Sam Bennett as a center or winger?

[blender]

More evidence that the Flames management knows what they are doing--generally.

[Fan69]

My expectations for Bennett is Ryan Kesler minus the ###### baggery, and probably a little stronger offense.
Huge character next level in the playoffs type of guy.

Zero interest unless its a massive overpayment. I dont want to watch him become the clutch guy playing against us.

[heep223]

Bennett has shown significantly below average hockey IQ. Borderline terrible IQ. This was masked in junior because he made up for it with his skill set.

In the NHL everyone has an awesome skill set and it’s really hard to teach IQ.

Hence my real concern that Bennett will be anything more than an average middle six player. For sure I think he’s best used on the wing.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by heep223

Bennett has shown significantly below average hockey IQ. Borderline terrible IQ. This was masked in junior because he made up for it with his skill set.

In the NHL everyone has an awesome skill set and it’s really hard to teach IQ.

Hence my real concern that Bennett will be anything more than an average middle six player. For sure I think he’s best used on the wing.

This is what I'm scared of, too. This is exactly what he looks like. The saving grace is that while everyone has great skill at the NHL level I still think his is above average despite his lack of IQ so I think he could be salvaged as a decent producing middle six winger. 30-40pts.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by jayswin

This is what I'm scared of, too. This is exactly what he looks like. The saving grace is that while everyone has great skill at the NHL level I still think his is above average despite his lack of IQ so I think he could be salvaged as a decent producing middle six winger. 30-40pts.

I think he has the IQ, it's just overshadowed by his drive and aggressive nature. I think his problem is that he has tried to become a gamebreaker too early, rather than becoming a good player first. Im excited for the day he turns the corner.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

I think he has the IQ, it's just overshadowed by his drive and aggressive nature. I think his problem is that he has tried to become a gamebreaker too early, rather than becoming a good player first. Im excited for the day he turns the corner.

That's fair (and hopefully right!), but is hockey IQ something that typically takes years to catch up to skill in the NHL? I don't have any examples handy but it seems high IQ players are typically known for their IQ out of the draft.

Basically it seems like skills catch up to a high IQ player and then he becomes a star, but I don't feel like opposite happens that often.

[kevman]

All this talk of his hockey IQ got me wondering what they said in his draft reports.


https://www.ontheforecheck.com/2014/...ennett-profile

Sam Bennett is a skilled forward with good speed and acceleration, with a nice shot as well. He has fantastic hockey sense and brings consistent energy game after game.

https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/20...nnett/c-720821

Bennett has been lauded for his hockey smarts, his excellent hands, and his quick shot.

https://thehockeywriters.com/samuel-...spect-profile/

Bennett has impeccable vision up and down the ice and an uncanny ability to create plays and make tape-to-tape passes with ease.

He’s a model of consistency you can build a franchise around for years down the road.

Where did that Sam Bennett go?

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by kevman

All this talk of his hockey IQ got me wondering what they said in his draft reports.


https://www.ontheforecheck.com/2014/...ennett-profile


https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/20...nnett/c-720821


https://thehockeywriters.com/samuel-...spect-profile/




Where did that Sam Bennett go?

Buried under the weight of his own expectations.

[Caged Great]

Bennett when he's on is a dynamic awesome player who shows flashes of the same skill set as Johnny and Tkachuk.

The problem is that he seems to mostly be getting in his own way and thinking perhaps too much instead of letting things come naturally to him.

[sa226]

^^^^
Which happens when you have 1 point in 15 games. Unless your name is Rocky Thompson, that would affect anybody's confidence

I would like to see Sam get some confidence and start rolling with his current linemates to see if he is what we have seen, or if his development is just off to a rocky start.

10 games ago, I was ready to accept Ferland for what he is: An inconsistent at best bottom sixer, who wont hurt you, but you can't really count on.

Look at him now.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

[Gaskal]

Not a primary assist but still a kaiju double event for Sam, excellent.

1A 2G game next? Baby steps.

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I'm gonna also have to go with unholy dry spell.

He had a tertiary assist vs Vancouver and upgraded to a secondary assist vs Detroit. Based on this trajectory I expect him to get a primary assist followed by a goal vs the Blues. A kaiju double event.

[ForeverFlameFan]

All it took was Bennett to get a point to get himself going. That 3rd line is killing it now.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

All it took was Bennett to get a point to get himself going. That 3rd line is killing it now.

That's been his career so far. Long stretches of no points. Then he'll get a goal or point then get more in bunches. Then cold again. Repeat. Hopefully now he can get some consistency and be less streaky. Flames secondary scoring needs that.

[FBI]

on pace for 3 points in tomorrows game

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by pepper24

That's been his career so far. Long stretches of no points. Then he'll get a goal or point then get more in bunches. Then cold again. Repeat. Hopefully now he can get some consistency and be less streaky. Flames secondary scoring needs that.

We've had other players that have done that in the past and all those.players still contributed greatly in other areas.

Stillman
Langkow
Reinprecht
McAmmond
Gelinas
Yelle
Stempniak
Cammy


Maybe not the best examples in all cases but all played important roles.

I think Bennett still has a long way to go yes but I think he's well worth being patient with.

[GioforPM]

Yeah, being decent at scoring but inconsistent is kinda what makes a player a secondary scorer. Hopefully you have enough of them to make the overall goals consistent, just not from the same guys.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

We've had other players that have done that in the past and all those.players still contributed greatly in other areas.

Stillman
Langkow
Reinprecht
McAmmond
Gelinas
Yelle
Stempniak
Cammy


Maybe not the best examples in all cases but all played important roles.

I think Bennett still has a long way to go yes but I think he's well worth being patient with.

If Bennett can become a Langkow, Stillman or Cammalleri then it will turn out to be a good pick and he'll have a good career. He has a long ways to go.

Yelle and McAmmond were utility players and not good comparables. McAmmond though did play with Iginla when he wasn't hurt but probably never a top line player.

Stempniak and Reinprecht I remember as always wanting more but were not high picks with high expectations.

Gelinas had a long successful career. He played top line with Iginla and got clutch playoff goals.

Sam Reinhart is a good comparable for Bennett. High expectations and inconsistent so far. Still time though.

[IrishSpring2013]

meh, i dont by the lack of hockey sense or low IQ player.. it's too easy to say that when hes playing his total worst.. after a four goal game he wasn't the smartest player either..

as noted above.. he was a smart player in junior and i think he will be at this level.. just has to gain confidence and be put it good situations.. he's finding his game.. maybe he won't be a 4th overall star.. but he'll have some big wow seasons in him..

[redforever]

Bennett played with McDavid for 7 or 8 years with great success. That certainly can raise the expectations people have of Bennett.

[Heavy Jack]

take McDavid out of the equation and Bennett still has a high pedigree coming into the NHL but no doubt that only added to the pressure/expectations.

I think him going through a slump like this is actually only going to benefit his overall growth this year. Everyone is human, everyone goes through slumps ~ remember this time last year when everyone was freaking about Johnny's start and wanted to jettison him?? Bennett will be back and you can see him and that line on the verge of exploding for the same kinda streak that Johnny/Mony/Ferly have been on over the 7 game homestand.