Todd Cordell: On penalty drawing prowess, Lindholm's scoring, and goaltending

Todd Cordell: On penalty drawing prowess, Lindholm's scoring, and goaltending
- ToddCordellCGY

Lindholm is becoming the big key in that trade. Lesson to be learnt of the Bennett haters that sometimes these high end talents still need the 3-4 years of development to start hitting their talent pedigree. Lindholm at 23 is now blossoming & he has tons of talent & a good reason he was taken just before we took Monahan. Bennett is only 22 & we are starting to see that progression. The beauty of this is when they do blossom,we already have them locked down for great cap hits. Same will happen with Benny. This is how you build high end depth in a Cap league.

Rumour has it that Neal & Smith have had heated words a few times in the last week or so. Smith alleged to make comments of defensive breakdowns after the Anaheim game & Neal said maybe he should just make a fckg save for a change. If true, I like it

Ironically they are good friends off the ice.

Lindholm is becoming the big key in that trade. Lesson to be learnt of the Bennett haters that sometimes these high end talents still need the 3-4 years of development to start hitting their talent pedigree. Lindholm at 23 is now blossoming & he has tons of talent & a good reason he was taken just before we took Monahan. Bennett is only 22 & we are starting to see that progression. The beauty of this is when they do blossom,we already have them locked down for great cap hits. Same will happen with Benny. This is how you build high end depth in a Cap league.

Rumour has it that Neal & Smith have had heated words a few times in the last week or so. Smith alleged to make comments of defensive breakdowns after the Anaheim game & Neal said maybe he should just make a fckg save for a change. If true, I like it

Ironically they are good friends off the ice.
- Kevin R

Bennett has proved a lot, but I am passed the point hoping he can become a perennial 20 goal guy. Hope he proves me wrong.

Hey Kevin R, do you have a link about the dispute between Smith and Neal? I agree with you on Bennett, he's still young and has shown progress. We all know he's skilled, I remember that Florida game where he had 4 goals.

Thanks Todd!

Hey Kevin R, do you have a link about the dispute between Smith and Neal? I agree with you on Bennett, he's still young and has shown progress. We all know he's skilled, I remember that Florida game where he had 4 goals.
- FlamesFan1230

Was on facebook/ u/Adragon23
Again alleged but I can see Neal saying something. Tough for Smith because he's in a contract year & sure doesnt want any optics of his game regressing that would impact a new one or a scenario where he is a backup instead of a #1. He's a pretty proud & intense guy.

Decent read


https://www.google.ca/amp...9d0-a75b-0752969d0ff6/amp

Bennett has proved a lot, but I am passed the point hoping he can become a perennial 20 goal guy. Hope he proves me wrong.
- DuranDuran

if Bennett plays the game remotely close to how Virtanen plays (I don't watch enough of Bennett to truly know), than it could just be a longer/steeper learning/development curve. Virtanen has 6 goals in 17 games, which is just absurd for him, but its half of what you expect out of a 5th overall. Bennett could just be on a similar path?

if Bennett plays the game remotely close to how Virtanen plays (I don't watch enough of Bennett to truly know), than it could just be a longer/steeper learning/development curve. Virtanen has 6 goals in 17 games, which is just absurd for him, but its half of what you expect out of a 5th overall. Bennett could just be on a similar path?
- Codes1087

[/img]http://trailerpark.wikia....yisms?file=Tpb-ricky3.jpg

if Bennett plays the game remotely close to how Virtanen plays (I don't watch enough of Bennett to truly know), than it could just be a longer/steeper learning/development curve. Virtanen has 6 goals in 17 games, which is just absurd for him, but its half of what you expect out of a 5th overall. Bennett could just be on a similar path?
- Codes1087

For sure. On one hand Bennett gets lots of chances and generates offense but he just cannot find his finish. I do believe its a confidence thing. But on the other hand at some point gotta stop blaming bad luck and just figure it is what it is.

For sure. On one hand Bennett gets lots of chances and generates offense but he just cannot find his finish. I do believe its a confidence thing. But on the other hand at some point gotta stop blaming bad luck and just figure it is what it is.
- DuranDuran

Virtanen went through the same thing when he first broke into the league, he was never a good all around player. He would spend the whole game finishing his checks, going for big hits, but then would be caught out of position defensively. Then the next game he would play super conservative, make sure he played well defensively, didn't throw any hits, and wouldn't be involved in the rushes. Then games he would be the last one back, but would have a break-a-way. I think its all about finding a groove and applying all your skills. From what I can see, Bennett has actually been a guy who the flames have relied on for physicality and fighting, its hard to balance being productive offensively when you are the guy sticking up for guys in fights and spending time in the box. I think Bennett will find his game.

Lindholm is becoming the big key in that trade. Lesson to be learnt of the Bennett haters that sometimes these high end talents still need the 3-4 years of development to start hitting their talent pedigree. Lindholm at 23 is now blossoming & he has tons of talent & a good reason he was taken just before we took Monahan. Bennett is only 22 & we are starting to see that progression. The beauty of this is when they do blossom,we already have them locked down for great cap hits. Same will happen with Benny. This is how you build high end depth in a Cap league.

Rumour has it that Neal & Smith have had heated words a few times in the last week or so. Smith alleged to make comments of defensive breakdowns after the Anaheim game & Neal said maybe he should just make a fckg save for a change. If true, I like it

Ironically they are good friends off the ice.
- Kevin R

Team is already falling apart faster than Whipper at an AA meeting

Interesting to see Rittich and Smith's save above expectation being the exact opposite. Neat stat.

Team is already falling apart faster than Whipper at an AA meeting
- Nucker101

Who the hell is Whipper?

Who the hell is Whipper?
- FlamesFan1230

Just some punk. Like the rest of us.

You've gotta think Oilers fan and brass are already thinking about how they tank 2019-2020 to restart the rebuild.

https://www.tsn.ca/lafren...e-class-of-2020-1.1206411

You've gotta think Oilers fan and brass are already thinking about how they tank 2019-2020 to restart the rebuild.

https://www.tsn.ca/lafren...e-class-of-2020-1.1206411
- rmull905

Might not be a bad idea.

if Bennett plays the game remotely close to how Virtanen plays (I don't watch enough of Bennett to truly know), than it could just be a longer/steeper learning/development curve. Virtanen has 6 goals in 17 games, which is just absurd for him, but its half of what you expect out of a 5th overall. Bennett could just be on a similar path?
- Codes1087

They don't really though. Bennett gets most of his goals in tight and Virtanen is more all over the map on where he scores from.

I see your point about the trend in production. Both could be better players. Watching Virtanen in Hitmen games he was hard to judge. Some players have the ability to drive play for most of the game. Virtanen had the ability to score when play started slowing down.

They don't really though. Bennett gets most of his goals in tight and Virtanen is more all over the map on where he scores from.

I see your point about the trend in production. Both could be better players. Watching Virtanen in Hitmen games he was hard to judge. Some players have the ability to drive play for most of the game. Virtanen had the ability to score when play started slowing down.
- fry

its hard to compare them, cause like you said, they play very different games. I do think that Bennett has a higher ceiling though. I guess Virtanen may be a little ahead of Bennett right now, but that could easily change.