2017-2018 Stats:
In 82 games: 11 goals + 15 assists = 26 points, 140 hits, 34 blocks, 54 takeaways. He also beat up Josh Manson!
Probably our most polarizing player now. I understand the frustration in Bennett's lack of production and dumb penalties, but putting this video together really hammered home for me how good Bennett is and how good he will be with better linemates more than anything. Hathaway, Lazar, and even Jankowski are featured pretty prominently in this video messing up some grade A chances generated by Bennett. He hits like a truck, and dominates along the boards better than anyone on the Flames.
I really hope he gets 2 offensive players to gel with this season. So many combinations that I could all see working well. Does he stay with Jankowski, maybe rounded out with Frolik, Czarnik, or Foo? What about a Bennett - Backlund - Lindholm line? He's shown a lot of chemistry with Tkachuk as well. I think finding Bennett a line that can dominate possession just like the Jagr trio or even the Hathaway trio did at times, but actually produce is one of the biggest keys this season.
My favourite plays of his: His clutch winner at home vs VAN, his fight with Manson, and when he calmly leans over from the bench to threaten / chirp Henrique vs ANA.
Agreed, this is why you dont give up on young kids.
I can totally see him improving playing along side skilled players for an extended period of time, someone who can finish on his line would make a huge difference, perhaps Neal at some point.
AC, I love you man, but how did you manage to find 30 minutes of Bennett highlights? You might be stretching what the word "highlight" means for a guy that had 26 points.
Edit: although let me say this. Clearly you see him make some good plays and either he can't finish or his linemates can't finish. Let's hope there's a bit more finish this season.
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Originally Posted by ResAlien
If we can't fall in love with replaceable bottom 6 players then the terrorists have won.
Last edited by Cali Panthers Fan; 08-12-2018 at 02:37 PM.
AC, I love you man, but how did you manage to find 30 minutes of Bennett highlights? You might be stretching what the word "highlight" means for a guy that had 26 points.
Hits, blocks, scrums, defensive plays, nice passes/plays that don't lead to goals, and a marathon fight.
It's similar to how you commented in the Gio video that I included so many good defensive plays. There's more to a player than goals and assists.
Last edited by AC; 08-12-2018 at 02:40 PM.
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Eh, there was 2 or 3 in the first 5 minutes that I wasn't sure what he did, can't remember exactly where. There were another couple later that seemed like routine defensive plays. Just my opinion though. Not telling you how to do your work.
Sorry, I really don't mean to seem critical here.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ResAlien
If we can't fall in love with replaceable bottom 6 players then the terrorists have won.
Eh, there was 2 or 3 in the first 5 minutes that I wasn't sure what he did, can't remember exactly where. There were another couple later that seemed like routine defensive plays. Just my opinion though. Not telling you how to do your work.
Sorry, I really don't mean to seem critical here.
Well, I don't see you criticizing the video itself, moreso the player and the opinion of the player. I don't see anything wrong with that.
My favourite play, besides the Vancouver goal, was the hit at 23:00. It was a game where Bennett was playing center, and Bart had just made a brutal giveaway. Bennett completely undid what looked like a great scoring chance.
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"May those who accept their fate find happiness. May those who defy it find glory."
I can't wait to see Bennett actually played with quality NHL linemates again. It's been two years since he's had an outright "opportunity to succeed". The improved depth up front is going to benefit Jankowski and Bennett the most. Both are young developing talented players who can't carry deadweight up and down the ice at this stage (really...no one should have to) - and our bottom 6, outside of Bennett and Jankowski was entirely deadweight last season.
Last edited by ComixZone; 08-12-2018 at 03:24 PM.
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Looking at AC's excellent video package really shows me Bennett plays a mans game. I really believe he will start to excel as his body catches up to his style of play. In order to play his gritty game at the NHL level he needed more weight to throw around. As his body fills out I think we will see him take his bulldog game to a new level.
What Bennett needs to do is continue to work on the small things so that he can make the big plays happen. My opinion is of a young player still trying to learn that he doesn’t need to do everything on his own like he had to do in Kingston, or be the “Star” player. Not yet at least.
If he continues to make the small and simple defensive plays, stands up for his teammates with a few fights here and there, but more importantly cuts back on the dumb penalties he commits (due to trying to do it all), I can’t see why we won’t see more offensive highlights by Bennett next season.
Thank Christ Gulutzan is gone and the derailment of Bennett and his development is back on track.
When you see a scrum you see either Matthew in the middle and Bennett pulling someone out and then the gloves come off.....it’s tune time.
Sams not going around you.....he’s going over you.
He listened and learned from Jagr and I saw a guy protect the puck well and either shoot it or make a nice dish to someone and then promptly go to the net.
I’ve never seen Sam skate away from anything. Wow I love this kid even more AC.
I’ve seen it take time for players on this team to fight thru slumps as far as scoring but still contribute in other ways and Sam is one of them for sure.
What I’d love seeing is him pull a William Karllsson and just explode this year and build that confidence. I don’t think anyone is harder on Sam than Sam and I hope the bull#### whipping boy extravaganza just stops .
These guys all play balls to the wall and slumps happen. Good coaches know that and let them work on it with extra shifts , responsibilities etc.
So excited to see Sam and other players this year who have that jam and extra intensity.
Awesome awesome highlight package .
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I have hopes for Bennett, and I guess my question for AC is this: given that you've spent god knows how much time rewatching this trainwreck season for these videos, is Bennett's board game better than Tkachuk's?
My initial instinct, and that's all it is, is that Tkachuk's is better. I may well be mistaken.
I have hopes for Bennett, and I guess my question for AC is this: given that you've spent god knows how much time rewatching this trainwreck season for these videos, is Bennett's board game better than Tkachuk's?
My initial instinct, and that's all it is, is that Tkachuk's is better. I may well be mistaken.
Good question, I would say in a basic either/or Tkachuk's is better but it's also different. Tkachuk seems to WANT to pin himself against the boards and invite the opponent to try and take it, where he then wins the physical battle or will trick the other player and come out with the puck.
Bennett seems to prefer to send the opponent flying if possible, but will quickly curl out with that puck maneuver that he does so well. He often uses it to drive shortside after selling a wraparound.
It's a valuable skillset to have when many of our other top players tend to stay away from them if possible.
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[Video] Bennett 17/18 Highlights
