The Legend of Sam Bennett

[kukkudo]

Sam Bennett playing like the player we thought he would be. Joel Quinvelle deserves some credit if he can become a consistent player.

[tkflames]

I don't deny that it sucks Bennett never had a chance to center legitimate NHLers...but I can't think of any combination of two assets (players or picks) that I wouldn't trade for Huberdeau. Then consider that Huberdeau doesnt even need to be on the first line...

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Yeah, and that's the issue.

He played on Monahan's wing.

That line spent all its time defending because Monahan's not a great defensive center and Bennett's not a right winger.

If Bennett had been centering Gaudreau and a natural winger like Mangiapane, you might have a case.

He also never got the ACTUAL top6 icetime that he's getting in Florida.

Well I’m not going to disagree with you in regards to Monahan, I’ve had major issues with Monahan for years. But the Flames never had the pieces to make Bennett work here. It’s that simple. They needed their former 4th overall pick to be a driver who can elevate average players better, not the other way around.

Bennett never gets top 6 ice time in the playoffs and he still does great work. It all comes down to Bennett’s game, if he keeps it simple, hits and plays nasty in front of the net, he can be productive. If he tries to deke around defenders and go roof from 20 feet out for 82 games, then he’ll struggle.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

I think Monahan and Johnny are hard to have chemistry, or play with. Not a good fit for Bennett. Maybe coaching was an issue, or maybe Bennett was lacking confidence with the Flames? The stark difference in the way Darryl handled Bennett vs Ward; Ward was benching Bennett, Sutter was giving Bennett opportunities and letting hid run with it. Same thing Florida is doing! Bennett looks happy and re-energized and even if he does settle down we are seeing some progress we didn't see with the Flames.

I don’t understand the narrative of Sam Bennett with Darryl = good whereas Sam Bennett with = automatically bad. Seems like a lot of confirmation bias there based on the hatred for Ward vs the love for Darryl. Sure, Darryl was rolling the lines more so Bennett was a playing more minutes and that likely benefitted him. But it’s not like Bennett was painting the Dome red with all the goals he was scoring. Hell, Johnny Gaudreau’s numbers fell off a damn cliff once Sutter arrived and no one batted an eye. That was a much worse problem because it ended up costing the Flames a ton of games because they couldn’t score. Does that make Darryl a worse coach then Ward because his star players struggled under him? No it doesn’t.

I swear, coaching talk is going to be the reason I end up quitting CP and going another route. I don’t think there’s another topic that makes my eyes roll more than ####ing coaching talk.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

the Flames never had the pieces to make Bennett work here.

They did.

Every.
Single.
Year.

Year 1 - Gaudreau and Frolik. Heck, if Treliving doesn't waive Byron, maybe even Byron-Bennett-Frolik would have been an absolutely suffocating line to play against.
Year 2 - Tkachuk and Frolik, Gaudreau and Tkachuk, Gaudreau and Ferland, Tkachuk and Ferland, Ferland and Frolik
Year 3 - Gaudreau and Ferland, heck Versteeg/Jagr seemed to do great on his wing so Gulutzan splits that line up after two or three dominant games.
Year 4 - Gaudreau and Lindholm/Mangiapane/Czarnik. Maybe even try Jankowski at RW opposite Gaudreau.
Year 5 - Gaudreau and Lindholm/Mangiapane/Dube
Year 6 - Gaudreau and Lindholm/Mangiapane/Dube

And maybe he would have developed into that line driver you describe, if, maybe he had played with these high skill players with big ice time from the beginning. Development tends to follow big roles. I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of years from now Bennett is a line driver.

All he's ever needed to play with, are players who are fast and skilled.

The idea that it needs to be Jonathan Huberdeau is BS. He's probably had more points with Anthony Duclair than he has with Huberdeau. Duclair, who was a free agent last off season and signed a cheap deal.

Versteeg was slow.
Jagr was slow.
Brouwer was slow and not skilled.
Jankowski wasn't skilled and also was an inferior center to Bennett
Chiasson wasn't skilled
Reider wasn't skilled
Lazar wasn't skilled
Neal was slow and couldn't shoot worth a damn that year no matter how prime the opportunity
Czarnik actually was fast and skilled... so Peters scratched him instead of putting him on Bennett's wing.
Lucic is slow.
Nordstrom is not skilled.
Sean Monahan is slow and as I mentioned, puts Bennett out of his natural position just like Jankowski.
Dube is fast and skilled. So what did Geoff Ward too? Starts Bennett on a line with Lucic and Nordstrom and then wonders why the player requests a ####ing trade.

That is the players Sam Bennett has played with.

Ryan and Backlund are just about the only legitimately skilled/speedy linemates the guy has ever had. And you know what the issue is? Bennett's better off as a center than as a winger to these guys. Not that he wasn't productive with those two (he was)

[Joborule]

Flames could really use a player like Sam Bennett right now judging the play of Monahan and Backlund.

I think those two on the roster along with Lindholm really created the mishandling of Bennett. Forcing him to be a winger or play with scrubs who can't do anything with the pucks. Didn't let him have time to settle into being a centre with players that actually can produce offense here and there, and give him a legit shot of being a top 6 centre.

Damn shame, but is ultra Flames.

[RedMan12]

Classic Flames move. Bennett is a beast. We get what we deserve.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Bennett played several games with Monahan and Gaudreau this season and in the past. My citation will be several posters who can verify this. It was a pretty big story line at times in CP.

It is true, and he was their most productive linemate, even in the Ward times. Which isn't saying much, but it's something.

[dino7c]

He is playing like a bull in a china shop and getting a ton of breaks...good for him but I have my doubts that it is sustainable. Wouldn't be the first player to have a streak like this with a new team.

We will see where things settle

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

They did.

Every.
Single.
Year.

Year 1 - Gaudreau and Frolik. Heck, if Treliving doesn't waive Byron, maybe even Byron-Bennett-Frolik would have been an absolutely suffocating line to play against.
Year 2 - Tkachuk and Frolik, Gaudreau and Tkachuk, Gaudreau and Ferland, Tkachuk and Ferland, Ferland and Frolik
Year 3 - Gaudreau and Ferland, heck Versteeg/Jagr seemed to do great on his wing so Gulutzan splits that line up after two or three dominant games.
Year 4 - Gaudreau and Lindholm/Mangiapane/Czarnik. Maybe even try Jankowski at RW opposite Gaudreau.
Year 5 - Gaudreau and Lindholm/Mangiapane/Dube
Year 6 - Gaudreau and Lindholm/Mangiapane/Dube

And maybe he would have developed into that line driver you describe, if, maybe he had played with these high skill players with big ice time from the beginning. Development tends to follow big roles. I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of years from now Bennett is a line driver.

All he's ever needed to play with, are players who are fast and skilled.

The idea that it needs to be Jonathan Huberdeau is BS. He's probably had more points with Anthony Duclair than he has with Huberdeau. Duclair, who was a free agent last off season and signed a cheap deal.

Versteeg was slow.
Jagr was slow.
Brouwer was slow and not skilled.
Jankowski wasn't skilled and also was an inferior center to Bennett
Chiasson wasn't skilled
Reider wasn't skilled
Lazar wasn't skilled
Neal was slow and couldn't shoot worth a damn that year no matter how prime the opportunity
Czarnik actually was fast and skilled... so Peters scratched him instead of putting him on Bennett's wing.
Lucic is slow.
Nordstrom is not skilled.
Sean Monahan is slow and as I mentioned, puts Bennett out of his natural position just like Jankowski.
Dube is fast and skilled. So what did Geoff Ward too? Starts Bennett on a line with Lucic and Nordstrom and then wonders why the player requests a ####ing trade.

That is the players Sam Bennett has played with.

Ryan and Backlund are just about the only legitimately skilled/speedy linemates the guy has ever had. And you know what the issue is? Bennett's better off as a center than as a winger to these guys. Not that he wasn't productive with those two (he was)

Gaudreau and Bennett have never worked out together though, so continually point to Gaudreau as somebody that could’ve worked, when it hasn’t, doesn’t help out your point.

Also, Ward asked Bennett what position he wanted to play and Bennett said center, so he tried him out with Lucic again who did great with in the summer. Lucic-Bennett-Dube were reunited at certain times this season and they just couldn’t recapture the same magic they had. So Ward moved Bennett around to try to find a fit and like every other year and with every other coach, it didn’t work out.

It also doesn’t have to be just Huberdeau. Hockey is very plug and play, it could be anybody on the left or right wing, but as long as they’re good along the boards at getting the puck out of their own zone and in to transition, then that would be more helpful for Bennett because that’s not one of his strengths. I think that’s why Lucic worked so well with Bennett because Lucic is excellent along the boards, good at taking contact and still getting the puck to this centerman. I love Gaudreau, but he’s terrible at this, that’s why he and Bennett don’t work out. They’d both be hemmed in their own zone constantly.

Lastly, you either are a driver or your not in my opinion. If the typical responses to defend player X is, he needs better line mates or he needs more opportunity, then to me, you’re not a driver because generally speaking, regardless of where a driver plays, that player creates offense out of nothing and elevates their line mates. Sam Bennett is not that. Just look at the goals he has scored so far, he’s barely touched the puck on any of sequences. The dynamic guys around him can make the plays and do the heavier lifting in that area. But with the grit and edge Bennett plays with (which are actually kind of rare traits so he’s quite valuable in a sense), he completes their line by doing what Huberdeau and Duclair cannot do, be heavy and play in the guts of the game.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He is playing like a bull in a china shop and getting a ton of breaks...good for him but I have my doubts that it is sustainable. Wouldn't be the first player to have a streak like this with a new team.

We will see where things settle

When will we see?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Last 10 games

Sam Bennett (4 GP w Cgy, 6 w Fla)
4 G 8 A 12 points , +11

Matthew Tkachuk
0 G 3 assists, 3 points, -1

Ouch

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Last 10 games

Sam Bennett (4 GP w Cgy, 6 w Fla)
4 G 8 A 12 points , +11

Matthew Tkachuk
0 G 3 assists, 3 points, -1

Ouch

Hits: 25 to 12

[Fischy13]

Maybe better here than the trade and speculation threat I posted it in:

Did anyone see the tweet or hear the clip on 960 today, Sutter's comments to Bennett. "I wish I had more time with you. I know Joel Quenneville and I'll give him a call." - Darryl Sutter to Sam Bennett after finding out he had been traded.

Are you F'n kidding me. That says Darryl wanted that guy around. Hard working, playoff performer, physical, etc. "after finding out he had been traded". This if true, is a clear indication of poor communication between the Flames' departments. You have a new coach, who by these comments indicates wanted Sam here, and the GM trade him out from under you without letting him know?!?! I have been 100% behind Brad, and maybe Sam's performance to date in FLA adds to this, but come on. You can't have silos in this gig. FFS. I hope Sam is the next Savard and St. Louis. Our team has been done in by poor coaches, being cheap with them and its no different with out crap GM's not able to identify talent and trading them away.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Fischy13

Are you F'n kidding me. That says Darryl wanted that guy around. Hard working, playoff performer, physical, etc. "after finding out he had been traded". This if true, is a clear indication of poor communication between the Flames' departments. You have a new coach, who by these comments indicates wanted Sam here, and the GM trade him out from under you without letting him know?!?!

Don't worry, we got Emil Heineman and a 2022 second round pick!

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Fischy13

Maybe better here than the trade and speculation threat I posted it in:

Did anyone see the tweet or hear the clip on 960 today, Sutter's comments to Bennett. "I wish I had more time with you. I know Joel Quenneville and I'll give him a call." - Darryl Sutter to Sam Bennett after finding out he had been traded.

WTF. Did Brad seriously not think to ask Darryl's opinion on Sam's future as a Flame before making the call?

I thought he got traded because Darryl was like "Yeah no, this kid isn't gonna work out here Tre", but this blows that narrative out the window. Trade is becoming dumber and dumber by the day.

[KevinKlineReadingABook]

Originally Posted by Fischy13

Maybe better here than the trade and speculation threat I posted it in:

Did anyone see the tweet or hear the clip on 960 today, Sutter's comments to Bennett. "I wish I had more time with you. I know Joel Quenneville and I'll give him a call." - Darryl Sutter to Sam Bennett after finding out he had been traded.

Are you F'n kidding me. That says Darryl wanted that guy around. Hard working, playoff performer, physical, etc. "after finding out he had been traded". This if true, is a clear indication of poor communication between the Flames' departments. You have a new coach, who by these comments indicates wanted Sam here, and the GM trade him out from under you without letting him know?!?! I have been 100% behind Brad, and maybe Sam's performance to date in FLA adds to this, but come on. You can't have silos in this gig. FFS. I hope Sam is the next Savard and St. Louis. Our team has been done in by poor coaches, being cheap with them and its no different with out crap GM's not able to identify talent and trading them away.

It infers exactly what Darryl said: he wishes he had more time to work with Sam. That doesn't mean that Darryl didn't know that discussions were happening regarding a potential trade. It also doesn't mean that Sam wanted to be here. Whether Darryl wanted him or not, Sam's trade request may still have been a factor.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

WTF. Did Brad seriously not think to ask Darryl's opinion on Sam's future as a Flame before making the call?

I thought he got traded because Darryl was like "Yeah no, this kid isn't gonna work out here Tre", but this blows that narrative out the window. Trade is becoming dumber and dumber by the day.

The expansion draft was going to be a problem even if they wanted to keep him. I'm not sure if it was ever going to work out in Calgary even with Darryl coaching him as Bennett didn't have chemistry with the few Flames forwards that are offensively gifted.

[bomber317]

A lot of puck luck going for Bennett which is great to see.

Looks like lots of hard work for Bennett to create that luck as well. As per GranteedEV, it's really too bad we didn't get fast line mates for Bennett to play with.

[DomeFoam]

Recency bias is a bitch. As if Bennett didn't get multiple looks with the 'top end' players with this team. People losing their #### because a highly mediocre player is experiencing a bump on an incredibly deep and well coached team playing with one of the most elite puck distributors in the league.

And now, people losing their #### because Darryl supposedly wanted to keep an expiring UFA around for 15 garbage games? Bennett can always come back for more garbage games with Darryl next year but in that stint we'll have a couple good assets in our back pocket.

LOL