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Ranking the 5 Worst Calgary Flames Draft Picks In Recent Memory

By Nathan Smith

CALGARY, AB - APRIL 4: Sam Bennett #93 of the Calgary Flames in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 4, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - APRIL 4: Sam Bennett #93 of the Calgary Flames in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 4, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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5. Sam Bennett – No. 4 overall in 2014

While Sam Bennett has turned into a great player that was a key piece on the Florida Panthers run to the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Finals, his tenure in Calgary can’t be labelled as anything but a major disappointment, especially seeing names like William Nylander, Dylan Larkin, David Pastrnak and Adrian Kempe drafted throughout the first round. In seven years with Calgary, Bennett managed just 140 points in 402 games (he has tallied 104 in 144 games with Florida), and despite the love of the Flames fans, he could just never put it together.

Ultimately, Bennett has turned into a solid player, and that will take him out of any type of bust argument, but unfortunately for the Flames, he just wasn’t used correctly and has excelled since leaving, making him a very poor draft pick for Calgary, even if they are equally to blame for these failures.

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