Sam Bennett - Playoff Beast

[bud white]

We often talk of guys and teams that are "built for the playoffs". They get to "the line"... they touch it ... sometimes sneak over it a bit ... but at the end of the day you are constantly on a swivel looking for them because if you lose track of them they burn you. That's Bennett.

Right now, it's a 1-2 race for Conn Smythe. And the two faves are Bennett and Marchand, IMO. They aren't poster boys for the modern NHL, but they play an honest game. They play a 200 foot game. They prefer to go through you rather than dance around you. And everyone hates playing against them because they simply refuse to lose.




It's crazy to think that Bennett pulls in 4.5 million while puffnuts Kyrou makes 8.

[Kariyadog]

Bennett is a heavy playoff performer for sure. Knows how to ramp it up in the playoffs. I’d love to have him. What would be a realistic number for him? Can you imagine him with Holloway?

[Harry S Deals]

Im still a little bit on the pump the brakes as far as breaking the bank for Sam Bennett. My worry is how much of his production is a product of being on a loaded contender. Dont get me wrong Bennett has been lights out the last three playoff runs but before that he had 13 goals in 45 playoff games (.28 G/GP).
We want to rip Kyrou, Kyrou on what has to be considered somewhat lesser teams has 11 goals in 28 playoff games (.39 G/GP) thats a 32 goal pace over an 82 game season which is what Kyrou is.

Bennetts regular season numbers are not indicative of a guy drafted so high his NHL avg season is 19 goals, 40 pts -2 this is not a guy i pay remotely what he may get somewhere else

[bud white]

Im still a little bit on the pump the brakes as far as breaking the bank for Sam Bennett. My worry is how much of his production is a product of being on a loaded contender. Dont get me wrong Bennett has been lights out the last three playoff runs but before that he had 13 goals in 45 playoff games (.28 G/GP).
We want to rip Kyrou, Kyrou on what has to be considered somewhat lesser teams has 11 goals in 28 playoff games (.39 G/GP) thats a 32 goal pace over an 82 game season which is what Kyrou is.

Bennetts regular season numbers are not indicative of a guy drafted so high his NHL avg season is 19 goals, 40 pts -2 this is not a guy i pay remotely what he may get somewhere else

Interestingly, the guys on Spittin' Chiklets echo one of your comments - is Bennett a benefactor of the team he's on? Would he be as effective in a different crew?

At the end of the day, however, you play for a championship. I just don't see any part of Kyrou's game that can be maintained or elevated for the four rounds it takes to win a Cup. It's not in his makeup and I don't see him being a foundational piece for a Cup which is what you are paying him for.

This Panthers team - and the way they are built - are the current model of how to win a Cup. In the past two they have taken the NHL's "dream team" and featured player to the woodshed. While the first two games were excellent, Game 3 was a flat out whupping. Does Edmonton have the "short memory"? I don't know. The way Kane was reacting - and he's a featured piece - I don't know if they can get back on track. Game 4 is a must win for the Oil.

[Harry S Deals]

Im still a little bit on the pump the brakes as far as breaking the bank for Sam Bennett. My worry is how much of his production is a product of being on a loaded contender. Dont get me wrong Bennett has been lights out the last three playoff runs but before that he had 13 goals in 45 playoff games (.28 G/GP).
We want to rip Kyrou, Kyrou on what has to be considered somewhat lesser teams has 11 goals in 28 playoff games (.39 G/GP) thats a 32 goal pace over an 82 game season which is what Kyrou is.

Bennetts regular season numbers are not indicative of a guy drafted so high his NHL avg season is 19 goals, 40 pts -2 this is not a guy i pay remotely what he may get somewhere else

Interestingly, the guys on Spittin' Chiklets echo one of your comments - is Bennett a benefactor of the team he's on? Would he be as effective in a different crew?

At the end of the day, however, you play for a championship. I just don't see any part of Kyrou's game that can be maintained or elevated for the four rounds it takes to win a Cup. It's not in his makeup and I don't see him being a foundational piece for a Cup which is what you are paying him for.

This Panthers team - and the way they are built - are the current model of how to win a Cup. In the past two they have taken the NHL's "dream team" and featured player to the woodshed. While the first two games were excellent, Game 3 was a flat out whupping. Does Edmonton have the "short memory"? I don't know. The way Kane was reacting - and he's a featured piece - I don't know if they can get back on track. Game 4 is a must win for the Oil.

Ill disagree somewhat with the Kyrou comment you need to score goals to win games and Kyrou has proven he can score. I mean he did score three times (tied for 1st on the Blues) vs the Jets but yes the Jets match up may not have been Kyrous most ideal scenario whereas Dallas or Colorado may have suited him more. But i get the sentiment

[dhsux]

Im still a little bit on the pump the brakes as far as breaking the bank for Sam Bennett. My worry is how much of his production is a product of being on a loaded contender. Dont get me wrong Bennett has been lights out the last three playoff runs but before that he had 13 goals in 45 playoff games (.28 G/GP).
We want to rip Kyrou, Kyrou on what has to be considered somewhat lesser teams has 11 goals in 28 playoff games (.39 G/GP) thats a 32 goal pace over an 82 game season which is what Kyrou is.

Bennetts regular season numbers are not indicative of a guy drafted so high his NHL avg season is 19 goals, 40 pts -2 this is not a guy i pay remotely what he may get somewhere else

Interestingly, the guys on Spittin' Chiklets echo one of your comments - is Bennett a benefactor of the team he's on? Would he be as effective in a different crew?

At the end of the day, however, you play for a championship. I just don't see any part of Kyrou's game that can be maintained or elevated for the four rounds it takes to win a Cup. It's not in his makeup and I don't see him being a foundational piece for a Cup which is what you are paying him for.

This Panthers team - and the way they are built - are the current model of how to win a Cup. In the past two they have taken the NHL's "dream team" and featured player to the woodshed. While the first two games were excellent, Game 3 was a flat out whupping. Does Edmonton have the "short memory"? I don't know. The way Kane was reacting - and he's a featured piece - I don't know if they can get back on track. Game 4 is a must win for the Oil.

Any Cup winner will be a "model" on how to do it.

Besides your hate on the guy, why compare Bennett to Kyrou?

Two different players, two different roles.

[DawgDad]

All good points on all sides of this discussion. Bennett is positioning himself to be significantly overpaid unless he takes a haircut to stay in South Forida.

[MiamiLaw]

I love Bennett on the Panthers. On the Blues, he would be an overpaid anchor very quickly. He would have too prominent a role than he can handle. Big pass for me on that contract.

STL won't be on his radar anyways so it would take an overpayment to get there.

I'd almost book that he is either a Panther or a Leaf come October.

[AtillaTheBlue1]

and if he doesnt stay in florida, he will be grossly over paid for a month-ish worth of work, not on his 2005 regular season


as the robot on the one show said, "Danger"

[moose-and-squirrel]

and if he doesnt stay in florida, he will be grossly over paid for a month-ish worth of work, not on his 2005 regular season


as the robot on the one show said, "Danger"

yup.. basically a coupla years younger Schenn.. and people are losing their minds over him

[UseLogic]

he'll get 9MM from someone.

[Cahokanut]

Yes he has had a good year.

In this Playoffs.
That's All. Hasn't been much untill this year.....So

Id rather have him towards the end of his next contract, on my third or fourth line, while another team pays for at least half his contract.

[zamadoo]

I'd love to have him as a 3C on a decent contract, but that isn't going to happen for us.

I also worry about Bennett and (moreso) Ekblad as guys who will be signing their retirement contracts this offseason after having won at least one Cup and having a lot of success already. If they win again this year, what desire do they have left in the tank as they age?

[Lone_Ranger]

I'd love to have him as a 3C on a decent contract, but that isn't going to happen for us.

I also worry about Bennett and (moreso) Ekblad as guys who will be signing their retirement contracts this offseason after having won at least one Cup and having a lot of success already. If they win again this year, what desire do they have left in the tank as they age?

Bennett's a gamer, but his body will break down before his spirit. Only a desperate team that is close to the Cup like Toronto makes sense. I really believe Bennett will be a Leaf next year. Could be the year Toronto gets that Cup.