The Legend of Sam Bennett

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I think Bennett's biggest obstical to putting up huge numbers will be staying healthy playing the style he needs to play to be effective.

Bennett isn’t playing some unsustainable style right now from a physicality perspective.

I think so many of us look at Bennett’s play as unsustainable in the playoffs only because in comparison to other players on this team it looked crazy.

Reality is most of the league plays at the pace and with the physicality Bennett plays with.

This team has just created a culture of soft, slow, perimeter play being the standard. It’s why they have no success. It’s not that Bennett’s play was ever unsustainable when he was on - it was that everyone else’s performances were indefensible.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Try Kyle Turris, who Brad Treliving might be familiar with

Turris' numbers didn't look very different since he played 49 and 48 games his first two years in OTT, but you're right; turns out he jumped from 30ish pt pace to 50pt pace immediately.

Of course, Dylan Strome, too.

All 4 of those guys (with Wheeler, Ladd) were traded at age 22 and with a lot fewer NHL gp than Sam, which is a pretty meaningful difference.

I wonder if there is a 24 yo and/or 400gp player who has changed so dramatically?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Bennett isn’t playing some unsustainable style right now from physicality perspective.

I think so many of us look at Bennett’s play as unsustainable in the playoffs only because in comparison to other players on this team it looked crazy.

Reality is most of the league players at the pace and with the physicality Bennett plays with.

This team has just created a culture of soft, slow, perimeter play being the standard. It’s why they have no success. It’s not that Bennett’s play was ever unsustainable when he was on - it was that everyone else’s performances were indefensible.

This isn’t helping with the denial!

[GranteedEV]

It seems the Panthers are an improved team in terms of shot metrics since adding Bennett, even though they've lost Ekblad and Verhaege

Pre-Bennett
2094:52 5v5 TOI
52.54% CF
53.00% xGF

Post-Bennett
335:12 5v5 TOI
59.98% CF
60.26% xGF

You gotta think they're a contender, especially if their second best winger and best defenseman return.

[SeanCharles]

Im extremely happy for Sam but everyone who is losing their crap and calling for Treliving’s head, keep in mind a) Huberdeau is a world class talent, playing with him is a huge boost b) sample size is quite small.

Even if he keeps this pace up revert to point a)

I wanted Sam to succeed here but it just was never going to happen. Be happy he is being successful on a team that is easy to cheer for and we got a solid return for him.

[Jore]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Turris' numbers didn't look very different since he played 49 and 48 games his first two years in OTT, but you're right; turns out he jumped from 30ish pt pace to 50pt pace immediately.

Of course, Dylan Strome, too.

All 4 of those guys (with Wheeler, Ladd) were traded at age 22 and with a lot fewer NHL gp than Sam, which is a pretty meaningful difference.

I wonder if there is a 24 yo and/or 400gp player who has changed so dramatically?

William Karlsson, our own Lindholm

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Im extremely happy for Sam but everyone who is losing their crap and calling for Treliving’s head, keep in mind a) Huberdeau is a world class talent, playing with him is a huge boost b) sample size is quite small.

Even if he keeps this pace up revert to point a)

I wanted Sam to succeed here but it just was never going to happen. Be happy he is being successful on a team that is easy to cheer for and we got a solid return for him.

And why was it never going to happen? Could it be because of the team constructed around him by the GM and because of horrific usage by the coaches the GM hired?

[The Fonz]

Perhaps this is payback for Kristian Huselius.

[PepsiFree]

I kind of agree with the angle that just being happy is good enough. You can't go backwards. I'm excited for Bennett and it's fun to watch, but I don't get any joy from thinking about what could've been, why it wasn't, and which head should or shouldn't roll because of it.

Just enjoy the ride that is the highest drafted Calgary Flame finally doing well on an exciting team! It's a nice break from thinking about our team.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Jore

our own Lindholm

I'd say Lindholm got legitimate top six opportunity in Carolina. Which allowed their return for him to not be a B prospect and a second rounder.

Though I do get a chuckle out of "Even if Bennett keeps this pace up Huberdeau is a world class talent, playing with him is a huge boost" as if Gaudreau, Tkachuk circa 2019, Mangiapane etc are not a huge boost to a guy like Lindholm.

[Bonded]

While I don't think Bennett will ever be anything close to a true #1C, I am looking wrong about him being a solid #2 basis early returns in Florida.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Im extremely happy for Sam but everyone who is losing their crap and calling for Treliving’s head, keep in mind a) Huberdeau is a world class talent, playing with him is a huge boost b) sample size is quite small.

Even if he keeps this pace up revert to point a)

I wanted Sam to succeed here but it just was never going to happen. Be happy he is being successful on a team that is easy to cheer for and we got a solid return for him.

Sam Bennett is not the reason why the Flames should fire Brad and hire a real NHL General Manager.

[Fischy13]

Just don't get some of the mentalities that this "is what it is" and "we can't look back". This is the mindset that was taken with Savard, St.Louis, Byron. As fans, we can call out our teams management and decision making and stop accepting this mediocrity. If we let these continue to slide and "just accept" them, no kidding it will continue to happen. Someone will see and do something about it if enough call for it as fans. If we have the "oh well" attitude, they will keep on beating that dead horse. Who's next?

[Sainters7]

Really happy for Sam, I'll always like him...but watching Sportscentre and seeing Sam Bennett tearing it up, and Adam Fox dangling on people, is not an ideal way to fall asleep. The bitterness is real...what a nightmare season for a Flames fan.

[FiveSeven]

I'm of the opinion that he's just on a lucky streak and will fall off big time next season.
If not, This org sucks more then I could possibly imagine.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Turris' numbers didn't look very different since he played 49 and 48 games his first two years in OTT, but you're right; turns out he jumped from 30ish pt pace to 50pt pace immediately.

Of course, Dylan Strome, too.

All 4 of those guys (with Wheeler, Ladd) were traded at age 22 and with a lot fewer NHL gp than Sam, which is a pretty meaningful difference.

I wonder if there is a 24 yo and/or 400gp player who has changed so dramatically?

Dylan Strome's points jumped because he got the chance to play with Patrick Kane.

Once he played himself off that line, he's been pretty pedestrian ever since.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I don't think it's a stretch he could produce at a 40-50 point level for a season or two... but, even then, he wouldn't be living up to his draft pedigree and I'd still say Calgary made the right call moving him for the return they got.

Everyone talks about the trade for two 2nds being good, I just want to point out that odds are that two 2nd round picks combined will play less NHL games combined that Bennett already has played.

Former NHL general manager Doug MacLean said his math over the last decade showed that only 15% of second round picks ever become impact players.

https://guelphstorm.com/odds-not-gre...hl-draft-picks

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

This isn’t helping with the denial!

Sorry that anything but pom poms is denial... Bennett got hurt after 3 games last playoffs didn't he? He still played but was certainly hurtin'

You can shame me when Bennett plays 20 mins a game for 82 next season and puts up 60+.

I wasn't even saying he can't just that that is what might hold him back IMO

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Everyone talks about the trade for two 2nds being good, I just want to point out that odds are that two 2nd round picks combined will play less NHL games combined that Bennett already has played.

Former NHL general manager Doug MacLean said his math over the last decade showed that only 15% of second round picks ever become impact players.

https://guelphstorm.com/odds-not-gre...hl-draft-picks

To an extent yes. Unless you have got elite scouting... just consider Tampa drafting Kucherov, Point, Cirelli, Cernak, Killorn with their 2nd and 3rds

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

To an extent yes. Unless you have got elite scouting... just consider Tampa drafting Kucherov, Point, Cirelli, Cernak, Killorn with their 2nd and 3rds

I hope we draft a Kucherov (or even an Andersson), I just want certain people to understand the odds are slim.

Odds are, as bad as Bennett was here, that we lost the trade (but it was still a risk we probably needed to take).

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Odds are, as bad as Bennett was here, that we lost the trade

Honestly, I've been resigned to losing any Bennett trade for years. Maybe that's why I'm numb to it.