With 63 days left until the regular season starts up again, let’s take a look at a notable Calgary Flames #63.
Since the start of August (so yesterday) we’re starting to countdown the number of days until the regular season! Everyday until the start of the season, we’ll be talking about a Calgary Flames player whose number correlates with how many days there are left.
Yesterday, we talked about #64 Garnet Hathaway. Today, since there are now 63 days left, let’s talk about #63 Sam Bennett (wow another active player).
NOTE: I know Bennett’s number is 93, but he was 63 in his first season, and the only other #63 in Flames history wasn’t quite noteworthy. Moving on.
Related Story: 64 Days Until the Season Starts: #64 Garnet Hathaway
Who is Sam Bennett?
Name: Sam Bennett
Birth place: Holland Landing, ON, Canada
Position: C
Shoots: Left
Birthdate: 1996-06-20
Height: 6’1” / 185 cm
Weight: 84 kg / 186 lbs
Drafted by: Calgary Flames, fourth overall in 2014
Stats with the Calgary Flames, Regular Season:
| Scoring | Goals | Assists | Shots | Ice Time | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Tm | Lg | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | EV | PP | SH | GW | EV | PP | SH | S | S% | TSA | TOI | ATOI | FOW | FOL | FO% | HIT | BLK | TK | GV | Awards |
| 2014-15 | 18 | CGY | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 5 | 16 | 16:00 | 2 | 10 | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015-16 | 19 | CGY | NHL | 77 | 18 | 18 | 36 | -11 | 37 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 136 | 13.2 | 240 | 1166 | 15:09 | 160 | 187 | 46.1 | 110 | 32 | 34 | 27 | |
| 2016-17 | 20 | CGY | NHL | 81 | 13 | 13 | 26 | -16 | 75 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 122 | 10.7 | 215 | 1214 | 14:59 | 374 | 437 | 46.1 | 127 | 46 | 43 | 25 | |
| Career | NHL | 159 | 31 | 32 | 63 | -28 | 112 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 259 | 12.0 | 460 | 2396 | 15:04 | 536 | 634 | 45.8 | 237 | 78 | 79 | 52 |
Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/2/2017.
Bennett was projected at the number one North American prospect prior to his draft. But after some shoulder injuries, he failed to do a single pullup at the NHL combine before the draft and he somewhat fell a bit. So Calgary Flames fans were ecstatic when he was still available at the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Level Draft.
The Rat Trick
Bennett’s minor league stats were incredible. Playing with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL, he put in 91 points in 57 games in 2013-2014 and was tenth of all skaters for points. in 2013, he played with Team Canada at the U18 World Junior Competition where they won the Gold medal. Bennett had seven points in seven games at that tournament.
Because of Bennett’s shoulder injury, he required surgery and would miss the 2014-2015 season with the Flames. When his shoulder healed, the Flames sent him back down to the OHL to finish his year there. However, in a fun turn of events, the Flames made playoffs for the first time in six years that season and recalled Bennett back up. He played in the last game of the regular season and recorded his first NHL point in that game with an assist against the Winnipeg Jets on April 12th, 2015 (in his first shift, too!).
Having only ever played in one NHL game, Bennett recorded three goals and one assist in 11 playoff games that season.
A game Bennett will most likely forever remember came on January 13, 2016 against the Florida Panthers where the Calgary Flames won 6-0. And how did Bennett do? Well, I guess he did alright, having four of those goals. He had just one goal in his last 19 games before that, too.
Bennett became the third youngest player in NHL history to get four goals in a game (with a first period hat trick!). He was also the youngest Flame to record a hat trick at 19 years and 6 months of age (Sorry Luongo).
Next: Estimating Sam Bennett's Next Contract
Other than that game, Bennett hasn’t quite had the NHL career he’s been hoping for. Let’s hope he can turn things around in what seems to be Calgary’s year.