19-year old Sam Bennett - Expectations for 15/16 season

[Justin]

This season I see Sam playing mostly on the wing, but also getting shifts up the middle.

Money is our 1C and Jooris is our 3C (the guy was exceptional in the dot in our own end last year). I like Sam as a much better option at centre on the 2nd line than Backlund, but he'll take small steps to get there.

Bennett will play majority of the season on the 2nd line with Frolik and Backlund. The kid has to much potential & an incredible hockey IQ, to be buried down on the 3rd line.

He showed during the playoffs (the hardest NHL hockey to compete in) that he's an NHL calibre & also NHL ready player.

People should remember that Bennett was projected to be the 1st overall selection in his draft year, prior to his "pull ups" BS at the combine.

My expectations:

2nd line winger with centre reps.

25G - 35A - 60PTS.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Justin

My expectations:

2nd line winger with centre reps.

25G - 35A - 60PTS.

There were 8 teams last season with 3 60 point forwards. Tampa Bay was the only team with 4 forwards that put up 60 points or greater. It's exceptionally rare.

Bennett is currently blocked from 1st line ice time.

From a second line 40-50 points would be a very strong season for anyone.

I'll guess ~40 points.

[Imported_Aussie]

He will get 19 G and 24 A for 43 points, playing sheltered on the 3rd line and 2nd PP unit.
He will look great, but be behind Monahan who will have another good season and Backlund who will draw more icetime as a shutdown centre w/ offence

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Put me down for a 20-20-40 type season. That would be a big win, in my opinion. The 60+ points that Johnny put up is possible, but very not likely in today's game. He will still have some cold streaks, so a 0.5/game is still a strong season.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Hart trophy or he's gone in the off season for a 5th rounder.

[H2SO4(aq)]

He was our best forward in a handful of playoff games... that really says a lot.

The kid is a gamer. He will start as a 3rd line centre, and finish the year making everyone debate whether bennetts line or monys line is the #1 line.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Bennett looks like Tomas Holmstrom in front of the net. He's going to score a lot of crash and bang type goals in addition to being a fearless screener in front of the goalie. He will be getting significant power play time because of this. Will probably be on the ice in the offensive zone for the majority of his zone starts. I don't think we'll see Gaudreau level production, but 55 points doesn't seem unreasonable all things considered.

Let's not forget we've added a PP QB in Hamilton and 2-way middle 6 RW in Frolik. If everything goes to plan the Flames can build on their scoring numbers from last year (which were already impressive).

[JohnnySkittles]

30-45 points.

[CN10]

Well Bennett currently is a PPG player in the NHL regular season...

Realistically for Bennett this season my expectations are just a tad higher than Monahan's rookie season. He has NHL playoff experience, and the Flames are a better team than in Monahan's first year, so I would expect it is possible for Bennett to be somewhere around 0.5 PPG this year (let's say 16G, 25A). My main hope is that he stays healthy and gets a full year of development this season.

[Bezer]

I am gonna guess 35-40 and I'd be extremely happy with 50

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

It's enough of a difference where moving Bennett to the wing for a season would not be a terrible idea. If Bennett is being listed as 6-1, it's likely a round up with Monahan being rounded down. I have been around the pair of them in the past and there is more than a single inch between them.

Monahan has a more sturdy frame, especially in his shoulders, where Bennett has more of a skinny profile. Height isn't the only thing that is a factor.

Now that's not to say that you couldn't change his position from the wing to center half way through the season, but I think it would rush him a bit as he's trying to transition to the NHL full time. He needs to learn how to be great at both ends of the ice and sheltering him a bit would be a good idea. Monahan was used exclusively in offensive situations in his first year, and Bennett likely will as well. There is a lot less responsibilities as a winger than a forward, so you could use him as a 2nd line winger instead of the 3rd line center. I think that Frolik will be on his line either way to assist him as he learns the ropes.

He just seems like as natural a gifted center as you can get. His biggest attributes are his vision, play-making skills and hockey IQ.(along with his compete level). Scouting reports say he makes his line mates better and competes in all three zones. It all screams center to me.

Starting as a third line center, it should be just as easy or easier to shelter him than second line winger. Either way they have training camp and pre-season to see where he fits. My guess is third line center to start.

[Gaudfather]

20+ goals and 50+ points - Bennett really establishes himself as a 2nd line centre! Also is one of the three Calder finalists along with McDavid and Eichel.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

20+ goals and 50+ points - Bennett really establishes himself as a 2nd line centre! Also is one of the three Calder finalists along with McDavid and Eichel.

-Steal thunder from Oilers on Draft Day
-Steal thunder from Oilers on second Draft Day
-Eliminate Oilers from playoff contention
-Steal thunder from Oilers on Award Day

So far, so good.

[D as in David]

My memory may be faulty but wasn't Bennett's face off % below average in his draft year? If true and he hasn't improved in this area, that could affect where he starts the year position-wise.

[Jay Random]

With the team having so many wingers who are natural centres, I can see Bennett skating at C but switching with another forward for faceoffs while he is getting up to speed.

[Bingo]

Just saw this topic now and added a poll.

I'll go back and read everyone else's comments, but thought I'd put my two cents in first.

Bennett is key. He and Backlund. If Bennett and Backlund can be 50 point players (Backlund injuries are key) then the Flames are deep enough to do a lot of damage if their goaltending holds up, they have the defense core certainly.

With Monahan, Hudler, Gaudreau and help in supporting roles with Backlund and Frolik the Flames aren't one trick ponies. Big seasons from Bennett and to a lesser extent Ferland and the Flames are a three line deep team.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I tentatively have him in the 60pts area. I find rookies are so difficult to predict.

Why do I have him for 60+ points? Two things:

1) His playoff performance. Showed he is NHL-ready, though it is a small sample size, and the 82 game season is a different monster.

2) Gaudreau. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think Gaudreau = Bennett or something. One thing I see the Flames doing quite a lot is the big stretch pass, upon which the forward gains the zone and fires off a high percentage shot, or swings back and finds the open trailers (often a defencemen). With Bennett's speed and his vision/passing abilities, he SHOULD fit into this system very well.

With that being said, if Bennett *only* gets 40 pts, I wouldn't consider that a disappointment. Really depends if his defensive game improves to the point that Hartley trusts him enough for the majority of the season to give him lots of ice time or not. In essence, it will really be about Bennett's defensive game more than anything as to whether or not he puts up a lot of points.

Anything over 40 pts I would consider a 'good' season. I can see him anywhere from 35pts, all the way up to 65+. Should be a very fun season watching him develop.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Just saw this topic now and added a poll.

I'll go back and read everyone else's comments, but thought I'd put my two cents in first.

Bennett is key. He and Backlund. If Bennett and Backlund can be 50 point players (Backlund injuries are key) then the Flames are deep enough to do a lot of damage if their goaltending holds up, they have the defense core certainly.

With Monahan, Hudler, Gaudreau and help in supporting roles with Backlund and Frolik the Flames aren't one trick ponies. Big seasons from Bennett and to a lesser extent Ferland and the Flames are a three line deep team.

I would add Ferland to that.

We know what everyone else is. This season will be defined by what we get from Bennett, Backlund and Ferland.

If they all step up to where we believe they can be this year, the Flames will be borderline contenders.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Put me down for a 20-20-40 type season. That would be a big win, in my opinion. The 60+ points that Johnny put up is possible, but very not likely in today's game. He will still have some cold streaks, so a 0.5/game is still a strong season.

Johnny got his points on the first line. Bennett will not get that amount of ice time and may not play with as talented line mates. If he plays center it will be on the 3rd line as he has to learn the defensive responsibilities that go with the position. If he plays left wing on Backlund's line he'll get 2nd line minutes.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Just saw this topic now and added a poll.

I'll go back and read everyone else's comments, but thought I'd put my two cents in first.

Bennett is key. He and Backlund. If Bennett and Backlund can be 50 point players (Backlund injuries are key) then the Flames are deep enough to do a lot of damage if their goaltending holds up, they have the defense core certainly.

With Monahan, Hudler, Gaudreau and help in supporting roles with Backlund and Frolik the Flames aren't one trick ponies. Big seasons from Bennett and to a lesser extent Ferland and the Flames are a three line deep team.

Even 40 points would be fantastic and would be a deadly forward group. Frolik is a consistent 40 point guy, Bennett is a top quality rookie and Backlund was one point off that last season.

Monahan and Gaudreau are young players trending up, hopefully their numbers stay or don't go down too much, Hudler I'm expecting a drop (back to 50?).. but 40-40-40 from the 2nd line is reasonable.

I'm sure a wet blanket will roll through (Oil Stain) but off seasons sure are fun.