I'm not even that positive. I think they're going to have to dedicate themselves to at least a three year mini rebuild before they can even sniff a finals appearance. Frankly I don't even think our youth is very good compared to other teams.
They don't have three years for a mini rebuild. Three years is the window unless we get lucky with a few draft picks.
They've got to give Bennett a decent go of things, even if they don't believe in him. His value's probably a 2nd if we're lucky so we might as well find out what he is.
Keep him or trade him for an equal prospect on a similar path. Cough Kassian Cough.
I think a huge reason for Bennett's less than stellar play is that he plays terrified to **** up every time he's on the ice. He doesn't know what will get him benched, or if he'll get another shot, so he plays to not mess up and it crushes his game.
Like DV said, a sit down with the kid and a bit of confidence boosting "Listen, it's your time to prove yourself." type of talk would go a loooong way.
Give him 40 games in the top six as a third wheel with Sid or Geno. See what happens.
Here's what I don't get. He was given chances in the top 6 at times but couldn't force anyone's hand to keep him there. He was excellent with Downie and Sutter...then faded. I really think they were looking for consistency and just did not see it. You can give him 7-8 games at most 10...40? No. That's just not going to happen. Not unless he lights it up. And if he doesn't do it by game 8-9...he's done like dinner. You don't just get to "give" someone 40 games in the top 6. I doubt you see ANY team in the league doing that for similar players.
This is the Tangradi discussion allllll over again. Bottom line, Bennett needs to establish himself early and force the coach to keep him there. Does he have the talent, most likely. Will he...hard to tell. History indicates he won't. And that's okay, cup teams have guys like Bennett performing well and providing secondary scoring on the 3rd line.
The biggest thing he needs to work on is flexibility in the line up. He is garbage on the left wing, decent on the right wing. He can't force the coaches to talk "well so and so is out at left wing...who can fill it...well Bennett...but he only plays well on the right side." That's a conversation he can't allow to happen. And when it comes right down to it, he needs to produce. He just doesn't put up the numbers. He needs to.
Probably a guy like Perron who has lots of skill and can create on his own. He will offer the 1st in 2016 for him.
What about TJ Oshie? Oshie and Perron, statistically, are very comparable players. 1st+Rust/Wilson/Megna/etc...or perhaps 2nd+Spaling?
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