What if Sam Bennett has another good playoff performance?

[Lucky23]

I really believe Benny needs a long playoff run to consistently play at a high level, and hopefully it can transition into the regular season after a long playoff run.

[flamesgod]

I think it’s pretty clear Bennett needs to be playing centre. I’m just happy we have a coach that finally figured this out.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

I think it’s pretty clear Bennett needs to be playing centre. I’m just happy we have a coach that finally figured this out.

It’s what he himself and we need.

[keenan87]

This is good. Let him increase his value and trade him in the off-season. He is still taking some silly penalties and I don't think he will play like this in the regular season next year. We have seen this same movie before and also think guys like Mangiapane and Dube are ahead of him on the depth chart.

Gaudreau+Bennett can be packaged up for some very good assets.. especially if the Flames can bring in Hall.

Gaudreau+Bennett for Hischier would be pretty sweet.

Hall-Hischier-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Monahan-Mangiapane
Lucic-Backlund-Dube
Rookie-Ryan-Rookie

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by keenan87

This is good. Let him increase his value and trade him in the off-season. He is still taking some dumb penalties and I don't think he will play like this in the regular season next year. We have seen this same movie before and also think guys like Mangiapane and Dube are ahead of him on the depth chart.

Gaudreau+Bennett can be packaged up for some very good assets.. especially if the Flames can bring in Hall.

Gaudreau+Bennett for Hischier would be pretty sweet.

Hall-Hischier-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Monahan-Mangiapane
Lucic-Backlund-Dube
Rookie-Ryan-Rookie

Cue dissentowner to ‘lol’ your trade proposal.

He’s already told us the Devils would laugh off Gaudreau + Hanafin + Dubé for Hischier.....Smarten up man.

[MrMike]

Why trade him at all if he brings this every playoffs? Just crazy talk.

[ComixZone]

Coach finally puts Bennett at centre and plays him with the best linemates he’s had since his rookie season, and your response is to sell high?

Why not look at the fact his underlying numbers show he’s actually pretty solid and that perhaps circumstances and inexperience were what was holding him back?

What you’re also saying is you don’t want a depth player that raises his game during the most important part of the year - which if you’re not paying attention, is something this team needs.

[Roof-Daddy]

Bennett had 12 points this year. People are going to question whether or not the Flames should keep him when he has a $2.55 million cap hit. On his own that's not completely terrible, but when you factor in that the Flames also have Lucic ($5.25m AAV) and Ryan ($3.125m AAV) in the bottom six, the Flames don't have a lot of money left to improve the top six, add a top 4 Dman and get a competent goalie to platoon with Rittich.

This is also the 4th straight year Bennett has disappointed in the regular season, so yeah...it's great he's had a beast mode play in series, but 4 games isn't going to erase all the other concerns for most people.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Coach finally puts Bennett at centre and plays him with the best linemates he’s had since his rookie season, and your response is to sell high?

Why not look at the fact his underlying numbers show he’s actually pretty solid and that perhaps circumstances and inexperience were what was holding him back?

What you’re also saying is you don’t want a depth player that raises his game during the most important part of the year - which if you’re not paying attention, is something this team needs.

I don't buy that Sam Bennett has all of a sudden turned the corner and will continue playing like this all the time as a centre. I can be proven wrong but I just don't think he has the hockey IQ to do it on a regular basis. We have the same conversation during everytime the Flames are in the playoffs and he comes out flat the following season. I get he doesn't have all star linemates.. but his production has declined every year.

As for him being a playoff performer.. sure, pay him league minimum to sit in the pressbox during the regular season and then he can play in the playoffs. I would much rather have that than him taking silly offensive zone penalties all the time and not contributing at all in the regular season.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Why trade him at all if he brings this every playoffs? Just crazy talk.

“Every Playoffs” is a little exaggerated given he’s been in only three series, one of which was won.

I actually think his past PO performance itself is a tad overstated, especially in the Avs series. I much prefer his game in the play in this year, but that’s a very small sample size.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

“Every Playoffs” is a little exaggerated given he’s been in only three series, one of which was won.

I actually think his past PO performance itself is a tad overstated, especially in the Avs series. I much prefer his game in the play in this year, but that’s a very small sample size.

5 series in total. 2015 Canucks and 2015 Ducks as well as the 3 most recent

[ComixZone]

Sam Bennett himself never needed to “turn a corner”, his underlying numbers have always been strong. He needed circumstances to change. He needed depth to improve, and he needed an opportunity to play his natural position with some consistency.

He’s been given that, finally - and look at how he’s grabbing that opportunity.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Why trade him at all if he brings this every playoffs? Just crazy talk.

He’s exactly the type of player the flames have always wanted on the roster. Just came from an unexpected draft slot.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Sam Bennett himself never needed to “turn a corner”, his underlying numbers have always been strong. He needed circumstances to change. He needed depth to improve, and he needed an opportunity to play his natural position with some consistency.

He’s been given that, finally - and look and how he’s stepping up and grabbing that opportunity.

I don't know, I also like to watch games and not just look at advanced stats. In the games I have watched, he isn't effective at all.

I don't really get it, what made him effective this past series is being physically engaged. Both of his goals were not necessarily pretty plays. He was engaged physically.. you don't need depth, or better linemates, or to play a position to hit and engage in the regular season.

Once again, his production going down every year is a big concern. Instead of blaming many different coaches for randomly "hating" Bennett.. why not consider the fact that Bennett couldn't make his linemates better and earn a bigger shot?

Most players don't just get handed all star linemates. They need to work their way up and that is something Bennett has not been able to do yet.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

5 series in total. 2015 Canucks and 2015 Ducks as well as the 3 most recent

There’s only two (17 and 19) unless you’re counting this year’s play-in. Anyway, I don’t think that helps his case. 17 wasn’t that impressive. Neither was 2015 Ducks if I think back.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

There’s only two (17 and 19) unless you’re counting this year’s play-in. Anyway, I don’t think that helps his case. 17 wasn’t that impressive. Neither was 2015 Ducks if I think back.

Of course I’m counting this years. That’s what stemmed this whole discussion again lol

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Of course I’m counting this years. That’s what stemmed this whole discussion again lol

I was talking about his history, plus these aren’t technically POs.

[Reign of Fire]

Some people are never content, always looking for change. Sam played lights out and first reaction is to trade him for magic beans.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I don't know, I also like to watch games and not just look at advanced stats. In the games I have watched, he isn't effective at all.

I don't really get it, what made him effective this past series is being physically engaged. Both of his goals were not necessarily pretty plays. He was engaged physically.. you don't need depth, or better linemates, or to play a position to hit and engage in the regular season.

Once again, his production going down every year is a big concern. Instead of blaming many different coaches for randomly "hating" Bennett.. why not consider the fact that Bennett couldn't make his linemates better and earn a bigger shot?

Most players don't just get handed all star linemates. They need to work their way up and that is something Bennett has not been able to do yet.

That’s nonsense. Tkachuk was given the same slot with Backlund and Frolik , the year after Bennett had it, and produced comparably as a rookie

Mangiapane was put with Backlund and had an 11 game scoreless streak and the coaches rode that out

And I like those guys, but it doesn’t magically create an alternate reality where Bennett had even quality linemates, never mind all star ones

One thing I do know is that people don’t like changing their mind, and their narrative. There is a lot behind that, which we won’t get in to.

You can throw all of the advanced stats forward, linemate data, and even let people watch the player’s actual performance, that they can see with their own eyes, when he is given consistent linemates - which many people have identified as an obvious challenge - and they still will stick to their own narrative

[BigErnSalute_16]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I don't know, I also like to watch games and not just look at advanced stats. In the games I have watched, he isn't effective at all.

I don't really get it, what made him effective this past series is being physically engaged. Both of his goals were not necessarily pretty plays. He was engaged physically.. you don't need depth, or better linemates, or to play a position to hit and engage in the regular season.

Once again, his production going down every year is a big concern. Instead of blaming many different coaches for randomly "hating" Bennett.. why not consider the fact that Bennett couldn't make his linemates better and earn a bigger shot?

Most players don't just get handed all star linemates. They need to work their way up and that is something Bennett has not been able to do yet.

I'd actually argue that most top five picks do get handed all-star line mates. Teams realize that's where they expect them to play so they put them in those positions so they can grow into them. Other later picks have to earn more but usually top five picks are given a bit more room right off the bat.