was still a sporting event. I'm fine if he plays tough or delivers some sort of borderline check or fights with him. He slashed the guy outside of the play, in an attempt to injure him and take him out of the series. It was unsportsmanlike, cheap, dirty and could easily be seen as tainting the win.

Clarke did the same crap in NHL games, so I don't buy that he did it out of patriotism.

[Gaskal]

I'm massively reassured that Bennett's teammates will go lengths to protect him. Kudos to Caron.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Random guess at a starting lineup next season:

Colborne-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Ferland-Shore-Jooris

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Wotherspoon-Engelland

Ortio

Not to pick on you specifically or anything, but I always think it's hilarious when people try to predict the lineup 7 months from now and it's barely different. Zero free agent signings, zero trades, add one or two prospects in exchange for some vets and that's it.

[868904]

The strength on the puck and dogged determination to win battles coupled with the skill reminds me of Peter Forsberg (not saying he's going to be but that would be amazing if he could develop into something similar).

[Bar-Down]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Some excerpts from a Kingston Whig article on Bennett's performance last night. Both Treliving and Conroy were at the game. Also nice to see Bennett has teammates that have his back.


"Chief among them was that Bennett's timing is getting better each game.
Craig Conroy, the Flames assistant general manager who was at the game along with general manager Brad Treliving, noted that in saying Bennett had a really strong game.
"It's tough when you have been out that long. I know all about that," Conroy said. "You could see it coming. His timing is not quite there."
"The timing is a little off. The hands are little slow. But I think that happens after not playing for five months," Bennett said."

"McFarland said it will take a little bit for the Bennett line — he was playing with Spencer Watson and Lawson Crouse — to get their chemistry going.
"Sam will get better with each and every game. He is such a competitor on the ice. He's got to continue to lead that way for us," McFarland said."

"Bennett didn't know Treliving or Conroy were at the game until they made a visit to the dressing room before game time.
"It was a nice surprise," said Bennett, who then went out and had a whale of a first period."

"Before Bennett’s first goal, Mississauga's Damian Bourne tried to take Bennett out with a high hit that could have easily been called for a head shot. A few shifts later, after Bennett had scored on a power play, Cody Caron engaged Bourne in a mammoth scrap."

"Bennett gave a pat to Caron when he was leaving the game.
"That's awesome stuff. I'm so proud of Caron. When you have guys like that on your team that just makes you more confident," Bennett said.
"It lets players like myself be able to play my game. It shows (Caron's) character. I owe him breakfast after that one."
Bennett, in his much heralded return to the OHL, is a bit of a marked player. He realizes that."

http://www.thewhig.com/2015/03/04/fr...ter-steelheads

Good article.

Its interesting to hear that star players on teams admit to like having a deterrent around so that they can go out and "play their game"

I know the NHL has moved away from the goon who can't even skate but there is definitely still a need for big bodies, toughness and fighting.

Guys like Damien Cox who just oppose it fully are clueless.

Can't wait to see Bennett in the OHL playoffs, hopefully he goes into beast mode.

[Resolute 14]

Guys like Damien Cox oppose it because they think they are smarter than the players.

But even if you believe it is a placebo effect (and many on this forum do, don't doubt it), the fact that the players believe it is important.