The Legend of Sam Bennett

[GioforPM]

Jankowski got a goal and an assist in his first post-Flames game. Added an assist the next game. Then went 2 months and 20 games without a sniff.

Glencross had 4 points in 3 game after being traded. Only 3 more the rest of the season.

[Bill Bumface]

Joe Colborne:

https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400884423

[Sylvanfan]

Bennett is a guy who needed a change. It's not easy for someone to be a teams highest pick ever and then not reach that potential. In Florida he becomes someone with expectations that were always inline with what he is.

Even Bouwmeester was better in St.Louis largely because he had a role better suited to him. He wasn't a lead dog number one type. But in 2-3 shut down guy was something he excelled at.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am fairly sure this is something we actually did see at the end of the 2018 season when Monahan was injured, and it sucked.

I recall being excited to see Bennett given a stretch with Gaudreau, and came away convinced that he is just not a top-six forward.

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Under a terrible coach

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Under a terrible coach

There is always an excuse.

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[nieuwy-89]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Bennett is a guy who needed a change. It's not easy for someone to be a teams highest pick ever and then not reach that potential. In Florida he becomes someone with expectations that were always inline with what he is.

Even Bouwmeester was better in St.Louis largely because he had a role better suited to him. He wasn't a lead dog number one type. But in 2-3 shut down guy was something he excelled at.

Agreed. Lucic is another example. Edmonton expected an offensive power forward and he struggled. In Calgary, he’s really settled in as a role player who brings leadership, toughness, and is not relied upon to drive the team’s offence.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

There is always an excuse.

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So, let’s only give Bennett the sample size of playing with Gaudreau when Monahan is injured, from 3 years ago. Okay.

Bennett didn’t do himself any favors, but he also was in the dog house with coaches GG, Peters, and Ward. It wasn’t until a small leak of Bennett entertaining a move elsewhere that Ward gave him a little bit more time. Sutter started to let Bennett PK and take on more of an extended role than what Sam already had. And he was getting on the score sheet towards the end of his career in Calgary. Too little too late, but I don’t give 100% fault to Bennett.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

Agreed. Lucic is another example. Edmonton expected an offensive power forward and he struggled. In Calgary, he’s really settled in as a role player who brings leadership, toughness, and is not relied upon to drive the team’s offence.

Exactly, Bennett was a good role player here. For everyone's piece of mind including Bennett's, this is a good move.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Dude didn't put out on a consistent basis for us.



He won't long term for Florida either. New team boost feels pretty expected.

Yeah this. Despite the overall disappointment of how he's turned out given his draft position, I still loved the dude here and am sad he's gone. That said, I don't buy for a second he's going to suddenly morph into someone who looks like a 4th overall pick now in Florida. It's totally new team boost, and he'll prob have a decent playoffs as well, because Bennett. But that's it.

I could see his #'s being a little better next season in Florida, just given the better talent around him there. But he's never going to turn back into "2015 playoffs Bennett", that dude is gone forever. Love him, but we all know what he is by now.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Be curious to see if Bennett's penalty numbers decline or stay the same and if the Wideman curse is real.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Quite the debut for Sam. Happy for him and I hope he does well in Florida under Q.

That said, Joe Colborne once had a hat trick in his Colorado debut. It happens.

Originally Posted by Sandman

I think Sam will turn into an excellent everyday NHLer, cuz......Flames.

Sigh. Did anyone actually watch the game, or just go the scoresheet and make the determination of Bennett's play because of the point production? His "two" points were about as Sam Bennett as you would expect. A secondary assist on a bump back to the point from the half wall, which resulted in a shot (going wide) that was tipped in. The other point was on a shot from the point that hit him in the pants and the puck went to Huberdeau for a wide open net. Same game he always plays but with some fortunate results. In the third period he got bailed out by his goaltender after some really shoddy board work and being soft on the puck. You're not going to see some huge transformation from the guy. Give him a season and see what he does, which is likely to be very similar as he performed in Calgary. He's not going to get smarter, or become a better passer, or develop an NHL level shot. He'll be a grinder who plays physical and hopefully creates some space up front for his linemates.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by New Era

Sigh. Did anyone actually watch the game, or just go the scoresheet and make the determination of Bennett's play because of the point production? His "two" points were about as Sam Bennett as you would expect. A secondary assist on a bump back to the point from the half wall, which resulted in a shot (going wide) that was tipped in. The other point was on a shot from the point that hit him in the pants and the puck went to Huberdeau for a wide open net. Same game he always plays but with some fortunate results. In the third period he got bailed out by his goaltender after some really shoddy board work and being soft on the puck. You're not going to see some huge transformation from the guy. Give him a season and see what he does, which is likely to be very similar as he performed in Calgary. He's not going to get smarter, or become a better passer, or develop an NHL level shot. He'll be a grinder who plays physical and hopefully creates some space up front for his linemates.

Did Sam sleep with your girlfriend or something?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by New Era

Sigh. Did anyone actually watch the game, or just go the scoresheet and make the determination of Bennett's play because of the point production? His "two" points were about as Sam Bennett as you would expect. A secondary assist on a bump back to the point from the half wall, which resulted in a shot (going wide) that was tipped in. The other point was on a shot from the point that hit him in the pants and the puck went to Huberdeau for a wide open net. Same game he always plays but with some fortunate results. In the third period he got bailed out by his goaltender after some really shoddy board work and being soft on the puck. You're not going to see some huge transformation from the guy. Give him a season and see what he does, which is likely to be very similar as he performed in Calgary. He's not going to get smarter, or become a better passer, or develop an NHL level shot. He'll be a grinder who plays physical and hopefully creates some space up front for his linemates.

Time to get off the soapbox man.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by New Era

Sigh. Did anyone actually watch the game,

why did you? obsessed much?

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

why did you? obsessed much?

Era hates Bennett

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

why did you? obsessed much?

Actually, when there were multiple posts stating what a great game Bennett had, I had to see it for myself. So I used the handy-dandy NHL.tv subscription I have and went and watched it for myself to see this incredible transformation.

When I hear things that sound too good to be true I tend to do the research and validate the level of bull#### associated with the claims. I don't let spreadsheets tell me something that is obviously specious, I let my eyes reveal the truth. So after seeing the claims I thought it best to see what all the hub bub was about. No obsession, just like to be able to reference the facts. Try it sometime.

Originally Posted by Coach

Did Sam sleep with your girlfriend or something?

No, but he did #### my mistress (the Calgary Flames) with his incredibly terrible play.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by New Era

Actually, when there were multiple posts stating what a great game Bennett had, I had to see it for myself.

No, you did not "have to" watch a player on a team that isn't the Flames. You did not "have to" enter this thread either. Because according to you in (probably) this thread, you're only interested in the front of the jersey, and when players leave the Flames, you don't care about them anymore. These are your claims, albeit paraphrased.

[PepsiFree]

"Time to accept it and move on!"

*aggressively watches Florida Panthers game to make a point*

[Redrum]

No. He had a good game.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

To be clear, I DID watch the game, and I didn't see any particularly amazing plays by Bennett, but he was solid, did play a very physical game, and did create space for his wingers to do what they do best: create offense. I attribute the results to some amount of playing with better players, and some amount of actually doing useful things at center ice. He seemed a little behind the play at times, but I would expect that when you join a new team and have to learn tendencies and the system at the same time.

But like I said, it is one game, and based on that, he fit in very well and did a very good job on the night. To try and say otherwise is to spin a narrative out of predetermination and bias. I think that much is obvious.

I am not definitively saying that Sam all of a sudden "figured things out" or anything, but when the results are there, you have to acknowledge them. I don't have any idea if it will continue or if he'll fall off the map. This is why you don't make any decisions about a player based on only one game. Anyone saying something definitive either way is probably saying something foolish.