Sam Bennett
Despite acquiring Erik Haula in an offseason trade with the Boston Bruins, the Devils still have some issues at the center position.
Michael McLeod reprised his role as a top choice penalty killer, faceoff taker and the 4th line center to begin the 2022-23 season, but played just 10 minutes against the Philadelphia Flyers in the season opener. Then, in the home opener against the Detroit Red Wings, McLeod played just 3:59 in total. 2:02 of those minutes came from just four shifts at even strength.
If the Devils are serious about fielding their best roster every night and building a winning team, that team cannot include the one-dimensional and ineffective McLeod.
Meanwhile, in Sunrise, Florida, 2014 4th-overall pick Sam Bennett was one of many Florida Panthers who broke out in a major way under current Devils associate coach Andrew Brunette.
Bennett was widely regarded as a draft bust before potting a career-high 28 goals and 49 points under Brunette, who was the Panthers’ interim head coach in 2021-22. Bennett’s 21-22 average ice time of 16:57 was nearly two minutes higher than his previous career high of 15:09 set in his first full NHL season in Calgary in 2015-16, at the age of 19. Bennett is a key contributor on the power play and has also never made fewer than 100 hits in any full season he’s played in.
Sam Bennett just killed a man pic.twitter.com/vmlFkVGene
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) February 25, 2022
Bennett’s current contract is very reasonable, with an AAV of $4.425m. Bringing in the late bloomer shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, considering Florida’s own issues on the blueline and cap situation. For the Devils, Bennett’s addition means having four centers capable of playing at a high level at both ends of the ice and being able to roll all four lines – a must for any team with aspirations of winning a Stanley Cup.