Dennis Wideman Injury: Updates on Flames Defenseman's Tricep and Recovery
Mar 18, 2016
Calgary Flames' Dennis Wideman controls the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Thursday, April 2, 2015, in St. Louis. The Blues won 4-1. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman will not play another game this season because of a tricep injury.
Continue for updates.
Wideman Done for Stretch Run
Friday, March 18
On Friday, the Flames announced Wideman will not appear during the final 12 games of the season with the setback.
Wideman suffered the injury during Wednesday’s contest against the Winnipeg Jets. He collided with teammate Joe Colborne in the first period during Calgary’s 4-1 win, and the damage was apparently enough to keep him out for the rest of the year.
Wideman appeared in 51 games in 2015-16 and registered 19 points on two goals and 17 assists. According to ESPN.com, Wideman sports a disappointing minus-nine tally in the plus-minus category. That is a far cry from his effective 2014-15 campaign, when he was plus-six after playing 80 games for the Flames and finishing with a career-high 56 points on 15 goals and 41 assists.
Wideman made news earlier this season when he hit linesman Don Henderson with a blindside check during Calgary’s 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Jan. 27. Wideman wasn’t penalized during the game, but the NHLsuspended him following the incident.
According to Joe McDonald of ESPN.com, the suspension was trimmed from 20 games to 10 by an independent arbitrator. Here is a look at the controversial play, via NBC Sports:
This is just the latest setback in a lackluster season for the Flames. Calgary is 30-35-5 and a long shot for the playoffs at best. It is trailing the Colorado Avalanche by 11 points for the final spot in the Western Conference with 12 games remaining, per ESPN.com’s postseason scenarios.
The Flames will likely turn toward Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Deryk Engelland and Jyrki Jokipakka to hold up the defense for the rest of the season with Wideman no longer a healthy option.
Dennis Wideman's Suspension Reduced to 10 Games: Comments, Reaction
Mar 11, 2016
Jan 27, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman (6) against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Nashville Predators won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman's 20-game suspension for slamming into a referee during a January 27 game against the Nashville Predators was reportedly reduced to 10 games Friday.
According to ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun (h/t Yahoo Sports NHL), an independent arbitrator ruled in Wideman's favor to cut the original suspension in half.
Also from Yahoo Sports NHL, even though Wideman has already served 19 games of his suspension, his early reinstatement means he will receive nearly $280,000 in lost salary.
Per Frank Seravalli of TSN Sports, arbitrator James Oldham ruled that Wideman, in his opinion, did not "deliberately strike" referee Don Henderson.
The NHL released an official statement through its public relations account on Twitter announcing it will review the arbitrator's decision to explore potential further action:
The NHL Players' Association also released a statement through its official website following the decision to reduce Wideman's suspension:
Given that it was undisputed that Dennis suffered a concussion mere seconds prior to his collision with linesman Don Henderson, we felt strongly that there should have been no discipline. Nonetheless we are pleased that Arbitrator Oldham found that the collision was not intentional and that the suspension was reduced to 10 games. We respect the process and the decision and we look forward to Dennis returning to the ice tonight with his teammates.
The NHL Officials Association also released a statement on the decision Saturday, per TSN's Bob McKenzie:
Seravalli did point out he's not sure what the NHL's reasoning would be to take the case back to court since Wideman has already sat out 19 games and is only able to recoup lost pay.
The play in question occurred midway through the second period of Nashville's 2-1 victory over Calgary, with Wideman barreling into Henderson.
Wideman told reporters after the game, per the New York Post, that a hard hit he sustained immediately before the play in question played a role in the series of events.
"I took a pretty hard hit down in the corner and had some pretty good pain in my shoulder and my neck, and I was just trying to get off the ice," Wideman said. "And I was kind of keeled over, and at the last second, I looked up and I saw him, and I couldn't avoid it."
After the NHL announced Wideman's 20-game suspension, the NHL Players' Association said it planned to appeal on his behalf, noting that "the facts, including the medical evidence presented at the hearing, clearly demonstrate that Dennis had no intention to make contact with the linesman."
The injury situation with Wideman is what makes this case so unique. Out of context, he does appear to just run into Henderson, and it seemingly warrants a maximum suspension. Factoring in that Wideman had just absorbed a huge hit changes the dynamic of this case.
Wideman has appeared in 48 games for the Flames this season, scoring two goals and recording 17 assists. Calgary is currently tied with the Edmonton Oilers for last place in the Pacific Division with 61 points.
Dennis Wideman Injury: Updates on Flames Defenseman's Concussion and Return
Feb 3, 2016
SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Dennis Wideman #6 of the Calgary Flames skates with control of the puck against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on November 28, 2015 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman was suspended 20 games on Wednesday for cross-checking an official, per USA Today Sports' Jimmy Hascup, but he reportedly suffered a concussion in the same game.
Continue for updates.
Wideman's Concussion May Have Occurred Before Hitting Linesman
Wednesday, Feb. 3
According to NHL on NBC, the league confirmed Wideman suffered a concussion. Mike Halford of NBC Sports' Pro Hockey Talk added the defenseman “potentially suffered” the concussion “on a hit he took moments before colliding” with the official.
Halford passed along the NHL’s explanation for the suspension despite the concussion:
It is accepted for the purposes of this decision that he was later diagnosed as having suffered a concussion. However, that fact even accepted as true, cannot excuse Wideman’s subsequent actions.
First, although he appears to get up slowly from being checked, Wideman skates steadily and purposefully to his bench, taking a half dozen strides to get there. Wideman also demonstrates his continued awareness of his circumstances and surroundings when, upon approaching the Calgary blueline, he raises his stick and taps it on the ice to alert his teammates that he’s coming off for a line change.
The league suspended Wideman because he checked linesman Don Henderson during Calgary’s 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Jan. 27. However, the incident occurred after Nashville forward Miikka Salomaki hit Wideman hard into the boards. Wideman was skating back to the bench following the initial hit when he checked Henderson.
Halford made sure to note there was “no confirmation that Wideman’s injury was a direct result of the Salomaki collision,” and the league pointed out Wideman remained in the game and even refused medical attention after the hit.
Here is a look at the check that led to the suspension, per NBC Sports:
Wideman has two goals and 17 assists for 19 points this season. While he was solid last year with 56 points and a plus/minus rating of six, he has struggled this season to establish himself as a consistent force and boasts a plus/minus rating of minus-nine.
As of Wednesday, the Flames were 11 points behind Nashville for a playoff spot in the Western Conference and will have to rely on Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton even more on the defensive side of the ice until Wideman returns from his concussion and suspension.
Dennis Wideman Suspended 20 Games: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction
Feb 3, 2016
Jan 7, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman (6) skates with the puck against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Arizona Coyotes won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The National Hockey League Players' Association later released a statement announcing Wideman would be appealing the suspension, per Travis Hughes of SB Nation:
NHLPA appealing Wideman suspension: "Dennis has played almost 800 games without incident." pic.twitter.com/OYAmsvbR9k
Flames President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke provided a statement regarding the news:
We were informed earlier today that our player, Dennis Wideman, was suspended for contact with an official in last Wednesday’s game against Nashville. We disagree with the severity of today’s suspension ruling and maintain that Dennis’ collision with the linesman was unintentional and accidental. We agree that our officials’ safety and well-being is of extreme importance in order to allow them to perform their duties. They perform an invaluable but underappreciated role in our game. We support sanctions against players who make deliberate contact with any official. However, unintentional and accidental contact does occur at times in our game. We will have no further comment on the matter at this time.
CBC Montreal provided a video of the incident that landed Wideman in trouble with the NHL:
The league later confirmed that Wideman was diagnosed with a concussion after hitting the linesman, per NHL on NBC, and it will determine if the Flames will be fined for not following concussion protocol, per Rick Westhead of the Sports Network.
When asked about the situation after the game, Wideman insisted the hit was accidental and said he apologized to linesman Don Henderson, per ESPN.com:
I took a pretty good hit down in the corner and had some pretty good pain in my shoulder and neck. I was just trying to get off the ice and kind of keeled over. At the last second, I looked up and saw [Henderson] and couldn't avoid it. I went up to Donnie and apologized to him on the ice.
I didn't see him. I didn't know where to go and how to get out of the way. I've been around for a few years, and I think I've treated every official with the utmost respect, and I would never intentionally try to hit a linesman or a ref. It was completely unintentional, and I already apologized to him.
Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the assumption is that Wideman argued during the hearing for his case that he was "woozy" or "foggy" after taking a hit, which is why he collided with Henderson.
With Wideman now out of the picture for 20 games, the Flames are in line to lose one of their most dependable defensemen during a crucial part of the schedule.
Calgary trails the San Jose Sharks by 12 points for the third and final playoff spot in the Western Conference's Pacific Division, and tracking them down without Wideman until the stretch run won't be easy.
The 32-year-old blueliner is having a down year by his standards, with two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 48 games, but he notched a career-high 15 goals and 41 assists for 56 points last season.
He is a steady presence on the back end, and without him, Calgary will likely be forced to rely on Ladislav Smid as a replacement, who is far less offensively inclined.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the incident, the NHL made it crystal-clear that it won't tolerate any form of aggression toward officials moving forward.
Dennis Wideman Suspended Indefinitely for Cross-Checking Linesman
Jan 28, 2016
Jan 11, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman (6) controls the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. San Jose Sharks won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman made headlines on Jan. 27 when he delivered a blindside check to linesman Don Henderson during his team’s 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. It appeared as if the move was intentional, and the NHL deemed it egregious enough to warrant an indefinite suspension Thursday.
Darren Dreger of TSN first reported the news and noted the suspension is pending a hearing after the All-Star break. The NHL later announced the decision, per CBC Montreal.
Frank Seravalli of TSN reported the in-person disciplinary hearing is scheduled to take place on Feb. 2 in Toronto.
Wideman wasn’t penalized during the game because it wasn’t clear at the time to the officials if he intentionally checked Henderson. Wideman himself had just taken a hit and was heading back toward the bench before he decked Henderson.
As can be seen in the video, the commentators questioned whether the move was on purpose, and many Predators reacted in a way that implied they thought it was.
ESPN.com discussed the possibility of a suspension after the hit: “If Wideman is determined to have hit Henderson intentionally, he will be subject to a suspension of no less than 20 games for deliberately attempting to injure an official, per the NHL rulebook.”
Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald passed along a quote from Wideman: “I was just trying to get off the ice. And, at the last second, I looked up and saw him.”
“It was completely unintentional, and I already apologized to him,” he added, per Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun.
It has been a disappointing season for the 21-24-3 Flames, and this is just the latest setback. Wideman has two goals and 17 assists on the season and is an important part of the team’s defense, which means others will have to shoulder the load until he returns if Calgary hopes to make a late charge in the postseason race.
Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton will likely be asked to play more minutes without Wideman in the rotation, and Kris Russell could play up a line to fill the void.
Mark Giordano, Flames Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction
Aug 25, 2015
Calgary Flames' Mark Giordano (5) skates against the St. Louis Blues in a NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)
The new deal will carry an annual average value of $6.75 million, meaning the team's captain will earn $40.5 million, per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.
“I do think Mark Giordano on the open market can make more than what Mark Giordano signed for here with us," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said, per Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun. ”He was very cognizant of his team here and making sure we give ourselves the best chance moving forward to have success.”
Giordano is one of the best two-way blueliners in the NHL. He's scored 245 points in 510 career regular-season games while playing a physical brand of defense in his own zone, which has helped him accumulate a plus-38 rating across nine seasons.
The 31-year-old defender, who went undrafted in 2003, has been particularly good over the past two seasons. He's racked up 25 goals and 70 assists in 125 games, making him an invaluable asset for the Flames at both ends of the ice.
Keeping him in the fold gives the team a solid foundation on the blue line for a long time, as highlighted by Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun:
#Flames have TJ Brodie under contract for five more years. Six for Dougie Hamilton. Seven for Mark Giordano. That's quite a defence core.
Calgary had little choice but to lock him up long term with free agency looming after next season. Given his recent production, he comes at an extremely reasonable price with his average value ranking in a tie for 35th in the league, according to Spotrac.
Giordano doesn't get nearly enough credit or attention for his success, but the Flames clearly understand his value and rewarded him with a new contract that will keep him with the organization deep into his career.
Dougie Hamilton, Flames Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction
Jun 30, 2015
Nov 24, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) skates the puck during the overtime period of the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Three days after getting dealt from the Boston Bruins to the Calgary Flames for three draft picks, restricted free-agent defenseman Dougie Hamilton agreed to a contract extension with his new team.
The Flames made the multiyear deal official via an announcement on the team's website.
Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the 22-year-old blueliner inked a six-year, $34.5 million contract. Dreger also provided the year-by-year breakdown of the agreement:
Yr by yr for Hamilton: 1)$5.5 mil 2)$5.5 mil 3)$5.75 mil 4)$5.75 mil 5) $6 mil 6)$6 mil. Ltd no trade clause in years 5-6.
The parameters of the deal come as somewhat of a surprise as the Bruins reportedly offered nearly as much money on a per-year basis, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman:
Hamilton, who was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft by the Bruins, enjoyed a career year last season as he set personal bests with 10 goals and 32 assists for 42 points.
He was undoubtedly Boston's best offensive defenseman and was emerging as the club's best overall rearguard with the aging Zdeno Chara on the decline. He figured to be one of the Bruins' key players for many years to come, but general manager Don Sweeney ultimately called Hamilton's apparent financial bluff.
After making the deal, Sweeney felt he did all he could to work out a long-term extension with Hamilton, per NESN.com: "We extended Dougie a very significant contract offer. And it didn't lead us to where we thought we'd be able to with him being comfortable being part of our group long-term. That sort of changed the course a little bit."
Hamilton joins what may have already been the best defense corps in hockey prior to his arrival. Mark Giordano, Dennis Wideman and T.J. Brodie all posted at least 40 points, while Kris Russell chipped in an additional 34.
The offensive threat from Calgary's blue line gets even greater with Hamilton's arrival, and it should continue to progress for many years to come as the Flames have him locked in at a very manageable cap number.
Surprising Playoff Run Just the Start of Calgary Flames Becoming a Force in West
May 9, 2015
They were called a fluky regular-season team by some critics, and they entered Sunday down three games to one in the Western Conference semifinal to the Anaheim Ducks. So why is everybody in Calgary so happy about the current state of the Flames?
The answer is obvious: There is a lot to look forward to.
Calgary isn't the youngest team in the NHL; 12 teams, in fact, are younger than the Flames' average age of 28.25. Calgary won 10 games when trailing after two periods and tied for first in overtime wins with nine. Critics scoffed that the Flames were this season's Colorado Avalanche of last year, a team that got a lot of late miracles to win a division title but missed the playoffs the following year. The same thing might happen to the Flames, they said.
Except, unlike the Avs of 2013-14, the Flames won a first-round playoff series. Plus, they did it without their best player, defenseman Mark Giordano, who has been out a couple of months with a torn biceps injury. Calgary went 12-6-3 in the 21 regular-season games Giordano missed down the stretch to earn eighth place in the rugged West.
Giordano wasn't surprised by what his team accomplished without him, telling the Globe and Mail's Erik Duhatschek:
It wasn't unexpected in our room. The way our season's gone, the way the predictions were at the start of the year, you ask anyone around the league, "Who's the hardest team to play against work-wise?" I think we're right up there with anyone. Our coaching staff's done a great job, first with the work ethic, which is there every night, but also with the details we play with. That's why we are where we are.
The Flames almost certainly will be finished soon, as Anaheim does not look like a team that will blow a 3-1 lead. But with the young talent that Calgary has, it seems a certainty it will be a playoff team for a while to come. Forwards such as Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, Sam Bennett, T.J. Brodie, Joe Colborne and Mikael Backlund are good and should get better. They all play the game at a high pace and, best of all, work hard and seem to want to stay humble.
CALGARY, AB - MAY 5: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames celebrates a goal against the Anaheim Ducks at Scotiabank Saddledome for Game Three of the Western Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 5, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Ca
Gaudreau, a Calder Trophy finalist, was the steal of the 2011 NHL draft. Taken by Calgary at No. 104, Johnny Hockey is a certified folk hero already among Flames fans. His tying goal late in regulation of Game 3, a top-cookies wrister from a tough angle, was a thing of beauty that is still being talked about.
"He [Gaudreau] sees the game two steps ahead of everyone else," Giordano told the Los Angeles Times' Lisa Dillman. "He's got that game-breaker (quality)…a lot like that guy in Chicago. Patrick Kane scores big goals, and I feel like Johnny is in that same ballpark with him this year."
Yet, not everyone is ready to proclaim the Flames as the next great team in the West.
Former NHL player Dave Reid, who won a Cup playing for coach Bob Hartley in Colorado in 2001 and is an analyst with the NHL Network, told Bleacher Report he worries some about the comparison to the Avs of last year.
"I'm not sure I'm as high on Calgary as some others," Reid said. "They've got good young players in Monahan, Gaudreau and Bennett, and (Jiri) Hudler is a good veteran player. But there's not much else up front. They do have an excellent top four on defense, solid goaltending and a good coach. But they will be like the Avs next year, struggling to get back into the playoffs."
For now, that's a good concern to have. It all looked so dark in Calgary just a couple of years ago. Under general manager Jay Feaster, the organization continued to flounder and was embarrassed by a 2013 failed attempt to sign Colorado's Ryan O'Reilly as a restricted free agent. It was later revealed that Calgary likely would have lost O'Reilly for nothing—plus two first-round draft picks—even if Colorado hadn't matched the offer, because of waiver rules.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 27: Brian Burke (L) President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames, is seen prior to the start of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center on June 27, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bru
Under a new management group, led by GM Brad Treliving, assistant GM Craig Conroy and president of hockey operations Brian Burke, the Flames finally appear just as stable off the ice as on.
The coach who has bridged the current good days with the older bad ones, Hartley, is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award. His relentless energy and enthusiasm appear to be a great fit for this team going forward.
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 3: Head coach Bob Hartley of the Calgary Flames talks to the media after Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Anaheim Ducks during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on May 3, 2015 in Anaheim, Califor
I covered Hartley as an Avalanche beat writer for the Denver Post from 1998 to 2002, and I've never seen anyone before or since in hockey with as much energy. He is always moving, always thinking, always talking and always focused on what's next, not what came before. He has not always been beloved by his players (former Avs enforcer Scott Parker blasted him to the Denver Post for being a "bully" and worse, and others used to call him "Bobby Hartless" in private). In Anaheim in 1999, Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy smashed up Hartley's visiting coach's office with his goalie stick after being taken out of a game that the Avs eventually won.
But nobody ever said coaches have to be well-liked to be successful, and Hartley's record as a winner is undisputed. He has won a championship at every level he's ever coached, going back to his junior days in Hawkesbury, Ontario. Today, Roy and Hartley are best friends, and Hartley seems to have earned the respect of most everyone around the league for his sheer tenacity.
This is a man, after all, who went to work at age 17 in Hawkesbury factories to support his family after his father died.
As the Flames' Colborne told Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail:
From Day 1 of camp, Bob said, "We're a playoff team, I don't care what anyone else says," and we believed that coming out of camp. We just kept overcoming these hurdles, and that's a credit to our coaching staff. In here, he's great at inspiring the confidence—that we're always in the fight and that we have the team in here to do some damage.
With Hartley behind the bench, Burke and Co. upstairs in the management suite and players such as Gaudreau and Monahan on the ice, there is light again, finally, from the Flames.
Calgary Flames' Risk of Relying on Raw Sam Bennett Paying Off in a Big Way
Apr 23, 2015
Apr 19, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (63) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
CALGARY, Alberta — Sam Bennett is standing in the Calgary Flames locker room after his first NHL playoff game at the Saddledome. There is a fresh gash on his right cheek, a puck in his right hand, a heavy fireman's helmet on his head and a smile that can’t be wiped from his face.
The puck is a souvenir—the first one the fourth-overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft has tucked behind an NHL goaltender. The helmet is an honor given to the Flames player deemed to be the hardest-working of the night. The smile is a product of those two items.
The cut? That was the product of a shot to the head the 18-year-old rookie took from Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
Apr 21, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (63) and Vancouver Canucks left wing Brandon McMillan (21) battle for the puck during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank S
Bennett was the recipient of another nasty hit two nights later, a boarding call that went against Ronalds Kenins.
Both of those men are over 6 feet tall and 200-plus pounds.
Listed at 6’1” and 178 pounds on the NHL.com website, Bennett is fit but lean. He’s still a boy by NHL standards.
Putting him into the lineup for the playoffs with only one NHL game under his belt was a huge risk for head coach Bob Hartley. Bennett’s talent is undeniable, but the decision to throw a fearless teenager into the fire could be considered reckless.
The way the season had gone, it was impossible to bring him along slowly. Bennett missed nearly the entire year rehabilitating a shoulder injury that prevented him from making the Flames lineup in training camp. He played 11 regular-season games in the Ontario Hockey League and another four as his Kingston Frontenacs were swept out of the playoffs before joining the Flames.
They had no idea what he might be capable of at the NHL level—especially at the most intense time of the year.
Apr 19, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Eddie Lack (31) guards his net as Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (63) scores a goal during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Sa
Bennett’s style—an agitating and high-energy approach to the game on top of his incredible offensive skills—involves playing the game as if he’s much bigger than his actual physical attributes. It puts him at risk for further injury. He doesn’t have the experience against larger opponents to help him avoid those circumstances.
“Well, we have to be honest, it was the unknown,” Hartley admits of the decision to use Bennett and what the result would be. “We were looking at 14 games in the OHL, and playing against NHL players (is a big difference).”
A win against the Los Angeles Kings to clinch a playoff spot with one game remaining on their schedule afforded the Flames the luxury of giving Bennett a bit of a tryout. Both teams rested some of their stars, but for Bennett, there was plenty on the line.
“That was, for him, the big game that he had to showcase himself. He had to show us ‘I’m ready for this.’ We knew that he wanted it. He bothered us all winter. At the same time it was, 'Show us, prove (it to) us,'” says Hartley. “He didn’t disappoint us in Winnipeg. Right there, our decision was an easy one. We knew that he had the speed.”
He had more than speed, though. Hartley suggests Bennett’s character is what allows him to be successful on hockey’s biggest stage in spite of his inexperience and lack of size and strength.
Apr 21, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (63) and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev (8) battle for the puck during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddled
“It’s his grit. Eighteen years old and playing in the NHL playoffs with so much character, it’s pretty amazing,” Hartley says. “He has many things to learn. He’s fresh off junior (hockey), but what he brings is determination, grit, passion—that’s what you need in the playoffs. This kid is full of character. He offers a lot to make things happen for us, so he’s a big part of the team already.”
He has two goals, including a game-winner, and an assist for three points in four games. His team is up 3-1 in the series with a chance to clinch a berth in the second round on Thursday.
Yes, the gamble is paying off.
It's clear that Bennett is going to form the nucleus of the Flames offense along with sophomore Sean Monahan and current Rookie of the Year candidate Johnny Gaudreau for years to come. And the Flames are showing that the future is now.
It's too early to make comparisons, but Hall of Famer Dino Ciccarelli was a late call-up for the Minnesota North Stars during the 1980-81 season and got 32 regular-season games in before scoring 14 goals and 21 points in 19 playoff contests as a rookie. But the 5'10", 180-pounder was 21 years old at that point.
Claude Lemieux played 10 NHL games before netting 15 points in his first 20 playoff games in 1985-86. Again, he was into his 20s. The most recent comparison—at least in terms of experience—would be Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban playing just a pair of regular-season games before a solid playoff performance as a 19-year-old in 2010. He finished with a goal and eight points in 14 games.
Bennett is also often compared to his Kingston coach Doug Gilmour because of his similar size and tenacious style of play. But the Flames' burgeoning star already has as many goals as Gilmour did in his rookie playoff appearance.
Bennett's goal in Game 3 made him the youngest in NHL history to score a playoff-game-winning goal in regulation. He is the second-youngest in franchise history to net a postseason marker behind former captain Jarome Iginla by just six days.
He added a second goal in Game 4, driving to the net and tipping in a shot by defenseman T.J. Brodie.
He’s been one of this young Flames team’s best players in the series so far.
This is a kid who saw his draft stock fall because he couldn’t do a single pull-up at the NHL combine last spring. Ranked as the top skater in North America, Bennett went to the Flames at the fourth overall spot.
By the time the draft took place weeks after that infamous combine disappointment, Bennett was able to do multiple pull-ups.
That’s an undercurrent of his personality we are seeing surface in this unlikely scenario right now. Bennett is as driven as anyone to improve.
He shakes off any notion that he’s feeling the wear and tear of the playoffs on his body, despite the visual evidence on his face and video proof of the licks he’s taken.
No one's going easy on Sam Bennett in this series. Kid has taken a beating.
“It feels fine. I’m prepared for it. I knew what I was getting into,” Bennett said with a shrug. “Obviously the guys are a lot bigger, a lot stronger, but I feel fine and I’m handling it.
“I’m cherishing every moment I get.”
He prepared for it during the long rehabilitation process, always keeping the NHL in mind despite the knowledge he could be sent back to the junior level when healthy.
“For the beginning half of the rehab, it was all just getting the strength back in the shoulder,” he says. “When I was closer to being able to play, we definitely worked on getting a lot stronger, getting a little bit bigger. It’s definitely helped me out so far.”
Up to 185 pounds, Bennett says he’s going to continue to do the things he’s always done, even if that leaves him open to more abuse at the goalmouth.
“That’s where you want to go if you want to score,” Bennett says. “That’s what I’ve been told. That’s what Bob wants me to do, so I’m just going to keep getting to the net as much as I can.”
So far, so good.
Hartley and the Flames will continue to hope that the reward far outweighs the risk.
Steve Macfarlane has covered the NHL hockey for more than a decade, including seven seasons following the Calgary Flames for the Calgary Sun. Follow him on Twitter at @macfarlaneHKY
Providence Netminder Gillies Signs with Calgary Flames
Apr 15, 2015
Providence goalie Jon Gillies eyes the puck on a shot by Omaha during the first period of their semi-final game at the NCAA Frozen Four hockey tournament in Boston, Thursday, April 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Jon Gillies went out on top in the college game. Now he’ll try his hand in the NHL after foregoing his senior season to go pro.
The Providence College junior goaltender, who backstopped the Friars to their first-ever national championship this season, has signed with the Calgary Flames, who drafted him in the third round (75th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, according to the Calgary Sun.
“There's a real poise to him," said Flames GM Brad Treliving of Gillies. "He has a mature game. As big as he is, as athletic as he is, there's a quiet maturity to his game. He's not somebody who over-works or overdoes it in terms of his movements."
Calgary confirmed the deal later on at its website. It was not immediately clear if Gillies would be assigned to the Flames as they begin their Stanley Cup playoff run tonight in Vancouver. He was shown in Flames gear later on, in a photo posted to Instagram.
Gillies also spoke about the deal on the Flames' Twitter account:
"When you play for an organization like this and have this logo on your sweater ... It's amazing."
Gillies made 49 saves in Providence’s 4-3 NCAA title game victory over Hockey East rival Boston University at TD Garden in Boston on April 11. It was the first national title game the Friars had appeared in since 1985, when they fell to Rensselaer in Detroit.
Gillies had earlier guided the Friars to NCAA Tournament wins this spring over Miami (Ohio), Denver and (Nebraska) Omaha. He was ultimately named the NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player following the championship game win over BU, and stopped 126 of 136 shots in four national tournament games.
A three-year starter at Providence, Gillies had originally committed to Northeastern University while playing for the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League. He compiled a record of 46-17-11 with six shutouts in two junior ‘A’ seasons with the Ice, according to hockeydb.com. He also started for the U.S. at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Malmö, Sweden, and was the 2012-13 Hockey East Rookie of the Year.
A 6-foot-5, 215-pound native of South Portland, Maine, Gillies, 21, spent the last three seasons backstopping the Friars, with whom he went 24-13-2 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .930 save percentage and five shutouts in 39 appearances as a junior. He finished in the top 10 in the nation in both GAA and save percentage this year, according to USCHO.com, and completed his college career with a 60-34-13 record in 108 outings (2.01, .938, 15 SO).
“It has been an indescribable honor to wear the Friar jersey and represent Providence College for the past three years,” said Gillies at USCHO.com. “I am forever a Friar and that makes me one of the luckiest people in the world.”
