When Calgary Flames centre Sam Bennett made his NHL debut after recovering from major shoulder surgery, he played left wing in place of the injured Lance Bouma.Rich Lam/Getty Images
Sam Bennett is used to being the centre of attention and it isn't just because, at fourth overall in 2014, he's the highest draft choice in Calgary Flames' history. Bennett is an eye-catching prospect, with the sort of versatile skill set that makes him a perfect fit in today's NHL game. He is a skilled scorer that, when spiced with an unexpected level of tenaciousness, brings favourable comparisons to his former junior coach and mentor, the Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour.
Just how the Flames deploy Bennett this year will have a ripple effect on their entire lineup. He is the key puzzle piece, someone coach Bob Hartley wants to play at his natural position, centre, even though there is a tendency and temptation to play teenagers on the wing.
If Bennett is a centre, that pushes Mikael Backlund and Matt Stajan down the depth chart; shifts Joe Colborne to the wing; and probably lands Drew Shore to the press box. If Bennett ultimately plays the wing, then there is a legitimate opening down the middle for one of the natural centres in the organization, competing for regular NHL duty.
"I would really like to make him a full-time centre," Hartley explained. "While no one can be a defensive liability on our team, I understand it's a tough challenge for an 18-year-old, especially with the expectations we put on our group to play centre.
"But at the same time, I like the spunk Benny has. He's a gritty kid. With Monny's [Sean Monahan] style versus Benny's style, they're two totally different kids and two totally different players, but they can be very effective in different styles for us. That's my motivation for now.
"Will he be on the left wing Oct. 7? Maybe. But right now, I'm going to invest lots of time – on the ice, off the ice, in the video room – with the goal of making him a centre."
This uncertainty isn't limited strictly to Calgary and a function of the NHL's shift to a young man's game, with more and more players, drafted as natural centres, starting their careers on the wing. It happened in Montreal with Alex Galchenyuk and in Nashville with Filip Forsberg.
By shifting them to the wing, where the defensive responsibilities are more defined and less onerous, it makes the transition to the NHL smoother.
Last spring, when Bennett made his NHL debut after recovering from major shoulder surgery, he played left wing in place of the injured Lance Bouma. Bennett thrived in that spot; and played a lot, showing a readiness for the NHL game.
When Bouma returned, Hartley kept Bennett in the lineup, but dropped him back to play centre on the de facto fourth line – and his ice time diminished.
There isn't necessarily a right or wrong answer here. Some players start on the wing and shift back to the middle, as they grow and mature. Others spend the rest of their careers on the wing. But centres that can play in the top two of a team are at a premium in the NHL, so sometimes you just have to swallow hard and make that commitment, if you have the long term in mind.
In Calgary's case, the time to make the switch may well be next year. Bennett is actually 19 now, even though Hartley still identifies him as an 18-year-old in interviews, but it reinforces the same point. Bennett will still be one of the youngest players in the NHL this season – and won't turn 20 until June of next year. By contrast, his childhood buddy, the Oilers' Connor McDavid, has a January birthday, so even though they are from different draft classes, they are only seven months apart, age-wise.
Bennett's goal this camp is just to crack the NHL full-time and then see how things evolve. Organizationally, it is up to the Flames to sort out the bigger-picture issue and determine when the time is ripe for him to play centre – now or at some point in the future.
"Every team and every organization makes its own decisions – and every kid is different," Hartley said. "I can only speak for the Calgary Flames. I've always been a big believer in playing kids in their top position so they can develop. We're still young and want to move forward.
"I'm stubborn – and Benny's stubborn too, so that's going to be a good match."