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

[Igster]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I haven't been in law school for about 20 years.

OK.

Why am I not surprised you are a lawyer then.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe they should give him an easier time and just play him against those NHL teams.

I nearly spit coffee through my nose when I read this. Made my day.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Igster

OK.

Why am I not surprised you are a lawyer then.

Ummm - because you can see how smart I am?

[Igster]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Ummm - because you can see how smart I am?

lol...sure.

[BigErnSalute_16]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The hand wringing about Bennetts shoulder is odd. You do know the Flames have zero intention of letting him play or practice at all until it is 100% right? I mean that was the whole point of getting the Surgery done when it was.

He won't take a hit until the doctors clear him fully. I have faith in the Flames decision makers that they will not risk their prized prospect.

I agree, using his shoulder surgery as an excuse to send him down makes no sense because, when he is ready to play his shoulder will be better than it was at the start of the year and possibly even stronger than it ever was based on how good these surgeries have gotten over the years. There should be no concerns about the shoulder, all they have to do is assess if his play is ready for the NHL

[GranteedEV]

Two or three games of Sam Bennett is just what we need to shut up this Mike Richards nonsense.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Two or three games of Sam Bennett is just what we need to shut up this Mike Richards nonsense.

It's for sure a reason not to take on a centre with that kind of term.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Two or three games of Sam Bennett is just what we need to shut up this Mike Richards nonsense.

You overestimate Eric Francis.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by BigErnSalute_16

I agree, using his shoulder surgery as an excuse to send him down makes no sense because, when he is ready to play his shoulder will be better than it was at the start of the year and possibly even stronger than it ever was based on how good these surgeries have gotten over the years. There should be no concerns about the shoulder, all they have to do is assess if his play is ready for the NHL

The issue isn't the surgery. The issue is throwing a kid who hasn't played in six months into a league full of players bigger and faster than he's played against before, and in mid-season form.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The issue isn't the surgery. The issue is throwing a kid who hasn't played in six months into a league full of players bigger and faster than he's played against before, and in mid-season form.

I have faith that the Flames won't put him into any situation that he's not ready for.

If he's clearly not ready for the NHL, I think he'll be sent down tout de suite.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The issue isn't the surgery. The issue is throwing a kid who hasn't played in six months into a league full of players bigger and faster than he's played against before, and in mid-season form.

Sheltered minutes and progression.

He's a hockey player, not a china doll

[wingmaker]

I keep seeing people reference six months for Bennett's absence. Where does this number come from? The surgery was in early October, making it three and a half months to date. Even if he doesn't play until mid February, that still leaves it at just over four months, which is a long time but significantly less time than six months.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

I keep seeing people reference six months for Bennett's absence. Where does this number come from? The surgery was in early October, making it three and a half months to date. Even if he doesn't play until mid February, that still leaves it at just over four months, which is a long time but significantly less time than six months.

The original timeline (quoted in the thread title) was 4-6 months

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

The original timeline (quoted in the thread title) was 4-6 months

Ok, but clearly it isn't going to be six months if the reports that he is scheduled to skate with the team are true.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

Ok, but clearly it isn't going to be six months if the reports that he is scheduled to skate with the team are true.

Yes. Hence "ahead of schedule" by early February

[GioforPM]

Lots of factors, as I think about this:

Do sheltered minutes really work in a playoff race against other teams in playoff races? Monahan's sheltered minutes came towards at the beginning of the year.

If the Flames are in a PO race then, and every game is important, what's the risk of taking out an experienced guy like Stajan or a trusted guy like Jooris and replacing them with an 18 year old who hasn't played a game? I know he's likely to be a great player, but not too many 18 year olds, no matter how good, have an impact right away. Thus far Hartley has generally erred on the side of playing the experienced guys versus having a look at the call-ups.

I know he's a hockey player, and not a china doll, but he's about the same size as Nugent-Hopkins' who's been banged up pretty good in the NHL. It's pretty easy to argue that, though RNH was able to play in the NHL at 18-19, he would have been better off with at least another year of lower development. I know Lowe/MacT < Treliving/Burke as far as common sense goes - I just want to be really careful.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Yes. Hence "ahead of schedule" by early February

I get it. But why do people keep saying that he won't have played in six months when they argue about where he should play? It seems that either they are being hyperbolic to make their point or that they are not aware of the actual time line he is on.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think he should go back to junior and then come in fresh next season.

Let's not go full Oilers here. There is no rush to get him into the line-up and a few more months of junior won't hurt him (and if it does, then the NHL would definitely hurt him).

[GranteedEV]

The most direct comparision I can think of to this situation is Tyler Seguin in 2011. He only had 22 points in 74 games so he wasn't exactly beasting in his limited 3rd line role as a teenage rookie, but then in the playoffs he really provided a little bit extra and that had to have been good for his personal development. The way playoffs are set up where you can really bounce back from poor play through watching tape of your opponent is in many ways a better fit for rookies than for them to face a new opponent every night. Just my opinion.

Does that mean Flames win a cup like the 2011 Bruins? Of course not, we'd be ecstatic to even get to the 2nd round. But you have to give Bennett an opportunity if he's earned it over other guys. You have to give Wolf and Baertschi opportunities too. And if on the ice he doesn't look ready, whether that's physically or mentally, then at least the player himself knows that for sure, for themself.

[AcGold]

We got this far without Bennett. A skinny teenager fresh off surgery with zero games doesn't get us in the playoffs. We don't need him, based on how Poirier was handled gingerly Sam isn't on the Flames until next Fall.