The Legend of Sam Bennett

[CliffFletcher]

Bennett was a bust. His skills did not translate to the NHL. It happens. Just look at the next three guys taken after him - Dal Colle, Virtanen, and Fleury. Did the Islanders, Canucks, and Hurricanes screw up their development? Maybe. Or maybe they just busted.

The problem with Bennett is once it became evident he was not going to become a reliable scorer at the NHL level, he failed to adapt his game to become a reliable checking forward either. Maybe he just can’t process the game at NHL speed. But to me the most telling indictment of Bennett is he’s a bottom six forward who has never been trusted to kill penalties.

[Flames1217]

Some posters are crazy sour here..

I hope the best in Florida and hope he succeeds. Playing with Huberdeau is huge.

He is already a good bottom six forward, let's see if he can become a top 6.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I dont know man....is he really worth 2.55 or whatever a year and a spot on the protected list?

Now he has enough time, this year, to prove that to them and for his sake, i hope he does.

I just dont see the hockey IQ there for that kind of money myself but then again i didnt think he could garner the return he did.

Not sure protection slot is that big a deal:

Barkov
Huberdeau
Verhaeghe

Vatrano (1 to UFA)
Hornqvist (2 to UFA)
Duclair
Bennett

Not sure either Wallmark or Marchment or anyone else has shown more than SB.

[AustinL_NHL]

Only took Bennett 8:41 to get his first point as a Panther :')

[dammage79]

He's had a huge 1st period.

[AustinL_NHL]

Pretty sure he killed Cirelli

[TheSquatch]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Only took Bennett 8:41 to get his first point as a Panther :')

Olli Jokinen got a hat trick his first night here too.

[AC]

Originally Posted by austinl_nhl

pretty sure he killed cirelli

https://twitter.com/user/status/1383568194472792067

[theJuice]

That was a great hit by Bennett, would love to see him do more of that in the playoffs

https://streamable.com/p235j0

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

Olli Jokinen got a hat trick his first night here too.

Actually it was 2 goals, and he wasn't 18.

Can't we just be happy to see Bennett have a good start with his new team?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Is that Dave Randorf on the call?

[theJuice]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Is that Dave Randorf on the call?

Yea, he took over the TB play by play this year

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Is that Dave Randorf on the call?

Yup: https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/t...rf/c-320038810

[TheSquatch]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Actually it was 2 goals, and he wasn't 18.

Can't we just be happy to see Bennett have a good start with his new team?

I have no idea what to feel. I'm choked that the Bennett pick has set the Flames back. If he's a legit 1C this team looks very different. But that's not Bennett's fault, I don't think he sucked here on purpose.

If. IF he blossoms and becomes a well rounded, dangerous player in Florida, I will really wonder what the hell happened here.

But I suspect this is more of a Sven situation. I just don't think he has the tools to stick it in the NHL. If I'm wrong I'm wrong. The Flames tried him so many different ways, I would have thought that SOMEthing would have stuck.

So I just dunno what to expect or how to feel about any of it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Almost everyone that plays with Huberdeau produces
Great opportunity for Sam

[Flames1217]

3 hits and 2 assists in a period

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

3 hits and 2 assists in a period

also 6-for 1-against on corsi while the rest of his team is getting dominated 4-for and 21-against

[ComixZone]

Bennett was playing pretty damn well under Sutter and producing quite well - especially when looking at his place in the line-up.

Playing with better players while playing under an actual NHL coach? He’s going to produce.

There are consequences to hiring three horrible head coaches back-to-back-to-back, the poor results are one thing but we saw player development screwed up all over the place. Why was Monahan allowed to develop into this one-dimensional centre? Why did Tkachuk come in as a wrecking ball only to have that snuffed out of him?

Darryl talking critically of this teams style of play isn’t Darryl making stuff up. The horrible coaching hires screwed this team and allowed it’s players to develop all kinds of poor habits.

[DazzlinDino]

I am going to enjoy watching some Panther games.

[dammage79]

A week before before deadline I said 8 was gonna jump on the Panthers Bandwagon. Bennett being added just made it more fun.