Kunitz was a PPG last season and have been solid at around 25 goals and 55-60 points for a while.
To say that Bennett would put up much better numbers than that on another team right now is nothing short of stupid.
I guess you don't see the potential in Beau Bennett...it's ok, our coach doesn't either.
Kunitz just got invited to the Team Canada Olympic camp, and Dupuis is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL (who's been a 60 point player with no PP time over the last two years). cannot possibly put Bennett over either one of them.
They've been mediocre at best but it's been five games. I'm pretty sure people wanted to slash CK's car's tires after five games last year too. Bennett's got tools and skill but he's got a lot to prove still too.
I think playing with a guy named Sidney Crosby has a LOT to do with it, don't you think? It seems we talk more about what those two do for Sid, when in reality it's all about what Sid does for them. They're basically Esa Tikkanen to Sid's Wayne Gretzky.
Oh sure Bennett has a lot to prove, but how in the hell is he going to prove it if every Tom, Dick and Jussi get preferred over him?
How is ANY winger going to be able to develop in this organization?
I guess I don't really understand the Sutter angst. Not directed solely at you, Jags... I've just seen this in Penguinsland a lot, lately. This is basically the player he was in Carolina. Inconsistent offensively but very good at cleaning up his own end. Not the greatest playmaker in the world but possesses an excellent shot (when he is in a position to use it). He's never gonna put guys through the glass... but I've actually noticed a slight increase in his physical play, this season. I had hopes that he would blossom a bit more offensively, here and it hasn't happened yet. But I still think he's a lock for your pretty standard 3rd line center numbers by the end of the year. Maybe a bit heavier on the goal side and lighter on the assist side, with him.
People don't like him because he doesn't play like the typical third line center and isn't a big bruiser. He gets knocked around too much in the corners and needs to do a better job actually winning some puck battles. But he largely gets the job done every night and I really do think there is some room for growth, there. I'm very willing to wait him out a bit longer before I start throwing him under the bus. He's still a relative unknown, on this team. And still young.
Plus... he's still got plenty of "Jordan Staal appeal" (who he is currently outscoring 3 to 1, FWIW) -- he's gone 5 straight games without scoring a goal and generally looking like he's totally forgotten how that's done. I bet that changes tonight... for the record.
Well, I think you nailed it on the head. When we traded Staal, we needed Sutter because we didn't really know what we had beyond the superstars. But would it be the end of the world if BOTH Jeffrey and Vitale played every day on this team?
OR, maybe somebody in the organization gets smart and puts Bennett where he belongs with Malkin and Neal, then slide Jokinen to No. 3 center.
But I realize that ain't happening with this current regime.