I keep seeing this said a lot around here, but I've yet to see a single quote/article stating this. Can anyone prove this was said? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But I've never seen direct proof this was ever said.
Hartley most definitely said this in an interview. "Sam Bennett would of made the team out of training camp". I believe it was an interview in December when asked about Sam Bennett's progression and what the near future holds for him.
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He’s getting free lessons. He has a chance to look around and soak in a little bit,” said head coach Bob Hartley, who’d admittedly rather see Bennett playing, but knows this is positive from a negative.
- That definitely doesn't say rather playing IN THE NHL, just playing. AND:
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“This kid, he’s gonna be a special one. He’s eager. If we were to listen to him, not only would he be skating with us, he’d be playing right now. He’s champing at the bit, to a point he’s almost annoying.”
It’s a good bet Bennett will play this season. It’s hard to believe it would be with the Flames — after all, plunking a teen coming off major surgery into the NHL fray as it ramps up further makes little sense — but the team has said a decision where hasn’t been made.
It’s most likely he’ll end up with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, who’d love the boost Bennett could bring.
- Definitely makes it sound like management/Hartley don't want to put him in the NHL right now.
And while the Calgary Flames fourth pick overall last summer was all smiles following his hour-long solo spin, head coach Bob Hartley didn’t even wait for the highly-touted centre to shower before throwing cold water on his excitement.
“The one thing with Sam is that he’s going to tell you the opposite but he’s far from being close,” Hartley said.
“We are in absolutely no rush to bring him back. As much as we like him, as much as we would like him to play tonight, we will not risk anything as an organization.
“We’ve had meetings and he’s like a tiger in a cage that didn’t eat for a month. He’s declaring himself probably ready to play tonight. That’s who he is and that’s what we appreciate from him but there are stop signs all over."
That doesn't really sound like Hartley is planning on putting him back in?
Estimates are that Bennett, the fourth overall pick in the 2014 entry draft, is a month or more away from playing. Still up for discussion is where that playing time may occur – with the Flames, where he is entitled to a nine-game cameo before a decision about his status for this season has to be determined; or back in Kingston, playing for Doug Gilmour and the Ontario Hockey League’s Frontenacs.
Since Bennett was considered a medium-to-long shot to make the team this season anyway; a return to junior is almost certain. Maybe the only real decision is whether to drop the carrot of playing a handful of NHL games this season into his lap, just so he can get a real-life taste.
The counter argument is the risk attached to that course of action – thrusting an untried teenager into the lineup when the rest of the league is playing at mid-season pace.
This is opinion, but they probably have more inside info than I do.
I only spent like 15 minutes looking for information but nothing I read even seems to suggest that they are planning on putting him in the NHL for good, outside of maybe a few games to let him either prove it or just get a feel. I couldn't find any quotes that he was a lock to make the team if he hadn't been injured.
Last edited by Scoutski; 01-30-2015 at 10:38 AM.
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I think the thing was that they were planning on keeping him for at least the 9 games, meaning he would be on the opening night roster so he "made the team". It's not exactly the same as making the team, as this was probably the plan from day one regardless.
I think what most people are citing is mostly observation of the fact that he was one of, if not the most, effective forwards in the games that he played in pre-season, and therefore would have been a lock for his 9 games.
I suspect they likely would have sent him back before 10 unless he really tore it up and forced their hand ala Monahan.
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Same. Don't forget what Treliving said before the season:
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"My expectation, quite frankly, is I'm preparing myself for Sam to be a junior player this year. Sam's going to have to make the team and he's going to have to make a real compelling case to be here. We're looking for players, so don't think because you're a young player that there's not opportunity. You're going to have to earn it, but there's an opportunity."
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Sam Bennett is not physically mature enough to take the rigors of the NHL. That was the knock on him prior to the draft and the same problem exists. He's still a pretty thin 18 year old kid. There is no need to rush him, even if you think he has the 'skill' to play in the NHL. Don't pull an Oiler an Nugent-Hopkins the best center prospect we have ever drafted. Send him to junior to get his game back together and see if he can make the team out of camp this coming fall.
No. He may be good enough to play in the NHL. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily in his best long-term interest to play now.
I agree this is possibly the case. But I continue to counter that it is not necessarily so.
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Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
RNH and Draisatl were both good enough to play in the NHL in their rookie seasons.
No. Draisaitl was CLEARLY not good enough to play in the NHL this season; at least not in the role the Oilers created for him. And so what if Nugent Hopkins suffered some setbacks because of injuries in his rookie and sophomore seasons? This also does not demonstrate anything at all relevant about Sam Bennett. Each player is unique, and should be treated as such.
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I thought Treliving did a great job of not saying anything.
Yup: " Well, we're kind of playing our cards close to our chest on Bennett right now, when we're close to the time to make such a decision we'll let you know."
When Kingston's season is over, Bennett can play in the AHL this season. Many players from the CHL have done this. Look at our Brett Kulak's stats to see the proof.
Yup: " Well, we're kind of playing our cards close to our chest on Bennett right now, when we're close to the time to make such a decision we'll let you know."
So what did you want him to say? ‘We haven't made our decision yet, but when we do, by golly, this is what it's going to be’?
There's no need to decide where Bennett will play until he is ready to play. And it would actually be irresponsible to make that decision when it isn't needed yet and they are still gathering the information that the decision will be based on. The most important information, of course, will be how he looks in practice in the coming weeks and whether he can handle contact at full speed.
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So what did you want him to say? ‘We haven't made our decision yet, but when we do, by golly, this is what it's going to be’?
There's no need to decide where Bennett will play until he is ready to play. And it would actually be irresponsible to make that decision when it isn't needed yet and they are still gathering the information that the decision will be based on. The most important information, of course, will be how he looks in practice in the coming weeks and whether he can handle contact at full speed.
I think they were more rebutting the people who were saying that it sounds like their sending him back to junior
