[News] Bennett Out 4-6 Months with Shoulder Surgery *UPDATE* Back Skating

[Young-Sneezy]

Originally Posted by devo22

Aaron Vickers ‏@AAVickers
Hartley (cont): "He’s like a like tiger in a cage like-aaa that didn’t eat for about like a month y'know. like that’s who he is and like that’s what we appreciate from him."

quote fixed for accuracy.

never change, Bob.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Locke

How does Bob come up with this stuff? Its Gold!

It's great that even though English is not Bob's first language, he is so poetic and eloquent in its usage.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Roger Millions @RogMillions
#Flames Sam Bennett looked great skating at 'Dome this am. Shooting pucks etc..Maybe early Feb return? Guessing on that.

January 31st vs Edmonton: First NHL game, first NHL hat trick. Meanwhile, Leon "NHL Ready" Draisaitl is searching for Ogopogo and eating ribs with bc-chris.

[saillias]

Kinda the opposite of how guys like Kessel and Subban are always under a microscope and dissected, you get guys like Suter and Weber and Ekblad who no one watches regularly which IMO creates kind of a halo effect. We've already made him look like Justin Schultz in our game against Florida earlier this year.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by FBI

Just let this sink in for a moment:

The flames highest draft pick EVER has yet to play a game with the Flames and will likely make the team next year.

Adding to this, even with all the infusion of youth we've had this year, we have FOUR first-round picks who have yet to play an NHL game. The quality-prospect depth on this team is not too shabby!

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by getbak

January 31st vs Edmonton: First NHL game, first NHL hat trick. Meanwhile, Leon "NHL Ready" Draisaitl is searching for Ogopogo and eating ribs with bc-chris.

That sounds like a delightful afternoon.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by getbak

January 31st vs Edmonton: First NHL game, first NHL hat trick. Meanwhile, Leon "NHL Ready" Draisaitl is searching for Ogopogo and eating ribs with bc-chris.

That doesn't actually sound too bad.

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by getbak

January 31st vs Edmonton: First NHL game, first NHL hat trick. Meanwhile, Leon "NHL Ready" Draisaitl is searching for Ogopogo and eating ribs with bc-chris.

Hopefully Draisaitl knows better than to take a photo with bc-chris after eating ribs with him. Pic could turn up on CP in 2 years when the Oilers send him down to the Minors

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by getbak

January 31st vs Edmonton: First NHL game, first NHL hat trick. Meanwhile, Leon "NHL Ready" Draisaitl is searching for Ogopogo and eating ribs with bc-chris.

Hmm. Draisaitl is here Friday night...

[PugnaciousIntern]

The video of Bennett skating this morning during today's game was very exciting

[Mustache]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

That sounds like a delightful afternoon.

It is.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Locke

How does Bob come up with this stuff? Its Gold!

That's how French Canadians speak.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I hope he can be the best player from this draft but Aaron Ekblad is making one hell of a case against that. He's 23 year old Drew Doughty good @18. Freaky that one is, I'll settle honestly for second to fourth best player in this draft and be happy.

Oh forchrisakes, let's keep it real. He is having a great rookie season. He isn't the best defenseman in the NHL (or anything even remotely close to it)

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Oh forchrisakes, let's keep it real. He is having a great rookie season. He isn't the best defenseman in the NHL (or anything even remotely close to it)

Go look at his stats. Don't get all uppity over an opinion. I compared the stats and they back me up. Even if you want to compare rookie seasons Ekblad is still on pace to better Doughty. On a worse team at that too.

[Mr.Coffee]

how good is Ekblad defensively though? Doughty is solid at both ends.

[JohnnySkittles]

For an 18 year old it's pretty damn impressive what Ekblad's been doing so far.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

how good is Ekblad defensively though? Doughty is solid at both ends.

Leads the team in the ever so subjective +/- with a +9.

2nd in team scoring with 22 points. 2 goals have come on the PP.

4th in TOI. I don't know who he's paired with (I think it's Mitchell)

But FLA relies heavily on their top 4 of Kulikov, Campbell, Mitchell and Ekblad.

He's certainly holding his own defensively IMO. Offensively he is carrying the team from the back end though. That's Doughty esque for sure. Knowing he's 4th on the team in TOI tells me he's used in all situations as well. Even if he's on the second paring PK those are still hard minutes to play while keeping the +/- high.

I really don't think it's hyperbole at all to say he's equaling the output of Drew Doughty in any of his first three years.

EDIT: I'm no stats junkie so I really do not know where to look for special teams minutes played. I'm basing my opinion on the info available via NHL.com

Double Edit: Sorry for the de-rail, let's get back to talking about Sam Bennett!

[Racki]

I love this kid's attitude. You just know he's gonna be the biggest Oiler hater on the roster.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by iggysback05

I love this kid's attitude. You just know he's gonna be the biggest Oiler hater on the roster.

Hope so. I would love to see Bennett equal Backlund's hate for the Canucks.

[Vulcan]

Even if he's on the second paring PK those are still hard minutes to play while keeping the +/- high.

On a PK you don't get a minus when the other team scores.

but I agree Ekblad is having a great rookie season for an 18 year old defenceman.