Beau Bennett A Healthy Scratch Again; Is A Trade Coming?
Beau Bennett is a healthy scratch….. again…… Either he is battling another injury or the Penguins intend to trade Bennett and do not want to hurt his trade value.
If you have followed Pens Labyrinth for any amount of time, it is no secret I have been critical of Beau Bennett. Earlier this season I even suggested that Bennett needed to be traded and the reaction was intense. Another time Beau Bennett returned from one injuries and frankly was not playing well, I wrote about it. What happened then? The next game Bennett had a goal and two assists. Maybe it is that time that another story about Bennett is written and he will rebound?
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Whether it is fluky injuries, inconsistent play or even poor coaching, everything has never fully clicked for Beau Bennett at the NHL level. Perhaps what actually is needed now is a trade, Bennett is young at the age of 23 and has loads of talent. He could be a valuable addition to a club willing to take a chance on his potential.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are potentially looking to bring in another top six wing and Bennett could easily be part of a package deal. Names that have been rumored include Jaromir Jagr, Chris Higgins and Drew Stafford. While others are reporting the Penguins are potentially seeking another defenseman and some potential players include Andrej Sekera and Andrew Ference.
Oct 23, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Andrej Sekera (4) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
With very limited cap space GM Jim Rutherford will certainly have to package Bennett with a veteran player to clear room for whomever he decides to trade for. My personal dream which I doubt will happen would be a package deal of Beau Bennett and Rob Scuderi.
The most curious thing about the situation Beau Bennett finds himself in, is that the Pittsburgh Penguins really have never given him a fair chance. His first two seasons playing professionally were split between the WBS Penguins and Pittsburgh. He appeared in 26 games his first season and then 21 during his second. This season was his first legitimate shot with the Pittsburgh Penguins and a little bit past halfway through the 2014-2015 season, Bennett has 67 career games played.
Whether it is the consistent injury problems or the inconsistent play, the Penguins appear to be fed up. Tonight will be the second game in a row that Bennett will be a healthy scratch. What makes it even worse is that the Penguins are having trouble scoring and Bennett should (theoretically) help that, yet he is still scratched. Players like Craig Adams, Zach Sill and maybe Mark Arcobello all will start instead of Bennett. It really is starting to seem that the Penguins are looking to trade their former 20th overall pick before the trade deadline.
Is Beau Bennett hurt? Will the Penguins trade him before the deadline and if so who will they get back for him? Both of these questions will be answered within the next month. Stay tuned!