By Mark Madden
Beaver County Times Sports Columnist | Posted: Sunday, April 21, 2013 11:45 pm
http://www.timesonline.com
The jerseys worn by the Penguins this past Saturday at Boston will be auctioned on-line, with proceeds going to those most affected by the Boston Marathon bombing.
Bid on Beau Bennett’s. Buy low, sell high.
The Penguins’ rookie winger is going to be a star. He has that look already.
But that doesn’t mean Bennett will be in the lineup when the playoffs begin.
Barring injury, the Penguins’ top 12 forwards will be Craig Adams, Matt Cooke, Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis, Jarome Iginla, Jussi Jokinen, Tyler Kennedy, Chris Kunitz, Brendon Morrow, James Neal, Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Sutter.
Bennett wouldn’t even necessarily be the first called upon in case of injury. That would depend on the role to be filled.
Bennett is far more talented than a few of those listed. But coaches prefer veterans to rookies in tight spots. Dan Bylsma is hardly unique in that regard.
But Bennett’s time will come, perhaps sooner than later. Neal doesn’t seem a lock to be ready for the start of the postseason.
Injuries always intervene. Like Mario Lemieux says about the playoffs, it’s a long two months. Jock Callendar, Dave Michayluk and Mike Needham got their names on the Stanley Cup in 1992. Who? Exactly. But they earned it.
At any rate, Bennett is ready. Not anxious, not chapped by the seeming inevitability of starting the playoffs in the press box. Just ready. Paying attention. Learning. Drinking it all in. Just 21, but as cool as they come.
Bennett is a strange player. Good strange, not bad strange.
Bennett’s profile says he’s 207 pounds, but he looks like he could shower in a drainpipe. He doesn’t seek out contact, but he doesn’t shy away from it. Bennett spends a lot of time in high-traffic areas and does well. Bennett frequently skates into crowds and comes out the other side with the puck.
Bennett has some weird moves: Little half-spins and tight cuts. He expertly puts the puck into space for teammates. His release is rapid. Bennett played roller hockey growing up in California. Much of his repertoire reflects that.
Bennett will be on Crosby’s wing next season. Write that down.
I’d put Bennett on the fourth line for the start of the playoffs. Bennett isn’t a traditional fourth-liner. But most teams use grinders as fourth-liners because that’s all they got. Bennett would be a unique fourth-line weapon and could move up the lineup as mid-game injury or poor play by others might dictate.
Bennett will end up playing a role. That seems inevitable.
Right now, winning the Stanley Cup seems inevitable. The Penguins have won 21 of 23. Fifteen-game win streak, hiccup, six-game win streak. The top seed in the Eastern Conference is clinched. Even the better teams in the East seem meek.
But it’s a long two months.
In an odd way, the Penguins’ late-season rash of injuries has worked for them. Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow have assumed bigger roles than might have been targeted for them. That’s made it easier for them to be prominent. Confidence and comfort established now will carry over into the playoffs.
No team is unbeatable. But the Penguins have that look and feel.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9)
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