[Rumour] Friedman: Ducks really like Sam Bennett

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

As a winger, his highest potential is Ferland.

But as a center, his potential is higher than Monahan?

Sorry but I don't follow.

that's ok, it makes no sense.

[CroFlames]

Those comments from Conroy are concerning for me. A high draft pick C should really know his defensive assignments in his own end. Hopefully he can learn, but perhaps wing is better for him. Wingers have less defensive responsibility so if defense doesn't come naturally to the player, he'll have to "think" too much on the ice playing C instead of letting his instinct take over.

He's got a bagful of skills, but if defensive coverage doesn't come easy to him, perhaps they look at converting him to wing and acquire someone else at C.

[GioforPM]

Optimally, he's a centre because that position is more valuable to a team in general. However, today's centres tend to be bigger (Sam's not small but not exactly big). His game to my untrained eye is that of a winger - he likes to bust in from the outside.

Look, if it works better on the ice, the Flames are better for it, as opposed to trying something that works better on paper. Bobby Hull was a centre in junior, methinks. Kessel was a centre in college (can anyone imagine him playing C in the NHL?). IRRC Loob was a centre in Sweden.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Those comments from Conroy are concerning for me. A high draft pick C should really know his defensive assignments in his own end. Hopefully he can learn, but perhaps wing is better for him. Wingers have less defensive responsibility so if defense doesn't come naturally to the player, he'll have to "think" too much on the ice playing C instead of letting his instinct take over.

He's got a bagful of skills, but if defensive coverage doesn't come easy to him, perhaps they look at converting him to wing and acquire someone else at C.

Those Conroy comments are not recent. I'd like to hear what Conroy thinks of Bennett's defensive game now.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Because center depth is extremely important and if you draft a center top 5 you expect him to play as a center. It's so important that you see teams like the Blue Jackets spending 3rd overall picks on guys like Pierre-Luc Dubois who they HOPE can convert to a center.

Ok. So I guess my question is what attributes make a player more suited to centre than the wing? It isn't just skill, or else all highly skilled forwards would be developed as centres. Patrick Kane would be a centre. So would Ovechkin.

I was always under the impression that the qualities that make a player suited to centre are:

A) Vision and distributing the puck.
B) Defensive acumen.
C) Effective net-front presence (which is where size comes in).

[Bingo]

To me it comes down to some Gulutzan comments from early in the year last year and I have to paraphrase.

Something like the team is coming, but nights at the Saddledome are going to be a lot of fun for fans, when we get Monahan and Bennett playing the right way all the time. He was talking about rebuilding game styles and both being fast learners.

I think we saw a lot of that in both players through the season.

The Flames take off when you can start deploying any of your three centers in any situation.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Definitely understand the desire to develop Bennett as a centreman and to remain patient in the process, but it isn't sacrilege to suggest he might be a better winger going forward. He certainly had his best production while being a winger and it isn't obvious to me that vision and engaging linemates is a particular strength of his game.

[IrishSpring2013]

bennett has a great net presence..
his defensive game is actually really good for 20.. did u miss the second half and playoffs of last season..?
passing game is probably underrated, but needs to use linemates more, hopefully he gets decent ones this season.

also, granted, your bennett-ferland comment left me breathless. sam has great potential at middle.. but that potential isn't cut by two thirds if he's moved in to the wing... confusing post

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

I think after a while you have to worry about it destroying a player's confidence. Some players just can't make the jump to NHL centre and are better suited as wingers.

This was only Bennett's first season playing centre so no big deal yet. But what happens if he continues to struggle next season? Do you continue to force it?

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Definitely understand the desire to develop Bennett as a centreman and to remain patient in the process, but it isn't sacrilege to suggest he might be a better winger going forward. He certainly had his best production while being a winger and it isn't obvious to me that vision and engaging linemates is a particular strength of his game.

He's 20 years old for crying out loud and it's called development not "forcing" as it's the position he played in junior. We can revisit this conversation when he's 23 or 24. I'll say it again; zero patience!

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Those Conroy comments are not recent. I'd like to hear what Conroy thinks of Bennett's defensive game now.

Don't know about Conroy specifically but the coaching staff (as well as Treliving IIRC) seem to be very high on Sam and how his defensive game has developed. The whole "playing the right way" mantra instead of cheating defensively to try and kickstart his offence.

[Geeoff]

Personally, I think Bennett is a lot better defensively than he is offensively at this point.

He'll make a great play in the defensive zone to strip the puck and then try to deke through the entire defense in the offensive zone.

[Since1984]

I'm looking forward to Bennett putting up a 20+/20+ season next year and silencing all the critics. Please note, Bennett is still only 20 and will be 21 by the start of next season. The kid may not be trending upward as fast as we like...but not all players are like Monahan and Tkachuk. I still think that if Jankowski comes in and steals a center spot, A line of Bennett and Jankowski can be a real solid two way line with tons of potential to score.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Two can play at this game Friedman

[Rumour] FDW: Flames really like Sam Bennett

[CroFlames]

The recent posts in this thread have eased my mind.

Can't wait for hockey to start again. Sick of seeing other people's teams go deep in the playoffs

[Mass_nerder]

I think Bennett was really starting to play like a responsible centre in the playoffs. He was winning draws pretty regularly, and seemed to make the right plays in his own zone. With more confidence in his positional play, I'm sure the offense will build.

[LanceUppercut]

Next year will be the real indicator on where he is going. He will put on more muscle over the summer and come in more physically capable of playing his style.

I just can't see the Flames trading him unless it was a steal of a deal.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I think Bennett was really starting to play like a responsible centre in the playoffs. He was winning draws pretty regularly, and seemed to make the right plays in his own zone. With more confidence in his positional play, I'm sure the offense will build.

I think he wasn't coming along in that area even as early as Feb. He had a bad start to the season, everyone did, but I thought (outside his offence) the last 1/3 of his season was fantastic for a second year center.

He has a knack for offence, I'm not worried about him finding it again.

[Bingo]

I would much rather have the prospect that has shown some pretty serious glimpses in the NHL but can't stay consistent, than the junior scorer that has yet to find it at the speed of the NHL.

I see Bennett as a kid that wants it so bad he sometimes gets in his own way. A little maturity and confidence (and some linemates) will go a long way in pushing him up the roster.

[Roof-Daddy]

Maybe they can try Johnny with Sam next season?

Tkachuk - Monahan -
M. Frolik - Backlund -
Gaudreau - Bennett -

Have those as your forward "pairings". Mix and match RW (or LW if you keep Frolik on the right side) based on chemistry.

Gotta get Sam better line mates next season.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Maybe they can try Johnny with Sam next season?

Tkachuk - Monahan -
M. Frolik - Backlund -
Gaudreau - Bennett -

Have those as your forward "pairings". Mix and match RW (or LW if you keep Frolik on the right side) based on chemistry.

Gotta get Sam better line mates next season.

Didn't Gaudreau play a fair share of games with Bennett and Chiasson last year?

I like the thought of Tkachuk and Bennett ultimately being paired together. Both guys can get under opponents skin. Ultimatelymwhen the Flames are contending I could see it being the Tkachuk-Bennett line being the group that goes against other teams too skilled players.