[News] Sam Bennett leaves Sens game with upper body injury

[---Hatrick---]

I find it bizarre how you don’t think Bennett will more than likely be a difference maker in the playoffs. With out him in the lineup, we lose a lot of grit. Bennett has been our only player this season who will go and light someone up with a clean hit and scrap anyone who has a problem with it.

He has shown that he amps his game up come playoff time, and that was before he became the gritty player that he has been this season. We need him in the lineup for the playoffs. Hopefully he is near 100% by game 1, because he’s exactly what we will need

[BloodFetish]

Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. You kiddin' me? Playoffs?

TheSquatch wasn't talking about playoffs!

[TheSquatch]

Time will tell if he's a difference maker in the playoffs (let's hope he is!), or what kind of difference maker. Don't get me wrong here, I don't hate Bennett, and he's shown signs of "getting it" this year that I think were missing last year. He still takes a too many dumb/unecessary penalties for my liking, although this may be clouded by memory for me.

I remember when people just couldn't believe we'd let Bouma go. How can you win without this kind of physical, in-your-face winger?? Well, it's easy - get someone with hands who scores a lot of goals, actually.

There's still this haunted fear amongst the fans that the Flames aren't tough enough, or that without some kind of major scary dude we can't compete with the Anaheims or the San Jose type teams. I think James Neal was given big bucks to play that role here, for example, although he's been very quiet. Just a few years back Neal was one of the rough-n-ready types, and a big boy to boot. So again, I don't mind Bennett, I'm not saying trade him, it's nothing like that. But I think that he's replaceable, I don't see him as being the magic piece on this team. Will his value increase in the playoffs, assuming he's healthy? Yeah, I think so. That elbow-in-face type game is let to ride in the playoffs, and in fact he may, as suggested, rise up and really be effective if allowed to. That would be great. But I haven't seen a game this year where I've thought "Oh man, I can't believe we have this guy." I feel that way about Lindholm pretty often, about Tkachuk all the time, I feel that way about Johnny and sometimes even Monahan (other times not so much!). I feel that way about Backlund this year, and that's a big change for me. But Bennett? I don't mind him, but I never think when he hits the ice "Oh man, I can't wait to see what he does with the puck." I occassionally think "Oh man, I hope he wrecks someone." and I get that you guys see that as being more and more valuable through the season.

[heep223]

I wish Bennett didn’t fall down every shift and that he didn’t have a trampoline stick.

I agree he could be huge in the playoffs

[Husky]

Regardless of injury - bennett has been invisible for the last 10 or so games played.

[Knut]

Honestly. Rest him until the playoffs. Then unleash the KRAKEN

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by IrishSpring2013

benzo

Nope. We are not the grease, we don’t do this.

[doctajones428]

Stop with the benzo

[GullFoss]

It’s Sammy B. Not benzo. Not Benny.

Sammy B

[Tyler]

Have to say, I thoroughly enjoy watching a Bennett-less Flames team. Fewer dumb penalties, failed toe-drags and lazy offsides. Been an absolute breath of fresh air.

In before 'just wait until you see him in the playoffs!!!' reply.

[PeteMoss]

Minor penalties by the Flames:
Giordano 29
Backlund 24
Bennett 23
Tkachuk 20
Hathaway 16

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

What a horrible loss when no one can bring his kind of game to the table.



Who steps up into this role?

I'm not sure what's going on brings is ultimately that valuable.

He's still a positive contributor, and better than anyone that will replace him, but it's still a minor nuisance instead of a horrible loss.

[Haplo]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Minor penalties by the Flames:
Giordano 29
Backlund 24
Bennett 23
Tkachuk 20
Hathaway 16

Minor penalties calculated per 60 mins of ice time:

Bennett 1.49
Hathaway 1.37
Backlund 1.16
Giordano 0.98
Tkachuk 0.92