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The Calgary Flames were hoping Sam Bennett would be able to step up and provide consistent secondary scoring in 2017-18. That didn't happen.
The 22-year-old forward managed to produce just 26 points – the exact same output as in his sophomore season.
As such, his year is widely regarded as a failure.
While there is some truth to that, in some ways his season could also be looked at in a positive light.
At 5v5, he averaged more goals and points per 60 than in 2016-17. He also generated shots and scoring chances at the best rate of his career – far superior to even his rookie year where he set career highs in points (36) and 5v5 points (27)
You'll notice Bennett didn't have much shooting luck. Goaltenders stopped 92.95% of his shots and 94.34% of all shots taken by Flames players while he was on the ice. Remarkably high numbers, to say the least.
Both were the worst of Bennett's career, which helps explain why a big spike in shot attempt and scoring chance generation – for Bennett and those he shared the ice with – didn't really translate to results, although his counting totals were still better than the previous year.
If Bennett recorded more 5v5 points, and was a more efficient scorer, in 2017-18 than 2016-17, why were his overall numbers the same?
Power play performance is the easy answer.
Among 212 forwards to log at least 100 minutes on the man advantage, Bennett ranked tied for 209th in points and 205th in points per 60.
He has never been efficient on the power play and yet somehow he has managed to post lesser numbers across the board in consecutive years.
By now it's clear Bennett is a lost cause on the man advantage. I don't think the same can be said at 5v5.
With some – any? – puck luck, that would have been much more evident.
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