Question 3: Struggles with Bennett could also be attributed to not playing alongside good linemates. Should he move up to a line with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik and play on the wing with them and hopefully gain some momentum? Or keep 3M as is?
Jonathan Boulanger
This is a tough one. I don’t think the 3M line with stay great forever and may have to be split up sometime next year, which opens the door for Bennett. In a perfect world Bennett would find chemistry with someone like Lazar or Versteeg and the 3M would remain superb.
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Alex Hoegler
Yes he should. Frolik and Backlund are 20-goal scorers and their speed would complement Bennett’s skill well. How can he get better with average linemates?
Dan Raicevich
The most consistent line all year was the 3M line. WE saw great growth through that line this year, and that is, in my opinion, the most underrated line in hockey. Do not touch it.
Ramina Shlah
It seems that the answers here are quite evenly split down the middle. As much as I agree with Alex in him not being able to improve with average linemates, I don’t know how much I want 3M to split up. They were a big reason the Flames even made it to the playoffs with their consistency all season long.
I think maybe trying Curtis Lazar with Sam Bennett would work because we saw them for a couple games together this season and they worked out well. So I’m quite torn on this. But I’d say give Bennett a shot with Backs and Frolik. When Tkachuk got suspended for those two games, Bennett briefly played with them and he was fast and able to keep up with them. He performed well with them. I think it wouldn’t hurt to try it out.