Sam Bennett

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Pavel Datsyuk was forced to play bottom-6 grinder minutes with guys like Draper and Maltby until he was TWENTY FIVE.

I can count on one hand the number of NHL players whose development I think suffered significantly by being pushed down the roster at a young age.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Pavel Datsyuk was forced to play bottom-6 grinder minutes with guys like Draper and Maltby until he was TWENTY FIVE.

I can count on one hand the number of NHL players whose development I think suffered significantly by being pushed down the roster at a young age.

Datsyuk played on a line with Brett Hull his first two seasons in the NHL.

[schteve_d]

Not that I think he should, just for knowledge's sake, why is it that Bennett can't be sent to the AHL? I've seen it mentioned a few times.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by schteve_d

Not that I think he should, just for knowledge's sake, why is it that Bennett can't be sent to the AHL? I've seen it mentioned a few times.

You need to be 20 that year to play in the AHL if you played in CHL.
Bennett turns 20 next year.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by schteve_d

Not that I think he should, just for knowledge's sake, why is it that Bennett can't be sent to the AHL? I've seen it mentioned a few times.

The NHL/CHL agreement requires any player who was drafted from a CHL team who will not celebrate his 20th birthday before the end of the calendar year in which the season started to be returned to his CHL club for the remainder of its season before he can be assigned to the AHL.

Bennett turns 20 in 2016, so he must be returned to the CHL this season if the Flames decide to demote him.

[schteve_d]

Originally Posted by getbak

Bennett turns 20 in 1996, so he must be returned to the CHL this season if the Flames decide to demote him.

I know what you meant!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by schteve_d

I know what you meant!

D'oh.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Datsyuk played on a line with Brett Hull his first two seasons in the NHL.

Sometimes, yes. But that's because Hull was often a 3rd liner on that team at even-strength.

Datsyuk played 13-ish mins per game as a rookie.

That team was STACKED.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by getbak

The NHL/CHL agreement requires any player who was drafted from a CHL team who will not celebrate his 20th birthday before the end of the calendar year in which the season started to be returned to his CHL club for the remainder of its season before he can be assigned to the AHL.

Bennett turns 20 in 2016, so he must be returned to the CHL this season if the Flames decide to demote him.

I believe there is also a rule that if a player plays 4 years of junior, he can be sent to the AHL. This would allow a player who played CHL hockey at 15 to go minor pro a year early. I think there is an OHL player prospect that fits this criteria this coming draft that isn't that highly rated.