[News] With the 4th overall pick the Flames select C Sam Bennett

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by New Era

Then they really are mismanaged to the n-th degree up there. Fitness and strength can be developed over time. God given talent, drive and instinct you are born with. If you don't have it, you never will. Swing and a miss by the Oilers scouts and management if that was really the deciding factor.

It seems like they never look past current moment, which is exactly how you fail a rebuild. I mentioned it before but I will really like to know what Sam looks like in January/February because then he will be the same age as Leon going into the draft. 8 months at that age is pretty significant for developing. He was 178 at the draft and came in heavier at Flames training camp. Draistl is listed at 210 on the Oilers website, which is 2 lbs heavier than he was at the draft (I am assuming that is his correct weight because it has been updated from the draft).

[sureLoss]

According to this McKenzie article the Flames plan to play Bennett in the remaining 3 pre-season games to determine if he gets any regular season games:
http://www.tsn.ca/mckenzie-canada-s-...unfold-1.94190

The Calgary Flames know in their heart of hearts the best place for first-rounder Sam Bennett to develop this season is probably in the Ontario Hockey League, but he was outstanding in a pre-season game last week and the Flames are dealing with a lot of injuries to forwards. So the upshot is Bennett will get into three pre-season games this week. How he fares in those will determine if he hangs in for a regular season trial.

[edslunch]

It's easy to find fault with the Oiler's choice when the Flames didn't need to make a choice. For all we know they might have chosen Draistl too

Edit: and because the oilers are no good

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by edslunch

It's easy to find fault with the Oiler's choice when the Flames didn't need to make a choice. For all we know they might have chosen Draistl too

Edit: and because the oilers are no good

From what Burke said when first commenting on the possible draft picks, Draistl wasn't thought that highly of. Later when it appeared we might get Draistl if the other three were gone, he talked him up a little.

[Hackey]

Still a tad early to be deciding if they made the right pick or not.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

As if the human drive to pursue a greater return for one's skills requires any sort of special education.

The NHL in 2014 is in a different world than the league of the '90s. There is almost no chance that the fiscal constraints that prevented the Flames from keeping Gilmour will present the same problem in the foreseeable future.

No I support anyone who wants more money for themselves....what grinds me about Gilmour is that he was under contract and he sat out mid season.

It kind of tarnished Gilmour's legacy here. You can really make a case for him being the greatest player to ever wear the jersey (if you exclude longevity).

[Robo]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

From what Burke said when first commenting on the possible draft picks, Draistl wasn't thought that highly of. Later when it appeared we might get Draistl if the other three were gone, he talked him up a little.

I remember him calling draistl the german kid in an interview I got the impression he wasnt to high on him eithier

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think Burke would have gladly picked Draisaitl if Bennett was taken. Draisaitl and Monahan up the middle would have been a nightmare for some teams without size on their team.

Bennett is still an awesome pick, and is still the steal at #4.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

If Bennett doesn't make the team, are there *any* options other than returning him to junior. It's obviously important to take advantage of every year, and I wonder if going to junior will end up being less productive for his development? He doesn't seem to be a kid who would just coast because he can, but it would be nice to see him presented with a new challenge if he is cut.

[formulate]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

If Bennett doesn't make the team, are there *any* options other than returning him to junior. It's obviously important to take advantage of every year, and I wonder if going to junior will end up being less productive for his development? He doesn't seem to be a kid who would just coast because he can, but it would be nice to see him presented with a new challenge if he is cut.

Unless you want to trade him to Buffalo where he could crack the roster or let him take a year off hockey, it's either NHL Flames or junior.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think Burke would have gladly picked Draisaitl if Bennett was taken. Draisaitl and Monahan up the middle would have been a nightmare for some teams without size on their team.

Bennett is still an awesome pick, and is still the steal at #4.

Not sure I agree - it isn't just about size... neither Monahan nor Draisaitl are very physical. Monahan/Bennett is a much preferred combination, IMO.

And I have never been of the opinion that Bennett and Draisaitl are similar talents - I think there is (will be) clear separation there.

But as I've said before, I don't think the Oilers had any choice - a combination of RNH, Bennett, and Gagner just looked too small overall for them. They painted themselves into a corner by drafting Hall, RNH, Eberle, Gagner, Yakupov, etc and that dictated that they had to go with Draisaitl.

(which is hilarious and ironic, because I think Bennett will be by far the more physical player, and I doubt the size difference will be all that much in 2 or 3 years when Bennett has matured and caught up)

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Not sure I agree - it isn't just about size... neither Monahan nor Draisaitl are very physical. Monahan/Bennett is a much preferred combination, IMO.

And I have never been of the opinion that Bennett and Draisaitl are similar talents - I think there is (will be) clear separation there.

But as I've said before, I don't think the Oilers had any choice - a combination of RNH, Bennett, and Gagner just looked too small overall for them. They painted themselves into a corner by drafting Hall, RNH, Eberle, Gagner, Yakupov, etc and that dictated that they had to go with Draisaitl.

(which is hilarious and ironic, because I think Bennett will be by far the more physical player, and I doubt the size difference will be all that much in 2 or 3 years when Bennett has matured and caught up)

But Draisaitl does more pull ups, so clearly Draisaitl is the better player.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

If Bennett doesn't make the team, are there *any* options other than returning him to junior. It's obviously important to take advantage of every year, and I wonder if going to junior will end up being less productive for his development? He doesn't seem to be a kid who would just coast because he can, but it would be nice to see him presented with a new challenge if he is cut.

This is not something that should be of any concern. Bennett is REALLY young, and he has only played two seasons of juniour hockey. It is common practice for the vast majority of NHL players to play AT LEAST three years at that level, and then most often to play additional time at the AHL level. Based on what we have seen, there is no reason to expect that Bennett will not win a NHL job next year as a 19-year old, and this would still have him ahead of schedule.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Not sure I agree - it isn't just about size... neither Monahan nor Draisaitl are very physical. Monahan/Bennett is a much preferred combination, IMO...

I agree with everything you said, but in addition, I think that the combination of Monahan/Draisaitl is much less appealing because of the absence of speed down the middle. Monahan is a decent skater but I'm not sure that Draisaitl will ever even get to his level. Bennett's much better skating and speed creates a whole new element for this team.

Furthermore, the same problem that Draisaitl's skating potentially caused for the Flames is also shared by the Oilers, whose forward group is not especially fast to begin with.

[albertGQ]

Bennett won't pull a Gilmour. You can't renegoitate existing contracts like you used to be able to when Killer did it.

[Enoch Root]

Great point, Textcritic

[Fire of the Phoenix]

People forget that unrestricted free agency didn't really exist back then either. The team basically owned you until they didn't want you anymore. You have to see the dispute in the context of when it happened. Also I believe Gilmour was most angry about how the process went down with Risebrough being all chummy with the arbitrator. I really think his legacy would be viewed as more positive if his trade wasn't completely butchered, helping usher in the dark years. Being traded for garbage was hardly his fault. I think it's time to move on from vilifying Doug Gilmour and focus on the good he brought this franchise. No Gilmour means no cup after all. It would be a travesty if his #39 isn't honored at some point.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

People forget that unrestricted free agency didn't really exist back then either. The team basically owned you until they didn't want you anymore. You have to see the dispute in the context of when it happened. Also I believe Gilmour was most angry about how the process went down with Risebrough being all chummy with the arbitrator. I really think his legacy would be viewed as more positive if his trade wasn't completely butchered, helping usher in the dark years. Being traded for garbage was hardly his fault. I think it's time to move on from vilifying Doug Gilmour and focus on the good he brought this franchise. No Gilmour means no cup after all. It would be a travesty if his #39 isn't honored at some point.

In spite of everything that happened, Gilmour is still my all time favourite Flame. I hope Bennett has been getting blood transfusions from him.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

In spite of everything that happened, Gilmour is still my all time favourite Flame. I hope Bennett has been getting blood transfusions from him.

I would like to go on record and state that I for one do not hope that Sam Bennett has been receiving blood transfusions from anyone.

[indes]

More pull ups = higher tdpg.