What is up with Sam Bennett???

[shadowlord]

Bennett's style of play has been hampered by the fear that he'll get benched for every penalty he takes. Under Hartley, he played with more of an edge. He also collected most of his points while playing on Backlund's wing; rather than 3rd line center.

As some have suggested, I'd like to see a Gaudreau-Monahan-Bennett line get a try. If it works, it would give us two true top-lines, although that leaves out Brouwer and Versteeg, I'm not sure they're well suited to bottom-6 roles.

I remember during the pre-season, Brouwer-Bennett-Tkachuk had some chemistry. I wonder why it fizzled in the regular season? Although I don't want to take Tkachuk off Backlund's line at this point...

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

My opinion of Bennett's struggles, if you will, is that they're rooted in the fact that he appears to still largely employ the same playstyle he found success with in Juniors. This is not concerning nor is it uncommon; he's in his second year and has room to grow both physically and mentally. He'll continue to put on muscle and hopefully come to the realization that you can't approach NHL defenders like OHL pylons.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Draisaitl has a pretty good line mate

Agreed. I'm not arguing whether or not he's a better player, was just saying his success this season is causing impatience with Bennett.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Way more than that:

http://dobberhockey.com/frozenpool_l...ations&sent=go

ES he's played with McDavid a lot, maybe more than any other player.

Looks like ~25% of the time, he's played with McDavid? Maroon definitely seems to be his most common linemate getting closer to 50%.

[pseudoreality]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Agreed. I'm not arguing whether or not he's a better player, was just saying his success this season is causing impatience with Bennett.

What about his success last year? Draisaitl is better, but that doesn't mean Bennett is garbage.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

When I think of a Michael Backlund that was given as much time as he has been given to slowly become the player he has I wonder if we are just as patient with Sam how awesome hell be.
How many coaches has Backs seen in his time....5? 6?

Bennet will be fine...

Backlund could end up being a good comparable to Bennett.

I am sure someone will follow up this post and try to distort it to paint me as a Bennett hater, but I think if you are objectively watching his progress as a flame his projection is less than it was on draft day.

I don't see him being good enough to centre a second line and I am not sure he is good enough to be a top line winger.

Of all of Calgary's young talent I think Bennett is the most expendable and I would be calling teams with other good youngsters to see if they might be interested in a change of scenery.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by pseudoreality

What about his success last year? Draisaitl is better, but that doesn't mean Bennett is garbage.

My Oiler fan buddies are giving me a hard time about this one lately. Still think it's far too early to crown a champ, but if that's the way we're going to go already, I like to counter with Tkachuk > Puljujarvi. And in both cases, they selected before us too. Because that's what the Oilers do

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Backlund could end up being a good comparable to Bennett.

I am sure someone will follow up this post and try to distort it to paint me as a Bennett hater, but I think if you are objectively watching his progress as a flame his projection is less than it was on draft day.

I don't see him being good enough to centre a second line and I am not sure he is good enough to be a top line winger.

Of all of Calgary's young talent I think Bennett is the most expendable and I would be calling teams with other good youngsters to see if they might be interested in a change of scenery.

I don't know about hater but you're selling Bennett hilarious short, especially offensively if you compare him to Backlund. One had 18 goals as a 19 year old, the other had 18 at the age of 24.

Bennett at 20 is on pace for similar numbers to last year, which still blows anything Backlund did out of the water until 4-5 years later. Even now a struggling Sam Bennett is showing to be on a much different level then Backlund ever was.

The 2nd half of the season should be interesting and will tell much more of the story. Ditto for the ages of 21/22 over 20. Alexander Wennberg, Mark Scheifele, Ryan Johansen are recent examples of guys that didn't have it together at twenty. Johansen had 12 points in 40 games as a 20 year old.

Did he have Backlund upside, or is it smarter to not downgrade a players upside after 100 games?

[pseudoreality]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

My Oiler fan buddies are giving me a hard time about this one lately. Still think it's far too early to crown a champ, but if that's the way we're going to go already, I like to counter with Tkachuk > Puljujarvi. And in both cases, they selected before us too. Because that's what the Oilers do

True, but it's easier to make a call on the 2014 draft than the 2016 draft at this point. Traditionally, it has been the 4th year when players have their breakout. So next summer is when you can probably really make the call on Draisailt versus Bennet and the summer of 2020 for Tkachuk and Puljujarvi.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I don't know about hater but you're selling Bennett hilarious short, especially offensively if you compare him to Backlund. One had 18 goals as a 19 year old, the other had 18 at the age of 24.

Bennett at 20 is on pace for similar numbers to last year, which still blows anything Backlund did out of the water until 4-5 years later. Even now a struggling Sam Bennett is showing to be on a much different level then Backlund ever was.

The 2nd half of the season should be interesting and will tell much more of the story. Ditto for the ages of 21/22 over 20. Alexander Wennberg, Mark Scheifele, Ryan Johansen are recent examples of guys that didn't have it together at twenty. Johansen had 12 points in 40 games as a 20 year old.

Did he have Backlund upside, or is it smarter to not downgrade a players upside after 100 games?

Bennett is definitely a better offensive player than backlund, mostly due to his shot in my opinion, but I don't know if you really addressed the substance of my argument. I don't think Bennett will be better than Brodie, Monahan, gaudreau, Hamilton or tkachuk. I think this far he is the odd man out in that group and from a team building standpoint it is difficult to see where he fits in in the future of the club.

I think the flames are still desperate for another top 4 defender 26 or under and it makes the most sense to move Bennett to acquire that piece if he has the necessary value.

Agree or disagree that out of the aforementioned group that you would move Bennett first?

[Erick Estrada]

All the teams top offensive players are down this season from Gio to Gaudreau so no surprise it's extended to Bennett. The lack of skilled wingers on this team is hurting guys like Bennett as how many points do you expect him to collect playing with offensive black holes such as Ferland?

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I don't think Bennett will be better than Brodie, Monahan, gaudreau, Hamilton or tkachuk. I think this far he is the odd man out in that group and from a team building standpoint it is difficult to see where he fits in in the future of the club.

So - in your opinion - because Bennett wont' be more valuable than our:

- top two young d-men
- top line centre
- two top wingers

He's trade bate?

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Agree or disagree that out of the aforementioned group that you would move Bennett first?

Disagree. As strongly as possible. A team needs more than 1 quality centre. The idea that because you don't value him as much as Monahan/Gaudreau/Tkachuck he's a forward that can be shipped out is beyond perplexing.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

So - in your opinion - because Bennett wont' be more valuable than our:

- top two young d-men
- top line centre
- two top wingers

He's trade bate?

More or less, ya. I don't think he is good enough to be a second line centre, likely a second line winger, and as such the team should be at least contemplating using him to get a more needed asset.

Disagree. As strongly as possible. A team needs more than 1 quality centre. The idea that because you don't value him as much as Monahan/Gaudreau/Tkachuck he's a forward that can be shipped out is beyond perplexing.

And I don't see Sam Bennett being a second line centre for a cup contending roster, so if you can get a player in a different position that contributes more to the success of the roster then you should look at it.

I know there are many posters on this board allergic to trading anyone off the roster that isn't bollig or mason Raymond(see discussion on moving glencross), but in NHL trades you have to give to get and unless you want to give Hamilton gaudreau or Monahan, Bennett is the next best choice.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Bennett is definitely a better offensive player than backlund, mostly due to his shot in my opinion, but I don't know if you really addressed the substance of my argument. I don't think Bennett will be better than Brodie, Monahan, gaudreau, Hamilton or tkachuk. I think this far he is the odd man out in that group and from a team building standpoint it is difficult to see where he fits in in the future of the club.

I think the flames are still desperate for another top 4 defender 26 or under and it makes the most sense to move Bennett to acquire that piece if he has the necessary value.

Agree or disagree that out of the aforementioned group that you would move Bennett first?

It makes no sense to move Bennett. For anything. Yes we need another #4 D. But guess what we'll need when we trade Bennett away. Another young top 6 C. And thus the vicious cycle will continue.

Flames have waited 20 years to have a 1-2-3 punch down the middle like we have now. With the exception of Backlund, who has only recently come into his own, our 1-2-3 punch is extremely young and has room to grow.

Remember how excited we all were during Bennett's rookie season as the great potential he had? Now that he's having a bit of a sophomore slump, some want to trade him away for a fresh change or whatever. Common.

It's going to be hilarious when Tkachuk inevitably has some sort of down year, maybe as soon as his sophomore season, and some want to trade him away.

I'm willing to wait another couple seasons as our young top 6 C's grow and mature. Hopefully BT is also.

[home_sweet_dome]

The Flames won't be serious contenders until they have a legit #1 center.

As much as we all hope that Monahan or Bennett will fill that spot, the reality is neither one is anywhere close to that this year and there is a very real possibility neither guy ever becomes that.

i think Bennett is better suited as a winger even tho of course it'd be better if he's a C.

The big cause of concern is he looked his best his rookie year and has regressed ever since. Definitely trending in the wrong direction.

[Flash Walken]

I think it is easier to draft offensive centres than it is to draft top 4 defenders.

If the flames want to win with their current core group they absolutely need to start surrounding the group with better players.

This roster isnt close to being a contender and defenders need longer to develop than forwards, so if they don't have capable defenders already on the system they are going to significantly delay contention while your key forwards pass through their most productive offensive seasons.

The flames need NHL defenders now which is part of the reason they went all in on Hamilton and why they were in on Tyler Myers and why I think they will make a trade to add another younger defender at some point this year.

Better to take your chances with drafting an offensive forward with a bottom 10 finish this year than attempting to draft a defender.

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by devo22

20 years old, 2nd year pro, growing pains, still adjusting to playing center in the NHL.

Some fans really have no patience anymore.

Further proven by those crowning him the superior draft pick to Draisaitl a few years back. He could still be, who knows? But it's a long game projecting players as teenagers. I think he'll be alright but not sure he'll ever become a #1 centre. Might be better fit for the wing like Gagner.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I know there are many posters on this board allergic to trading anyone off the roster that isn't bollig or mason Raymond(see discussion on moving glencross), but in NHL trades you have to give to get and unless you want to give Hamilton gaudreau or Monahan, Bennett is the next best choice.

This is pretty rich coming from someone who's written off a young player's career as a potential top six player in his sophomore season.

Grossly premature at this point, and one of the strongest examples the contingent of fans on this board completely lacking both patience and context.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Bennett is definitely a better offensive player than backlund, mostly due to his shot in my opinion, but I don't know if you really addressed the substance of my argument. I don't think Bennett will be better than Brodie, Monahan, gaudreau, Hamilton or tkachuk. I think this far he is the odd man out in that group and from a team building standpoint it is difficult to see where he fits in in the future of the club.

I think the flames are still desperate for another top 4 defender 26 or under and it makes the most sense to move Bennett to acquire that piece if he has the necessary value.

Agree or disagree that out of the aforementioned group that you would move Bennett first?

Disagree. I'm not against moving any of those players including Bennett if the deal makes sense but I don't know about ranking them as odd men out. The Flames have Monahan/Backlund down the middle and Gaudreau/Tkachuk on the left side but that right wing is disgustingly open long term. If Bennett is in fact a better winger we should explore the possibility of how good he is on his off wing, that's where Frolik works now. Calgary is desperate for another guy to slot into that 2nd pairing, they're also desperate for depth and top line talent up front. When you have two open wing positions a guy as talented as Bennett isn't on the outside looking in IMO. Yeah he's probably hard to place right now but that's because he's struggling and we're not sure if he's on the wing or down the middle. I'm more then patient enough to see how it plays out though. And no that has nothing to do with allergies to moving key guys.

If the right deal comes along move him, move any player but I don't see him as the odd men out, there still aren't enough quality players for anyone to be on the outs.

There are still drafts, there are still draft picks and there are still quality prospects (Kylington, Andersson, Fox on the blueline) to slot into some of these positions. I also think moving Bennett creates a massive gap down the middle, it goes from potential core of the team to iffy. You've got Monahan then Backlund, who is due for a big raise in 18 months, a raise that I wouldn't be comfortable fitting into our cap. As much as I love him as a player I'm not sure this level of play will keep up for 2-3 years.

The right move might be moving Backlund. Ship him out a year before the big deal is due and let another team solve that problem. Islanders still moving Hamonic? I have no idea, spitballing here.

Anywho I hope that addressed the substance of your post more but the main substance of mine was that moving a guy like Bennett has massive potential to bite you in the ass. I'm preaching patience, because this guy has big time potential, more then Backlund and more then Monahan.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

More or less, ya. I don't think he is good enough to be a second line centre, likely a second line winger, and as such the team should be at least contemplating using him to get a more needed asset.

Lol...he's halfway through his 2nd full NHL season FFS