Confirmed with Link: FLA acquires Sam Bennett and 6th rounder from CGY, for prospect Emil Heineman and 2nd rounder

[FinlandPanther]

This guy is something else, I love the acquisition. he gets more quality chances than anyone else in the team.

I just love the way he plays the game more than everything. He plays hard and fast.

 

[Thomas Colavecchio]

This guy is something else, I love the acquisition. he gets more quality chances than anyone else in the team.

I believe the opportunities that he has been getting are not only coming from what seems to be the instant chemistry that's been formed with Huby and Duke, but also from the fact that his play is just so fundamentally sound. He plays with aggressiveness, but also under control and with awareness; which to me is outstanding...seems like he is always in the right place, in anticipation of the play as is develops.

It also seems from what he has said that he's loving his role within the team as it is evolving, which bodes well; as he certainly brings an element to this team that has been missing for some time.

I'm hoping the best is yet to come, with the playoffs now just around the corner, and his highly touted reputation for his performance being expressed by the many fans he left behind in Calgary.

If so, we all should be in for a treat!

And the Panther's future down the middle, with Lundell added to the mix soon; is very, very bright.

 

[violaswallet]

I believe the opportunities that he has been getting are not only coming from what seems to be the instant chemistry that's been formed with Huby and Duke, but also from the fact that his play is just so fundamentally sound. He plays with aggressiveness, but also under control and with awareness; which to me is outstanding...seems like he is always in the right place, in anticipation of the play as is develops.

It also seems from what he has said that he's loving his role within the team as it is evolving, which bodes well; as he certainly brings an element to this team that has been missing for some time.

I'm hoping the best is yet to come, with the playoffs now just around the corner, and his highly touted reputation for his performance being expressed by the many fans he left behind in Calgary.

If so, we all should be in for a treat!

And the Panther's future down the middle, with Lundell added to the mix soon; is very, very bright.

The interview implies confidence too: Bennett mentioned that he hasn’t had a coach continuously play him like this since juniors. Hopefully he keeps it up

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

I'm hoping the best is yet to come, with the playoffs now just around the corner, and his highly touted reputation for his performance being expressed by the many fans he left behind in Calgary.

I think it is, but it'll be a few years. Think of this year as just him getting comfortable playing with talent again. Wait until he starts making high-end plays, like the ones he used to attempt in his rookie/first half of sophomore season. His goal on Fleury is still one of the sexiest goals I've ever seen. His pass to Chiasson against the Bruins for the goal on Khudobin still drops my jaw.

 

[Two4Fighting]

The dude just got what we would call "A second life" he was just buried in a team that did not see clearly the type of player he can be, totally mismanaged, how can it be, that when he played his first game with us, it was very obvious to all of us that he was a vey talented player, and he keeps doing it every game, he is fast, positionally sound, aggressive, smart passer, in your face type of player and ready to drop the gloves when it is needed.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I think it is, but it'll be a few years. Think of this year as just him getting comfortable playing with talent again. Wait until he starts making high-end plays, like the ones he used to attempt in his rookie/first half of sophomore season. His goal on Fleury is still one of the sexiest goals I've ever seen. His pass to Chiasson against the Bruins for the goal on Rask still drops my jaw.

Wow, those were purrrty.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Would also like to say I hated the Bennett deal at first but Zito has shown that he is a f***ing god with this acquisition so Zito can do whatever the f*** he wants as far as I’m concerned.

 

[KW]

Would also like to say I hated the Bennett deal at first but Zito has shown that he is a f***ing god with this acquisition so Zito can do whatever the f*** he wants as far as I’m concerned.

Really? I find that I agree with you almost always so had I known that would have been a rare time of disagreement... I was super psyched about Bennett. I think he’s going to be second only to Verhaeghe as a forward pickup.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Really? I find that I agree with you almost always so had I known that would have been a rare time of disagreement... I was super psyched about Bennett. I think he’s going to be second only to Verhaeghe as a forward pickup.

I was psyched about the player because I know he’s nasty and has skill but where he was in his career the price seemed a bit high nothing like insane but didn’t like it since I was a bit high on Heinemen.

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Would also like to say I hated the Bennett deal at first but Zito has shown that he is a f***ing god with this acquisition so Zito can do whatever the f*** he wants as far as I’m concerned.

I wasn't so much upset about the deal because to me draft picks are insanely overrated, especially on the internet.

I just didn't understand the move. I wasn't sure where he would be situated (he played a lot of wing in Calgary) and I felt like the assets could have been used for a better piece.

Well I'm glad I couldn't have been more wrong because Sir Samuel of House Bennett has been an absolute monster in a Panther uniform. He looks like an all-star and he's got the stats to back it up so far.

 

[FinlandPanther]

I wasn't so much upset about the deal because to me draft picks are insanely overrated, especially on the internet.

I just didn't understand the move. I wasn't sure where he would be situated (he played a lot of wing in Calgary) and I felt like the assets could have been used for a better piece.

Well I'm glad I couldn't have been more wrong because Sir Samuel of House Bennett has been an absolute monster in a Panther uniform. He looks like an all-star and he's got the stats to back it up so far.

Same I didn’t realize he was going to play on a scoring line but my god I’m sure glad he does. I also really trust Zito’s drafting LOL.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Get your 93 jerseys now. You guys got an absolute beauty. Coach Q is going to give him ice time and opportunity that the idiot Flames organization never thought to give him, and he will flourish as a center for you guys.

He can kill penalties well.
He's good on the PP, if you actually use him there. Strong on right circle, bumper, and netfront.
He's got excellent defensive zone exit ability and neutral zone carry ability.
He can make some absolutely highlight reel plays when he's feeling good about his linemates.
He can hit and fight and all that captain stuff.



He was the Flames' 3C in the 2017 playoffs and the 2020 playoffs, arguably his two best playoff runs. (though he was great in the 2019 playoffs too). He can absolutely play center, and plays best at center. A few games ago he was centering Lucic and Mangiapane against the McDavid line and came out of that game a +2, and I think picked up a point in that game.

The Flames' love affair with Backlund (justifiable) and Monahan (unjustifiable) and Lindholm (meh) was the Flames shooting themselves in the foot. Sam Bennett was always Calgary's best all around center. I'm happy for him to get the change of scenery he deserved.

This is what I told you guys on the day of the trade

It feels vindicating to see it starting to come to fruition

 

[Haj]

This is what I told you guys on the day of the trade

It feels vindicating to see it starting to come to fruition

Dumb question: What happened to Bennett in the Flames organization?

Never given the right role? Right linemates? Played in a system that supports his style of play?

His style of play seems pretty fungible.

 

[Dread Clawz]

This is what I told you guys on the day of the trade

It feels vindicating to see it starting to come to fruition

He looks amazing, and is exactly the forward Florida needed. I was happy with the trade, I always liked Bennett, but I didn't know he was THIS good. It's crazy that a player this talented was so sorely mismanaged. I feel sorry for Flames fans. But we'll take care of him for you!

 

[lightstorm]

You guys just wait until you see the Play Off Sam Bennett (TM).

Once refs put away their whistles, he will ramp up his physicality to another level and he'll be even more effective.

Looking forward to watching Panthers in the play offs.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Dumb question: What happened to Bennett in the Flames organization?

Never given the right role? Right linemates? Played in a system that supports his style of play?

His style of play seems pretty fungible.

Oh Boy

I could write a novel on this.

To really reflect back at this, you have to go all the way back to the 2014-15 season, which was supposed to be Bennett's rookie season. The kid basically made the team as #1 center right out camp on an incredible preseason line of Gaudreau-Bennett-Ferland, but they shut him down due to needing surgery on the shoulder injury (the same one that caused him unable to do a pullup at the combine). So he missed a year. What really sucks about this is that it was a year the Flames were supposed to be bad. Like, "we are the frontrunners for Connor McDavid bad"

That was the year Bennett should have and would have got 20+ minutes a night, easily, no matter how badly he screwed up. He would have immediately developed into a more physical Jonathan Toews. Coach Bob Hartley himself compared Bennett to Peter Forsberg, and I'm sure you guys can see the similarities with how he uses his physical play to actually create offense.

But it didn't happen. Not only did Bennett get hurt, but the Flames somehow had a hot season with guys like Hudler and Bouma having career years, and of course rookie Gaudreau taking off.

Sean Monahan got elevated to first line center when he was never that kind of talent, and scored a lot of goals down the stretch.

Monahan's goalscoring ability got overvalued in the organization relative to his actual impact.

The Flames make the playoffs and Bennett is healthy. So they start him off at LW with Backlund because the playoffs are not where you throw an 18 year old who's never played in the league at center. Okay, fine. He was still a heck of an 18 year old.

Next season starts, and it's Bennett's rookie season.

Except suddenly the Flames fancy themselves a perennial playoff team and a contender. They trade their first rounder (which would have been Matthew Barzal BTW) for Dougie Hamilton to try and accelerate their rebuild. Horrible move and it put expectations on the team to make the playoffs at any cost.

So as a rookie, Bennett starts the season at center because Hartley's not an idiot. He's centering Mason Raymond and Michael Frolik, which is okay, but not ideal. But Backlund is struggling a lot as the 3C with Lance Bouma, so Hartley shifts up the lines a little to get Backlund going. Bennett-Backlund-Frolik gets put together, instant chemistry but more of a middle six line without a real highend finisher. But Hartley tries to shake things up and get Bennett going. Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris finally happens. Okay, so Josh Jooris is kind of a scrub but it's okay, he's just there to grind while the other two do their magic. Frolik also sees some icetime at RW there. Regardless - Bennett has six points in those four games! He's killing it. You know which line is not killing it? Hudler-Monahan-???? which is supposed to be our second line. So Hartley breaks up the ridiculously effective Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris/Frolik line to reunite last year's hot line of Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler, which I always hated. Hartley's only focus is to make the playoffs. Brutal. Bennett gets reunited with Backlund and Frolik and he has a good stretch again.

And then the Flames call up Markus Granlund. The main reason for this is because this is their best AHL prospect but he hasn't really had a great NHL career. So they give him a chance with Bennett and Hudler. What should have been a good line is ruined by one crucial mistake by Hartley - Granlund is the center and Granlund SUCKS at center. They didn't even TRY Granlund on Bennett's wing. So Bennett goes the next two months absolutely with zero confidence as a line centered by Markus Granlund is getting kicked in and not creating chances. Hudler was bad too on that line. Finally Hartley reunites Bennett-Backlund-Frolik again and he gets going. 2 goal game, and then the next game a four game against you guys, who were going for the division so it was a really exciting time. I think Bennett had nine goals total that month of January 2016? Finally, the trade deadline rolls around and the Flames' playoff hopes are unofficially nixed.

Bennett is moved back to center. Since Backlund and Frolik are immoveable, Bennett is centering Joe Colborne and a not-yet-emerged Micheal Ferland, among other random bottom sixers in a blender. Bennett actually did really well, and Hartley even had Bennett taking draws against guys like Kopitar and Couture. The production kind of dipped but Colborne did produce a little with Bennett setting him up (resulting in Colborne getting a pretty nice contract for himself that offseason). It was a good way to end Bennett's rookie season, he was playing center and playing it really well. You could tell Hartley had really big plans for Bennett the next year. Jonathan Toews types plans. Peter Forsberg type plans. #1 center type plans.

And then it goes to shit. Not only is Hartley fired right after 93's rookie year, but the Flames sign Troy Brouwer. If you've ever looked at a HERO chart, you should look at Troy Brouwer's hero chart when the Flames signed him. It was a horrible signing. And the new coach thinks Brouwer is the veteran who should be stapled to Sam Bennett's right wing. Plays went to die on Brouwers stick that year, and Gulutzan wouldn't give Bennett any other linemates! Versteeg-Bennett-Brouwer was an atrocious line, because both wingers were slow and did not play with the PACE that Sam Bennett wants to play with. And Gulutzan punishes Bennett for it by taking the 20 year old off the powerplay. What a f***ing idiot, young players need that PP time just to get touches and confidence. So Bennett had an awful sophomore season, but wait, towards the end, Gulutzan finally comes to his senses and takes Brouwer off that line. Chiasson is the guy on that line down the stretch, and that line was really strong in the underlying metrics, but their puck luck was horrible. The puck luck turned around in the playoffs though, and the Versteeg-Bennett-Chiasson line was easily Calgary's best. Unfortunately Gulutzan kept the line stapled to this awful defence pair of Bartkowski-Engelland in front of an awful goaltending performance by brian elliott so a look at their plus minus might be misleading, but it was a great line.

Year 3 was supposed to be Bennett's breakout year. Gulutzan even went as far as to compare the kid to Tyler Seguin. And he starts game one on a line with Johnny Gaudreau...

....
except..
..the...
other...
winger...
is...
Curtis...
Lazar...
wtf

So Bennett starts the season on a cold streak. I don't blame Bennett, as Lazar was not a very good right wigner (I didn't mind him as a 4C, but that's a different role!). The line struggled and predictable gets split up. But it's not so bad!!!

Versteeg - Bennett - Jagr get formed!
Holy crap dude

You guys have no idea
how
fun
this
line
was
but
Jagr's
finish
was lost

So Gulutzan split it up and moved Bennett to the wing and he never played center again. He was moved to 4LW with Jankowski and Hathaway (wtf?). Then Bill Peters never played him at center, ever. Then Geoff Ward comes in, and just continues what Peters was doing. But wait... the playoffs come, and Ward has a moment of brilliance putting together the Lucic-Bennett-Dube line.

And they were, probably, our #1 line in the playoffs. That's right, the line we threw out there we needed a goal! NOT Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm, they were trash. Tkachuk-Backlund-Mangiapane were good at first but Tkachuk had a concussion. Nope, Lucic-Bennett-Dube was our best playoff line.

So come this season, we're all looking forward to Lucic-Bennett-Dube, or better yet, something more fun, like Tkachuk-Bennett-Dube, or Gaudreau-Bennett-Dube, or Gaudreau-Bennett-Lindholm. You know, the things he deserves since day one.


Lucic-Bennett-Nordstrom

That is Sam Bennett's line on game 1 of the season

Cue trade request, and petulant scratching and generally shitty coaching by Geoff Ward.

Sutter comes in, and he immediately puts Bennett on the PK, and starts working to rebuild Bennett's game. It looks like he's trying to figure out a spot for Bennett, but he hasn't had much time to figure out his lines. Even though he was using Bennett as his 4LW, it seemed to be temporary. And when Backlund got hurt, it was Bennett who was put on center for the shutdown line with Lucic and Mangaipane against McDavid, so clearly Sutter had a plan for Bennett.

And now he's a Florida Panther.

tl;dr - Bennett played great for Hartley (1 cup), and Sutter (2 cups plus #itwasin2004) and now Quennville (3 cups). Gulutzan/Peters/Ward will never be a head coach in an NHL game again for good reason.

 

[Gentle Man]

Not to be lost, I think his faceoffs have gotten better since he left calgary

 

[Dread Clawz]

Not to be lost, I think his faceoffs have gotten better since he left calgary

He's better than Wennberg, that's for sure.

 

[Ghoste]

Oh Boy

I could write a novel on this.

To really reflect back at this, you have to go all the way back to the 2014-15 season, which was supposed to be Bennett's rookie season. The kid basically made the team as #1 center right out camp on an incredible preseason line of Gaudreau-Bennett-Ferland, but they shut him down due to needing surgery on the shoulder injury (the same one that caused him unable to do a pullup at the combine). So he missed a year. What really sucks about this is that it was a year the Flames were supposed to be bad. Like, "we are the frontrunners for Connor McDavid bad"

That was the year Bennett should have and would have got 20+ minutes a night, easily, no matter how badly he screwed up. He would have immediately developed into a more physical Jonathan Toews. Coach Bob Hartley himself compared Bennett to Peter Forsberg, and I'm sure you guys can see the similarities with how he uses his physical play to actually create offense.

But it didn't happen. Not only did Bennett get hurt, but the Flames somehow had a hot season with guys like Hudler and Bouma having career years, and of course rookie Gaudreau taking off.

Sean Monahan got elevated to first line center when he was never that kind of talent, and scored a lot of goals down the stretch.

Monahan's goalscoring ability got overvalued in the organization relative to his actual impact.

The Flames make the playoffs and Bennett is healthy. So they start him off at LW with Backlund because the playoffs are not where you throw an 18 year old who's never played in the league at center. Okay, fine. He was still a heck of an 18 year old.

Next season starts, and it's Bennett's rookie season.

Except suddenly the Flames fancy themselves a perennial playoff team and a contender. They trade their first rounder (which would have been Matthew Barzal BTW) for Dougie Hamilton to try and accelerate their rebuild. Horrible move and it put expectations on the team to make the playoffs at any cost.

So as a rookie, Bennett starts the season at center because Hartley's not an idiot. He's centering Mason Raymond and Michael Frolik, which is okay, but not ideal. But Backlund is struggling a lot as the 3C with Lance Bouma, so Hartley shifts up the lines a little to get Backlund going. Bennett-Backlund-Frolik gets put together, instant chemistry but more of a middle six line without a real highend finisher. But Hartley tries to shake things up and get Bennett going. Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris finally happens. Okay, so Josh Jooris is kind of a scrub but it's okay, he's just there to grind while the other two do their magic. Frolik also sees some icetime at RW there. Regardless - Bennett has six points in those four games! He's killing it. You know which line is not killing it? Hudler-Monahan-???? which is supposed to be our second line. So Hartley breaks up the ridiculously effective Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris/Frolik line to reunite last year's hot line of Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler, which I always hated. Hartley's only focus is to make the playoffs. Brutal. Bennett gets reunited with Backlund and Frolik and he has a good stretch again.

And then the Flames call up Markus Granlund. The main reason for this is because this is their best AHL prospect but he hasn't really had a great NHL career. So they give him a chance with Bennett and Hudler. What should have been a good line is ruined by one crucial mistake by Hartley - Granlund is the center and Granlund SUCKS at center. They didn't even TRY Granlund on Bennett's wing. So Bennett goes the next two months absolutely with zero confidence as a line centered by Markus Granlund is getting kicked in and not creating chances. Hudler was bad too on that line. Finally Hartley reunites Bennett-Backlund-Frolik again and he gets going. 2 goal game, and then the next game a four game against you guys, who were going for the division so it was a really exciting time. I think Bennett had nine goals total that month of January 2016? Finally, the trade deadline rolls around and the Flames' playoff hopes are unofficially nixed.

Bennett is moved back to center. Since Backlund and Frolik are immoveable, Bennett is centering Joe Colborne and a not-yet-emerged Micheal Ferland, among other random bottom sixers in a blender. Bennett actually did really well, and Hartley even had Bennett taking draws against guys like Kopitar and Couture. The production kind of dipped but Colborne did produce a little with Bennett setting him up (resulting in Colborne getting a pretty nice contract for himself that offseason). It was a good way to end Bennett's rookie season, he was playing center and playing it really well. You could tell Hartley had really big plans for Bennett the next year. Jonathan Toews types plans. Peter Forsberg type plans. #1 center type plans.

And then it goes to shit. Not only is Hartley fired right after 93's rookie year, but the Flames sign Troy Brouwer. If you've ever looked at a HERO chart, you should look at Troy Brouwer's hero chart when the Flames signed him. It was a horrible signing. And the new coach thinks Brouwer is the veteran who should be stapled to Sam Bennett's right wing. Plays went to die on Brouwers stick that year, and Gulutzan wouldn't give Bennett any other linemates! Versteeg-Bennett-Brouwer was an atrocious line, because both wingers were slow and did not play with the PACE that Sam Bennett wants to play with. And Gulutzan punishes Bennett for it by taking the 20 year old off the powerplay. What a f***ing idiot, young players need that PP time just to get touches and confidence. So Bennett had an awful sophomore season, but wait, towards the end, Gulutzan finally comes to his senses and takes Brouwer off that line. Chiasson is the guy on that line down the stretch, and that line was really strong in the underlying metrics, but their puck luck was horrible. The puck luck turned around in the playoffs though, and the Versteeg-Bennett-Chiasson line was easily Calgary's best. Unfortunately Gulutzan kept the line stapled to this awful defence pair of Bartkowski-Engelland in front of an awful goaltending performance by brian elliott so a look at their plus minus might be misleading, but it was a great line.

Year 3 was supposed to be Bennett's breakout year. Gulutzan even went as far as to compare the kid to Tyler Seguin. And he starts game one on a line with Johnny Gaudreau...

....
except..
..the...
other...
winger...
is...
Curtis...
Lazar...
wtf

So Bennett starts the season on a cold streak. I don't blame Bennett, as Lazar was not a very good right wigner (I didn't mind him as a 4C, but that's a different role!). The line struggled and predictable gets split up. But it's not so bad!!!

Versteeg - Bennett - Jagr get formed!
Holy crap dude

You guys have no idea
how
fun
this
line
was
but
Jagr's
finish
was lost

So Gulutzan split it up and moved Bennett to the wing and he never played center again. He was moved to 4LW with Jankowski and Hathaway (wtf?). Then Bill Peters never played him at center, ever. Then Geoff Ward comes in, and just continues what Peters was doing. But wait... the playoffs come, and Ward has a moment of brilliance putting together the Lucic-Bennett-Dube line.

And they were, probably, our #1 line in the playoffs. That's right, the line we threw out there we needed a goal! NOT Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm, they were trash. Tkachuk-Backlund-Mangiapane were good at first but Tkachuk had a concussion. Nope, Lucic-Bennett-Dube was our best playoff line.

So come this season, we're all looking forward to Lucic-Bennett-Dube, or better yet, something more fun, like Tkachuk-Bennett-Dube, or Gaudreau-Bennett-Dube, or Gaudreau-Bennett-Lindholm. You know, the things he deserves since day one.


Lucic-Bennett-Nordstrom

That is Sam Bennett's line on game 1 of the season

Cue trade request, and petulant scratching and generally shitty coaching by Geoff Ward.

Sutter comes in, and he immediately puts Bennett on the PK, and starts working to rebuild Bennett's game. It looks like he's trying to figure out a spot for Bennett, but he hasn't had much time to figure out his lines. Even though he was using Bennett as his 4LW, it seemed to be temporary. And when Backlund got hurt, it was Bennett who was put on center for the shutdown line with Lucic and Mangaipane against McDavid, so clearly Sutter had a plan for Bennett.

And now he's a Florida Panther.

tl;dr - Bennett played great for Hartley (1 cup), and Sutter (2 cups plus #itwasin2004) and now Quennville (3 cups). Gulutzan/Peters/Ward will never be a head coach in an NHL game again for good reason.

Great breakdown, thanks. And we had Brouwer on this team before. And yes, we know Jagr. The Huby/Sasha/Jagr line was ridiculous! They would spend whole shifts in the offensive zone just skating untouchable circles around the opps. It was awesome!

-ghoste

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Great breakdown, thanks. And we had Brouwer on this team before. And yes, we know Jagr. The Huby/Sasha/Jagr line was ridiculous! They would spend whole shifts in the offensive zone just skating untouchable circles around the opps. It was awesome!

-ghoste

Haha yeah, I am sure you guys know Jagr. But here is a nice feed from Bennett to Jagr that just oozed potential. Versteeg-Bennett-Jagr was probably the best line Bennett ever got to center, and they never actually scored.

 

[Gentle Man]

Wait.

Steeg was a Flame?! Lol

 

[Pigge]

He's better than Wennberg, that's for sure.

Not statistically speaking. I wouldn't think the faceoff% is a controversial stat.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Not statistically speaking. I wouldn't think the faceoff% is a controversial stat.

He's improving. He was 68% this game, Wennberg was 50, which is high for him.

 

[Pigge]

He's improving. He was 68% this game, Wennberg was 50, which is high for him.

You really don't think too highly of him if you think below his own average is high for him.

 

[PanthersHockey1]

Calgary doesn't have any players that can cycle the puck and have skill like huberdeau. Gudreau like to skate in on his own and pretend hes lemeuix. That is the big difference. Bennett has talented line mates.