Pronman: top 50 NHL prospects

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I think the question with regard to Bennett is whether he plays center or on the wing for the Flames next year.

My question is why are fans in such a hurry to move Bennett on to the wing? It makes no sense to me. I have seen this posted a bunch of times now, and I don't get it. He is the best centre prospect this team has drafted by a country mile in more than TWO DECADES. He will make the Flames as a centre.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

My question is why are fans in such a hurry to move Bennett on to the wing? It makes no sense to me. I have seen this posted a bunch of times now, and I don't get it. He is the best centre prospect this team has drafted by a country mile in more than TWO DECADES. He will make the Flames as a centre.

Most great centers start as a winger (generational talents aside). Seguin, is a quick example. It's much better to give him time to adapt to the speed of the game before saddling him with all kinds of defensive responsibility

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Most great centers start as a winger (generational talents aside). Seguin, is a quick example. It's much better to give him time to adapt to the speed of the game before saddling him with all kinds of defensive responsibility

I agree with this, and wouldn't be surprised to see Bennett start on the wing. However there have been multiple posts stating they think Bennett will end up as a winger for the Flames, with no reasoning behind it.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Most great centers start as a winger (generational talents aside). Seguin, is a quick example. It's much better to give him time to adapt to the speed of the game before saddling him with all kinds of defensive responsibility

Really? Seguin was brought into a Stanley Cup championship team, so he's a real bad example. I can't think of many "great centers" who were not brought in to play their projected position, unless they were behind some well established players at that position. Any more examples?

The point is, Bennett is the best center we've drafted in possibly team history, so I just don't see him playing wing. Monahan was brought right in and played at center. I see zero reason for Bennett to start on the wing.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

My question is why are fans in such a hurry to move Bennett on to the wing? It makes no sense to me. I have seen this posted a bunch of times now, and I don't get it. He is the best centre prospect this team has drafted by a country mile in more than TWO DECADES. He will make the Flames as a centre.

Because some fans want to rush him into the lineup and given the logjam at the center position they feel he could be fit on the wing.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by New Era

Really? Seguin was brought into a Stanley Cup championship team, so he's a real bad example. I can't think of many "great centers" who were not brought in to play their projected position, unless they were behind some well established players at that position. Any more examples?

The point is, Bennett is the best center we've drafted in possibly team history, so I just don't see him playing wing. Monahan was brought right in and played at center. I see zero reason for Bennett to start on the wing.

Nathan MacKinnon is also playing on the wing for now.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

Mantha was out for 2 months with a fractured fibia. He missed the whole training camp and just started skating some time in November. Already scored some nice goals and had some nice plays in the AHL. The numbers arent there yet. But they will definitely come. This is one of my favorite prospects. I would have him in the top 10 prospects based on the fact he is big, can skate very well for his size and has an amazing scoring touch. Put up over 100 goals in his last 2 seasons in the Q.

If I was the GM for detriot I wouldnt be worried. In time he will be a good nhl player if not a superstar.

Yep he will be fine and the Wings won't rush him as I wouldn't expect him to set foot in the NHL for at least two years.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Nathan MacKinnon is also playing on the wing for now.

It's not really working out well for him though but the Avs like the Oilers bring up their guys right out of the draft. That said if any kid could make that jump it was MacKinnon but it just goes to show that there's a development curve for even the most talented of prospects.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by New Era

Really? Seguin was brought into a Stanley Cup championship team, so he's a real bad example. I can't think of many "great centers" who were not brought in to play their projected position, unless they were behind some well established players at that position. Any more examples?

The point is, Bennett is the best center we've drafted in possibly team history, so I just don't see him playing wing. Monahan was brought right in and played at center. I see zero reason for Bennett to start on the wing.

Galchenyuk and Seguin are the most recent examples I can think of.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Most great centers start as a winger (generational talents aside). Seguin, is a quick example. It's much better to give him time to adapt to the speed of the game before saddling him with all kinds of defensive responsibility

I get that, but I'm not convinced that this is necessarily the same situation faced by the Flames an Bennett. Quite a few great centres started at centre as well. I have always seen a similar trajectory between Bennett and Matt Duchene, who incidentally began his NHL career at centre, on a young Avalanche team in a somewhat similar situation as today's Flames.

In any event, I see no reason why the Flames would not start him at centre in camp, and go from there.

[GioforPM]

It's certainly not unheard of for centres to start at wing: Backes, Backstrom.

Bennett would have to displace Stajan or Shore. Backlund and Monahan aren't going anywhere.

[saillias]

We could always start him on the 3rd pairing...

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Something of the same situation as Poirier although Poirier has 6 more games with double the production.

As far as I know its nothing like the same situation. You can stay in decent shape and even skate before a shoulder injury is fully healed IE bennett. The tibia is your shin bone and Mantha couldnt do any type of lower body exercise at all. Any how Im not saying Mantha shouldnt be doing better - but that I understand why his numbers are what they are. He was off skates for a few months and had to rehab and strengthen on his one leg basically starting from scratch.

Either way - he will be a good NHL player and so will Emile.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

I agree with this, and wouldn't be surprised to see Bennett start on the wing. However there have been multiple posts stating they think Bennett will end up as a winger for the Flames, with no reasoning behind it.

When you look at his highlights from junior, it looks like a lot of them come from him coming down the wing. He definitely sees the ice well that way.