Calgary Flames reveal 2014-15 roster, update Sam Bennett’s injury
Brad Treliving confirmed Wednesday what neither he nor the Calgary Flames fan base wanted to hear: Sam Bennett’s injury is worse than just a day-to-day situation.
Problems became evident earlier in camp when the fourth overall pick from this summer’s draft was absent – on multiple occasions – from practices and games. Despite his absence there was no real indication of what his injury was, just that he was hurt.
Things appeared to get better, though, because soon enough he was back practicing with the team and taking part in games. But he hit another snag around the beginning of October when he was absent from the ice again. This time the nature of his injury was given the label of “upper-body,” providing at least some clarity to the situation.
Then just when it seemed things couldn’t get worse – the bombshell was dropped. The injury, to Bennett’s shoulder, may require surgery. GM Brad Treliving said the team will know more about that possibility in the next day or two, but surgery or not he’ll start the season on the non-roster IR – meaning he will be out long-term.
Adding more intrigue to the situation is the fact his bad shoulder allegedly isn’t anything new. According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Bennett’s GM with the Kingston Frontenacs in junior, Doug Gilmour, admitted to knowing about the injury last season. And as he did at times with the Flames, Bennett played through the pain with the Frontenacs, prompting Gilmour to use the term “warrior” to describe him.
Just how much that warrior mentality played into the severity of his injury remains to be seen. But for a kid who has shown a lot of promise so far, this is a devastating blow.
Meanwhile, Treliving also had some positive news to share about the team’s roster. Johnny Gaudreau, who a select few thought may not make the team, did in fact crack the roster (and, as an aside, got his wish by being given number 13).
The Flames also made two other moves to bring them down to the 23-man limit. Corey Potter, who is still recovering from off-season surgery, was placed on the non-injury IR, while Markus Granlund (who has a concussion) was sent down to the Adirondack Flames.
The Flames now head into the season with a depth chart that should look something like this:
|
Curtis Glencross |
Sean Monahan |
Jiri Hudler |
|
Mason Raymond |
Mikael Backlund |
Lance Bouma |
|
Johnny Gaudreau |
Joe Colborne |
Paul Byron |
|
Brandon Bollig |
Matt Stajan |
Brian McGrattan |
| David Jones |
Devin Setoguchi |
|
Mark Giordano |
TJ Brodie |
|
Kris Russell |
Dennis Wideman |
|
Deryk Engelland |
Ladislav Smid |
|
Raphael Diaz |
|
Jonas Hiller |
|
Karri Ramo |
The Flames also confirmed their captaincy situation, naming Russell and alternate. He joins Glencross, also an alternate, and Giordano, Calgary’s captain.
