Sam Bennett as a center or winger?

[JFK]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I'm not that familiar with the CBA, so I've never understood why Bennett couldn't have spent time in the AHL. Look at Brayden Schenn (a player of similar pedigree, drafted 5th OA):

Draft year +1: CHL 29 games; AHL 7; NHL 8
Draft year +2: AHL 7 games; NHL 54
Draft year +3: AHL 33 games; NHL 47

So can someone explain why in draft years +2 and +3 Schenn could get AHL seasoning, while Bennett couldn't.

Your numbers and years are a little off I think.

Brayden Schenn was only assigned to the AHL at 19 on a conditioning stint. Was then returned to junior. He didn't play 57 NHL games that year.

Draft year plus 3, 20 years old, Schenn was free and clear to play in the AHL. Bennett had the same option but spent the entire season in the NHL.

That option has now passed due to games played.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Give him a few minutes less but against lesser competition.

But isn't our fourth line (Brouwer line) getting more minutes then the third line (Bennett line)?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by rohara66

But isn't our fourth line (Brouwer line) getting more minutes then the third line (Bennett line)?

Because of the PK perhaps? Unsure, don't have TOI in front of me.

I guess the point was to try and manage who he plays against. Fewer minutes but maybe some better looks? Just for a game or two, see how he responds.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Because of the PK perhaps? Unsure, don't have TOI in front of me.

I guess the point was to try and manage who he plays against. Fewer minutes but maybe some better looks? Just for a game or two, see how he responds.

Third line played a couple more minutes then fourth line last night.... so maybe not a bad idea.

Can the team not send Bennett down to the AHL for conditioning stint?

[zuluking]

With Ferland cementing his spot on the top line and Jagr back from injury, the team now has the luxury to allow Bennett and Jankowski to learn from and build chemistry with Jagr. As seen in numerous clips from earlier practices, Jagr is in wise mentor mode and frankly that is exactly what Bennett needs right now. It would have been great to have maintained this third line from the beginning of the season, but Ferland hadn't translated his game to the top line and they had to shuffle Jagr in there. Time to keep these three together and let it happen...

[Pointman]

Yup, trading Bennett is unlikely to happen anytime soon, as the organization would like to see the results of Jagr's mentoring. This also makes me wonder whether Treliving would ask Jagr's opinion of Bennett before pulling or not pulling the trigger.

[Joborule]

Of course the Flames highest pick ever would end up being a bust.

[calgaryblood]

I think if we put up a pylon in the offensive zone, the pylon would get luckier and have a puck bounce off of it and maybe deflect to a player who scores and the pylon would have more points than Bennett.

It is mind boggling that a player could play 15 games and not even get a lucky assist let alone one he earned.

[rain_e]

Might as well trade Jankowski before his trade value declines further. No points and -1. We don't want it to get any worse.

[Red Slinger]

I think they need to sit Bennett for a game or two. Not as a punishment but let him get a different perspective and clear his head. Similar to what they did with Johnny a few years ago.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

I think they need to sit Bennett for a game or two. Not as a punishment but let him get a different perspective and clear his head. Similar to what they did with Johnny a few years ago.

Why not as punishment? He deserves to sit a few games because he's playing bad. No need to beat around the bush.

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by rain_e

Might as well trade Jankowski as well before his trade value declines further. No points and -1. We don't want it to get any worse.

Yes because we have the same expectations for Bennett and Jankowski.

Jankowskis expectations are in the top 6 / bottom 9 role for his career, Bennetts expectations are/were in the #1C/2C areas.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Can the team not send Bennett down to the AHL for conditioning stint?

Because he doesn't need conditioning. he's been playing as a regular and has not been injured. You just cannot just make up this stuff.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Because he doesn't need conditioning. he's been playing as a regular and has not been injured. You just cannot just make up this stuff.

Lupul? Hossa? I'm pretty sure you can.

Scratch him for a couple games, let him watch from the press box and then send him to do some skating in the AHL.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by rain_e

Might as well trade Jankowski as well before his trade value declines further. No points and -1. We don't want it to get any worse.

Jankowski has played half the games Bennett has this season, is a rookie and was drafted 21st overall... I'm not sure this is a fair comparison... actually I am sure it's not a fair comparison.

[calgaryblood]

I know the NHL rejected Grigorenkos AHL stint a few years ago when the Sabres tried to send him down for conditioning.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

More than 15.

Nino Niederreiter got 1 point in 55 games in his 2nd NHL season.

He'd gotten a consistent 20 goals + per season ever since, and had 57 points last season.

If you were his GM, he'd be "sucking" for some other team. Just like the former Islander GM who dumped him for "sucking".

Yes and the key is that like Nino, Sam may need to move on to have any success at the NHL level. What the Flames are now getting from him is beyond abysmal. A laughable stat line of 17 Shots (17!!!), 16 PIM and 0G, 0A, -5 would be hard for even a face puncher to achieve at this point and those guys don't play 14+ minutes a night.

Look back into the previous season and you have roughly 45 games of the same ineptitude creating a disturbing trend that doesn't appear to be easing.

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Yes and the key is that like Nino, Sam may need to move on to have any success at the NHL level. What the Flames are now getting from him is beyond abysmal. A laughable stat line of 17 Shots (17!!!), 16 PIM and 0G, 0A, -5 would be hard for even a face puncher to achieve at this point and those guys don't play 14+ minutes a night.

Look back into the previous season and you have roughly 45 games of the same ineptitude creating a disturbing trend that doesn't appear to be easing.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but 17-20 shots on net at this point of the season, for a 3rd line winger with no pp, I believe is pretty average.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesVan

Correct me if I'm wrong, but 17-20 shots on net at this point of the season, for a 3rd line winger with no pp, I believe is pretty average.

Well, 17-20 shots is 243-284th in shots out of forwards.

So, below average 3rd liner numbers, but in line with his TOI. Of course a good player should be getting chances above his TOI

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Why not as punishment? He deserves to sit a few games because he's playing bad. No need to beat around the bush.

Punishment is old style management. The goal isn't to make Bennett feel worse. The goal is to give him the tools to do what he does best and maybe the organization has not done enough of that. Another way to look at this is, how would Johnny have done playing with the same line-mates on the 3rd line that Bennett had before Jankowski? I bet Johnny would be scoreless for long periods as well. Maybe frustrated especially if he was asked to take on the center role. Maybe the Flames didn't quite handle Bennett the best way or maybe they should have given him more opportunities to focus on what he does best?.