QOTD: The Bennett Situation

[polak]

I voted 9 game audition but I want to be clear that I say give him his 9 games but send him down if he is behind the play for more than a game.

[Meers]

Don't ruin him by rushing him into an NHL role that he isn't physically suited for yet, like the Oilers routinely do with their top prospects.

Give him time to develop in junior.

(And yes, even time to develop enough strength to do a pull up or two.)

[codynw]

Send him down as soon as he's ready. He hasn't played a game in months, no need to throw him into the NHL. Hopefully he goes on a nice long OHL playoff run.

[Phanuthier]

Send him back with zero NHL games. This fear is probably irrational, but I'm scared of another Sven situation - if he lights it up in the tryout, might set expectations too high. I read he still needs to develop physically, so just let that happen.

[Robbob]

Hypothetically speaking, if he isn't cleared by the doctors until Feb 16th then the 2 week conditioning stint would take him until after the trade deadline. Would he be considered one of the 4 call ups allowed if he is returning from the conditioning stint?

If it would count then I say send him straight down as soon as he is cleared. If it doesn't count I think he should get a game as it would essentially give us a bonus call up.

[The Big Chill]

Sending him down is the only option that makes sense to me. He's had a taste of the NHL life over the past few months. Let him make sure the shoulder is %100 in a league he is familiar with, get some confidence in his game back, and let him come to camp next year completely ready to fight for an NHL spot.

[habernac]

What's the rush? Send him down, we'll see a 100% healthy Bennett for next season

[Igster]

Give him 9 games. He didn't get the chance earlier because of the injury.

[FlamesAddiction]

After missing so much game action, how good can his game shape actually be right now (or when he comes back)? At this point, training camp from September is completely irrelevant.

I know that Burke or Treliving said that if Bennett didn't get injured that he would have made the team, but I think part of that statement was to pump his tires a little bit. From a physical point of view, I don't see how he was ready. We don't want to Nugent-Hopkins the guy. I am sure that Bennett could have been reasonably productive his first season, but was he really ready for the punishment and the grind?

[edn88]

If he can actually help the team and it does not hinder his development you have to keep him up.

I would assume he would have to practice a bit before getting into the lineup (I also assume his game counter starts even if he is a healthy scratch?).

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Hypothetically speaking, if he isn't cleared by the doctors until Feb 16th then the 2 week conditioning stint would take him until after the trade deadline. Would he be considered one of the 4 call ups allowed if he is returning from the conditioning stint?

No. A conditioning assignment is separate from a recall/demotion. Even while on a conditioning stint, he would still be on the NHL roster for other purposes.

I was going to suggest that this would also mean Bennett wouldn't technically be a member of Adirondack for clear day roster purposes (AHL playoff eligibility), but it appears that the AHL and NHL removed that rule as a consequence of the new CBA.

[heep223]

I don't see how anyone here can comment on what kind of shape he will be in when the Flames coaching staff makes these decisions. "He's not in game shape so send him down". Obviously he's not going to play anything anywhere until he's in game shape.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by heep223

I don't see how anyone here can comment on what kind of shape he will be in when the Flames coaching staff makes these decisions. "He's not in game shape so send him down". Obviously he's not going to play anything until he's in game shape.

It is no secret that there is a huge difference between being being in shape to play, and being in shape that matches the level of the league. Practices and skating can only do so much and there is a significant difference between the start of October, when most guys are still ramping up to speed, and late February, when guys are going all out to get into the playoffs.

Bennett will be a couple steps behind the kind of game shape he would be in if he had been playing all season, that really should be unquestionable. How much of a difference that makes relative to his competition is undetermined.

[heep223]

Yeah I hear you but obviously they're not just going to throw him in an NHL game and say "ok go get'em!" before he's in shape.

Or maybe it's not obvious, in which case I would definitely question that decision. He should get significant conditioning before he plays any game anywhere, then he needs to play in game situations before the decision should be made whether he plays for the big team or not.

[GioforPM]

Hartley seems to shy away from conditioning in the AHL. He has a system for returning guys where he bag skates them until he thinks they are in game shape. So you have to assume when Bennett is playing anywhere, he's OK to play for the Flames from a fitness standpoint. So the only question is whether to give him NHL games now, or let him go to junior to work on game play.

And that decision is based on - Can he help the Flames? Maybe, but they are doing pretty well at centre right now. Can he help his junior team? Obviously. Can he succeed here? Maybe, but where and at what risk? He won't get a chance to ease into game speed on a team in a playoff push, and he won't be given top 6 minutes. Can he succeed in junior? Obviously.

The problem is I don't think any of us have seen the real Bennett yet, because he was playing hurt in training camp. I have really high hopes for the kid and I don't want him rushed just because we want to see him.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by heep223

I don't see how anyone here can comment on what kind of shape he will be in when the Flames coaching staff makes these decisions. "He's not in game shape so send him down". Obviously he's not going to play anything until he's in game shape.

So... obviously he isn't going to play anything (sic) then.

Even an NHL veteran would have issues being in NHL game shape for several weeks after coming back from that. For an OHL player, it would be crazy. He will at least need to play at that level for a while, at which point they won't call him up.

[SuperMatt18]

Get him healthy, give him a conditioning stint in the AHL, and then maybe one game in the NHL before sending him back to Kingston.

[Enoch Root]

Put me in the camp that trusts Hartley and the training staff.

1) lot's of talk about not rushing him. The Flames WILL NOT rush him. Period. If he plays any games it will be because he deserved it.

2) talk of him being out of shape is silly. Again, the training staff are in the best position to assess. He will get bag-skated for two months before he is fully cleared. No, he won't be in game shape, but he will be in the best shape of his life.

3) he has been with the team for 4 months. Emotionally, he is now a pro.

4) his legs and his hands were NHL-ready in October. The only issue was his strength. By the time he is cleared, he will be 6 months older (a big deal for an 18 year old) and in the best shape he has ever been.

My guess is that they will have a real good assessment of him long before he is fully cleared. Once he is, if they like what they are seeing, they will send him to GF for a conditioning stint to see what he looks like. If he passes that, they can bring him up for 9 games.

If, at any time, they have any doubts, down he goes.

This really isn't that complicated. And final decisions do not have to be made 2 months before they are required.

[Enoch Root]

To the game-shape argument:

Yes, there is no substitute for game-shape. However, it is much easier for the young guys. Think about October - why do the kids dominate in October? Well, a couple reasons, but one of them is that youth is a big advantage and they get to game speed much quicker than the older guys. They also get by on adrenaline.

[Bezer]

Send him to the OHL.. He needs to be on the ice competing and testing out the shoulder.