Bennett: Johnny McDavid (calgary flames)

calgary flames

Bennett: Johnny McDavid

By GARTH'S CORNER

Sep 14, 2014 • 7:28 pm

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The Calgary Flames invested the third overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft in Kingston Frontenacs forward Sam Bennett. Bennett has Flames fans feeling the love these days. Bennett is a game-changer and will make an immediate impact with the Flames when he eventually cracks their lineup. Bennett and the Flames are playing in the 2014 Young Stars Showcase in lovely Penticton along with the top prospects of the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks.

In the first two games of the mini tourney, the slippery Bennett has been skating alongside himan highlight reel Johnny Gaudreau. Flames fans now have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads because of the disgusting display of offensive creativity being put forth by Bennett and Gaudreau.

Look at this beauty!

“Well the only other player I can think of is Connor McDavid, but still I don’t even know if (Connor McDavid) has some of the moves that John can pull off. Its’ pretty impressive,… Bennett told Flames.com.

“Any chance you get to play with a guy like that, good things are going to happen for you. I was fortunate enough to play with him tonight.…

At 5’7… tall and weighing just a buck and a half, Gaudreau reminds many Calgary fans of Theo Fleury and another BC star named Nathan Gerbe.

Bennett may well get to play with Gaudreau AND McDavid next season if the Flames decide to send Bennett back to the OHL and Gaudreau to AHL Abbottsford for the 2014-15 season. Why would they rush Bennett and Gaudreau to the NHL so quickly when the organization is looking to bottom-out in order to secure the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft? Sucking this season will give the Flames a puncher’s chance at landing Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel.

The Flames, Sabres, Jets, Islanders and Oilers will be among the teams that will be pursuing Connor McDavid who still projects as the #1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.The worst team will get the first pick. Calgary might end up with McDavid after all.

***

I've had some confused, excited Sabres fans text and DM me as to the whereabouts of Mikhail Grigorenko. Like fellow 2012 first rounder Zemgus Girgensons, Grigo was not eligible to play in the Traverse City Prospects Tournaments due to the body of work that he has created in the NHL. Grigorenko is now entering the final year of his entry level contract and he has a lot to prove to his new GM Tim Murray. Grigo wants to play in Buffalo in the worst way, however, he's going to have to prove to Murray and Ted Nolan that he has what it takes to not only make the roster in Buffalo, but to take a scoring leadership role on the Sabres. That's a lot to ask of a 20 year old kid. Its time to Grigorenko to put up or shut up in terms of his development as a 12th overall pick in the 2012 entry draft. He certainly could benefit from playing against players his own age at the highly competitive Traverse City tourney, however, he is relegated to a cheerleader for his future Rochester and Buffalo teammates at this point. There's no question that Chadd Cassidy's forward group and PP units could use an infusion of Grigo's skills and size to help rock the Buffalo bus out of the proverbial ditch that it presently finds itself bottomed-out in. Unfortunately, Cassidy will have to dance with who brung him.

ESPN.com's Corey Pronman was in Traverse City this weekend and endeavored to speak with Tim Murray about Grigorenko. Murray said that he feels that Grigorenko needs to play on a top scoring line and he also feels that the slick Russian could benefit from a regular shift on the power play.

I can't argue with Murray. Grigorenko needs work. He needs to play a defined, structured role. He needs to play for a coach who trusts him and believes in him. He needs to start this season in Rochester where he can spread his wings and fly. He is not going to thrive by playing 6-8 minutes per night while centering the fourth line in Buffalo. The images of Grigo skating with John Scott and Drew Stafford on the fourth line last season will be forever etched upon my mind's eye. What a disaster that was. Thankfully, Nolan and Pat Lafontaine sent Grigo back to Quebec City after they assumed the leadership roles in Buffalo last November. They instantly recognized that Grigo was a thoroughbred, not a plow horse. They, like Murray, felt it was best for the kid to rebuild his busted confidence by having him play a starring role on his junior team rather that have him waste his time and talents being a reduced-role player in Buffalo.

In 18 games played in Buffalo last season, Grigorenko only lit the lamp two times. He added one assist. When Darcy Regier and Ron Rolston were fired on November 12, Ted Nolan sent Grigo and Nikita Zadorov back to juniors to allow the kids to shake off their cob webs and to do what they do best and that is to dominate games. In 23 games played in Quebec, Grigo scored 15 goals and added 24 assists. In five playoff games, he scored one goal and added 8 assists. After his Remparts were eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs, he reported to AHL Rochester where he was held scoreless in five playoff games with the Amerks.

Grigorenko has proven in his junior career and with Team Russia's WJC team that he has supreme talent. What has plagued him in his first two seasons in Buffalo was his skating and his physicality. To his credit, he has worked tirelessly with Sabres skating coach Dawn Braid to simplify his skating stride bt applying his weight to his edges. He's a more explosive and powerful skater today than when he was when he first arrived in Buffalo after the NHL lockout had ended in January 2013. Moreover, the kid has been hitting the weights and has been doing serious work in the gym this summer.

Since he departed Buffalo in early July following Sabres rookie development camp, Grigorenko has added 10-12 pounds of muscle to his 6'3" frame. He will report to Sabres training camp this Thursday in the best shape of his life. He will play at 220 pounds this season in Rochester. Gone is the scrawny, tall kid with the railroad skating style. Say hello to the man-sized Mikhail Grigorenko.

Grigo's game now has to grow commensurate with his biceps, delts, and quads.

Grigorenko will get a top line opportunity and first unit PP time in Rochester.

He will be given ample opportunity to prove to Murray and Nolan that he indeed does belong in Buffalo.

Grigorenko has entered the first contract season of his young career. Its time for him to put up or shut up.

I like his chances.

****

Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has no new tale to tell about his two restricted free agents Reilly Smith and Torey Krug. Chiarelli was in suburban Nashville with his baby Bruins attending the Preds-hosted prospects tourney on Sunday.

Chiarelli would not give concrete status updates on Krug and Smith.

However, he appears to be preparing for a Smith-less training camp.

When asked to speak on the status of Smith, Chiarelli said that kids may be able to snag his roster spot. Sounds like a GM who isn't expecting his player to attend training camp.

Both players were consistent performers for the Bruins in 2013-14. Re-signing both is a high priority for Chiarelli, who is currently over the salary cap by $810,000.

Chiarelli will have to trade a player or two in order to make salary room to sign Krug and Smith.

The two names that keep popping up in Boston trade talks are Johnny Boychuk and Brad Marchand.

More to come as training camp opens this Thursday.

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