C Sam Bennett - Kingston Frontenacs, OHL (2014, 4th overall, Calgary)

[SmellOfVictory]

"Oilers draft too many small skilled injury prone forwards" - Every poster in any Oiler prospects thread.

thats probably a reason.

HF would have had a hayday if the oilers drafted him and then ended up having shoulder surgery and missed most of this year.

It's not like Draisaitl was a bad draft choice, exactly. If he was a better skater he'd easily have been in the conversation for top forward on consensus lists.

That said, I'm glad Bennett dropped to the Flames (was hoping Ekblad would like Jones had the year prior, but pipe dreams).

 

[613Leafer]

"Oilers draft too many small skilled injury prone forwards" - Every poster in any Oiler prospects thread.

thats probably a reason.

HF would have had a hayday if the oilers drafted him and then ended up having shoulder surgery and missed most of this year.

Id say it has more to do with drafting relatively one-dimensional forwards as opposed to the size. Bennett's a high compete level high hockey IQ two-way player, can be effective in all situations.

 

[KidLine93]

Id say it has more to do with drafting relatively one-dimensional forwards as opposed to the size. Bennett's a high compete level high hockey IQ two-way player, can be effective in all situations.

RNH is to. He still gets called an injury prone small skilled forward. Difference is he has a great hockey IQ and plays less physical.Which I would prefer considering his frame and shoulder surgery.

 

[JarvisFunk]

He should have went number 2 overall. ISS had number 1, or was it CSS? anyways, I personally think because of his speed, grit, and willingness to play a physical game, I personally think he will be the best "forward" out of the 2014 draft. Not sure why Edmonton passed on this guy.

Leon Draisaitl - Kelowna Rockets: GP 24 G 15 A 24 P 39

This guy is why they passed on him

 

[1989]

Leon Draisaitl - Kelowna Rockets: GP 24 G 15 A 24 P 39

This guy is why they passed on him

1.69PPG on a stacked Rockets team, not bad.

Of course, the sample size is small and can't be helped this season, but:

4GP 3G 3A 6P = 1.5PPG off a long shoulder injury on the unarguably weaker team.

Will be an interesting race to say the least.

----

I don't think it's fair to even compare Draisaitl to Bennett. They're not the same style of player at all.
I think it would be much more beneficial in terms of position and playstyle to compare Draisaitl to Monahan, although Monahan is obviously a year older which gives him a developmental edge.
There's a very good chance that Bennett gets moved to wing in the NHL but Monahan is an established centre. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

"Oilers draft too many small skilled injury prone forwards" - Every poster in any Oiler prospects thread.

thats probably a reason.

HF would have had a hayday if the oilers drafted him and then ended up having shoulder surgery and missed most of this year.

That's fine and dandy for the Oil. Bennett's not small he's 6'1 and around 190lbs. He played part of the season with a bum shoulder. Hence the lack of pull ups.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

"Oilers draft too many small skilled injury prone forwards" - Every poster in any Oiler prospects thread.

thats probably a reason.

HF would have had a hayday if the oilers drafted him and then ended up having shoulder surgery and missed most of this year.

I'd hope the Oilers opted for Draisaitl over Bennett because they felt he was the BPA, not because they were worried what HF fans think of adding another "small skilled forward".

It was one of the reasons I absolutely hated the argument (not that you made it -- but just that I'd read it a few times around draft time) that even thought Bennett might be the better player, the Oilers needed Draisaitl because of his size. That's crazy thinking. You don't take an inferior player just because he's bigger.

To be clear, I'm not saying Draisaitl is inferior. Time will tell. I'm a huge Bennett fan, so obviously there's going to be bias there. I'm just saying that *if* Bennett was deemed BPA, but Draisaitl was the choice because he's bigger, that's a flawed way to build a team.

 

[Canovin]

I'd hope the Oilers opted for Draisaitl over Bennett because they felt he was the BPA, not because they were worried what HF fans think of adding another "small skilled forward".

It was one of the reasons I absolutely hated the argument (not that you made it -- but just that I'd read it a few times around draft time) that even thought Bennett might be the better player, the Oilers needed Draisaitl because of his size. That's crazy thinking. You don't take an inferior player just because he's bigger.

To be clear, I'm not saying Draisaitl is inferior. Time will tell. I'm a huge Bennett fan, so obviously there's going to be bias there. I'm just saying that *if* Bennett was deemed BPA, but Draisaitl was the choice because he's bigger, that's a flawed way to build a team.

If there's no clear-cut BPA, always go for needs. Oilers need Draisaitl more than Bennett.

 

[KidLine93]

That's fine and dandy for the Oil. Bennett's not small he's 6'1 and around 190lbs. He played part of the season with a bum shoulder. Hence the lack of pull ups.

He's smaller than RNH is. Weighs less than Hall and Yakupov. Only one he's bigger than is Eberle

 

[KidLine93]

I'd hope the Oilers opted for Draisaitl over Bennett because they felt he was the BPA, not because they were worried what HF fans think of adding another "small skilled forward".

It was one of the reasons I absolutely hated the argument (not that you made it -- but just that I'd read it a few times around draft time) that even thought Bennett might be the better player, the Oilers needed Draisaitl because of his size. That's crazy thinking. You don't take an inferior player just because he's bigger.

To be clear, I'm not saying Draisaitl is inferior. Time will tell. I'm a huge Bennett fan, so obviously there's going to be bias there. I'm just saying that *if* Bennett was deemed BPA, but Draisaitl was the choice because he's bigger, that's a flawed way to build a team.

My point isn't really who's better/ who they should have taken.

Only guy the oilers could have drafted and not been ripped on would have been Ekblad but clearly he didn't fall to 3rd..

It's more on the lines of Bennett would be getting ripped on if he was an oiler prospect, especially since he had a significant injury and fits into the category of a small skilled forward.

LD was called a bust earlier this year....is currently putting up great numbers in the WHL while playing on the 2nd line, he's not playing with Kelowna's top line of Merkley etc. He turned the 2nd line into a serious threat.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

He's smaller than RNH is. Weighs less than Hall and Yakupov. Only one he's bigger than is Eberle

What do they have to do with anything? They're NHL regulars. Bennett's still developing in the OHL.

 

[lawrence]

He's smaller than RNH is. Weighs less than Hall and Yakupov. Only one he's bigger than is Eberle

FYI Daniel Sedin is 6'1 187 lbs.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

FYI Daniel Sedin is 6'1 187 lbs.

But D.Sedin's pretty durable.

 

[KidLine93]

What do they have to do with anything? They're NHL regulars. Bennett's still developing in the OHL.

guys don't get much taller after 18, unless you're a huge outlier.

Unless he's going to add over 20 pounds he wont be as heavy as Hall or Yak.

He will probably end up around the same size as RNH who is constantly ridiculed about his size/injuries.

Hence my post about him being viewed different if the Oilers had drafted him.

Since when do people stop physically growing in the NHL but are able to grow in the OHL?

You saying Leon's body stopped developing while he was in the NHL but now that he's in the WHL his body can grow again???

 

[Hyzer]

Bennett will be a better player than Draisatl to be honest. Bennett is just a complete package with a high compete level, no "real" deficiencies in his game compared to Drasaitl that skates worse than I do.

I still think he will be the best forward of this draft.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

guys don't get much taller after 18, unless you're a huge outlier.

Unless he's going to add over 20 pounds he wont be as heavy as Hall or Yak.

He will probably end up around the same size as RNH who is constantly ridiculed about his size/injuries.

Hence my post about him being viewed different if the Oilers had drafted him.

Since when do people stop physically growing in the NHL but are able to grow in the OHL?

You saying Leon's body stopped developing while he was in the NHL but now that he's in the WHL his body can grow again???

1st Men stop growing at 25 (albeit its about half an inch, unless your Dennis Rodman).2nd Why can't he add 20lbs of lean muscle? He had shoulder rehab and had to take it easy. 3rd Nope never said that, your just putting words in my mouth.

 

[1989]

The best player in the League is 5'11", 200lbs. It's not even really about your height and weight, it's your ability and willingness to use it.

It's not a Bennet vs Edmonton thread. Calgary fans obviously like the player they drafted. Edmonton drafted Draisaitl ahead of him because they liked him more. Give it two or three years before bothering to compare their impact because let's face it, neither haven't made any.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

The best player in the League is 5'11", 200lbs. It's not even really about your height and weight, it's your ability and willingness to use it.

Signature cut that logic crap.

 

[Gritty]

Came in here to read about Bennett, instead just a bunch of Oilers posting about Bennett's size... Disappointed.

Bennett is only 18! 6'1 is good/average height in the NHL... He'll probably hit 200 - 205 in a couple years when he fills out. The kid plays like a pit bull. He's relentless and physical. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Where does this notion that Bennett is small come from? Most sites list him between 6'0 to 6'1. And while he was slender last year (around 180 lbs.), he's up to around 190 lbs. now.

He's not Eric Lindros, but since when is around 6'1, 190 lbs. considered a small player?

 

[Gritty]

Where does this notion that Bennett is small come from? Most sites list him between 6'0 to 6'1. And while he was slender last year (around 180 lbs.), he's up to around 190 lbs. now.

He's not Eric Lindros, but since when is around 6'1, 190 lbs. considered a small player?

Especially at 18! The kid is still growing and will likely add anywhere from 7 - 15 extra pounds of muscle of the next 2-3 years!

 

[SmellOfVictory]

Where does this notion that Bennett is small come from? Most sites list him between 6'0 to 6'1. And while he was slender last year (around 180 lbs.), he's up to around 190 lbs. now.

He's not Eric Lindros, but since when is around 6'1, 190 lbs. considered a small player?

Must be those tiny hips everyone was talking about.

 

[KidLine93]

1st Men stop growing at 25 (albeit its about half an inch, unless your Dennis Rodman).2nd Why can't he add 20lbs of lean muscle? He had shoulder rehab and had to take it easy. 3rd Nope never said that, your just putting words in my mouth.

1) men stop filling out around 25 (weight, width, broader shoulders). They don't get taller in their early-mid 20's. 1/2 inch is nothing. He will remain around the same height as RNH/Hall.

2)Not saying he can't add 20 lbs of lean muscle, just saying he's the same size as the other players I listed when they were prospects and they are considered small, and he has had injury issues at a young age just like some of the other names I listed did. Hence it's not a stretch to assume he will be of similar size to the others when he fills out. Therefor receiving the same treatment that the other oiler plays do around the league from fans.

3) well then I don't understand what your point was in asking why the oilers players names were listed. It was pretty clear why I listed them. I was comparing his status as a prospect to the most recent oiler prospects that are ridiculed about being small skilled forwards on a team that needs big, strong forwards who can battle along the boards against the big teams in the pacific. Unless you didn't read the previous posts in the thread or you have a problem with reading comprehension, which I doubt the latter since you responded to my last post just fine.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

Must be those tiny hips everyone was talking about.

Tiny hips? I thought it was narrow shoulders.

 

[613Leafer]

Where does this notion that Bennett is small come from? Most sites list him between 6'0 to 6'1. And while he was slender last year (around 180 lbs.), he's up to around 190 lbs. now.

He's not Eric Lindros, but since when is around 6'1, 190 lbs. considered a small player?

Notice how it's only Edmonton fans saying it? I guess they feel like they need to defend MacT's choice of taking Draisaitl, who I believe was ranked lower in virtually every ranking (I cant think of any where he wasnt). And since you cant criticize Bennett for skating, skill, work ethic, defensive play, etc. Theyre saying its because of size, despite him being average sized, not small.

Given MacT/Lowe's track record, I dont know why anyone would jump to defend any decision by them and assume it was the correct one.

Bennett: 3rd (TSN), 1st (SN), 3rd (THW), 1st (THN), 1st (Hockey Prospect), 4th (ISS), 2nd (McKeen), 1st (CS), etc

Draisaitl: 4th (TSN), 4th (SN), 6th (THW), 4th (THN), 6th (Hockey Prospect), 6th (ISS), 4th (McKeen), 4th (CS), etc

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2014-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings/