Penguins Update: Plea for Bennett Part Deux

I know this has about as much chance of happening as…say…a Brink’s truck loaded with gold bullion arriving at my door step. But I’m going to make another plea for the Penguins to acquire Calgary center Sam Bennett, who’s requested a trade.

Bennett’s off to a lousy start with the Flames. In nine games, he’s tallied a lone assist to go with a team worst minus-five. He has a sub 50 Corsi (48.7 to be exact) on a strong puck possession team. Indeed, since piling up 18 goals as a 19-year-old rookie back in 2015-16, his production (and promise) has mostly tracked backward, dipping to a low of eight goals last season.

If this seems all-too-familiar, you’re right. Bennett’s career arc has been pretty much mirrored that of Mark Jankowski, another former Flames center who we signed over the summer. For the record, Jankowski has cratered following a jack-rabbit start.

Okay, Buker, so explain why we’d want to trade for another underachiever. Especially one making $2.55 million and who’s slated to become an RFA at the end of the season.

Because Bennett is precisely the type of player we need. He does everything our current crop doesn’t do. He’s got a non-stop motor and plays with the intensity of a pit bull terrier. He drives to the net. No east-west. No cute little drop passes in the slot. He’s all straight-line, all business.

Each of his goals last season came from below the hash marks…most right from the doorstep…where he aggressively establishes position. In viewing highlight videos of him, he always seems to be around the net. He’s even been known to bowl over a goalie or two.

Bennett’s a punishing and ferocious forechecker. He finishes his checks in a style reminiscent of former Pen Chris Kunitz, almost skating through his foe. I mean, he crushes people. And he fights…quite capably, too. Check out the YouTube video of his demolition of former Pen Ian Cole if you need proof.

Kind of reminds me of “Scary” Gary Roberts a bit. An old-school power forward, only with better wheels and more skill.

Lest you think Bennett’s all grind and intangibles, think again. A former first-round pick (fourth overall) in 2014, he can skate. He’s got vision. He handles the puck well and even possesses a little shake-and-bake when the situation calls for it. And he’s got a quick release, which he uses to great advantage in the high danger areas.

The 6’1” 195-pounder’s versatile, too, able to play either left wing or center.

In short, all the tools are there. And although this is his seventh NHL season, he’s still only 24 years old.

I don’t know what went wrong in Calgary and I don’t really care. It might take some fancy maneuvering and parking a player or two in the minors to free up cap space, but the Pens could desperately use a player of Bennett’s ilk. I’d move heaven and earth to get him.

One last selling point. Despite his middling regular-season production (63 goals in 373 regular-season games) the Ontario native comes alive in the playoffs. In 30 career postseason games, Bennett’s tallied 11 goals…a rate of .367 goals per game. By comparison, Evgeni Malkin’s rate is .379.

GM Search

The search for Jim Rutherford’s successor continues. Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall (yes, that Ron Hextall) is a strong candidate. While serving in the same capacity, he helped build the Kings’ 2012 Stanley Cup winner before returning to his roots in Philly the following year. Named general manager in 2014, he helped stock the Flyers with good, young talent before being dismissed in November 2018.

Oh, if it makes you feel any better, his dad Bryan Hextall, Jr., played 335 games for the Pens in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Other candidates may include former assistant GM Jason Karmanos (axed last fall by JR), former goalie and NHL Network studio analyst Kevin Weekes and current Pens assistant GM Patrik Allvin.

Who won’t be applying? Assistant GMs Chris Drury (Rangers), Scott Mellanby (Montreal) and Jason Botterill (Seattle). The former pair turned down an invitation to interview, while Seattle declined to allow access to Botterill.

Welcome Back

The Pens reactivated defenseman Mike Matheson from IR and recalled forward Drew O’Connor from the taxi squad. Both should see action against the Islanders tonight, along with Kris Letang, who was out day-to-day.

John Marino, who spent two days in COVID protocol, will also be in the lineup, giving us a reasonably full complement of defensemen for the first time in ages.