Calgary Flames prospect, and this year’s fourth overall pick in the NHL draft, Sam Bennett will undergo shoulder surgery and should be out for 4-6 months.
The news was first reported by the Flames official website and NHL.com. Bennett indicated that the issue dates back to last season. Bennett missed the 2014 Under 18 World Championships with an injury, though its not clear if that was the same shoulder injury that is coming up now.
“I guess, really, I wanted to play and I’d do anything to make the team and to play in the NHL this year,” Bennett told NHL.com on Tuesday. “I guess maybe I should’ve come up sooner but I didn’t think it was that big of deal. I guess it is a bit bigger of a deal than I thought.”
“Obviously I want to be playing [in the NHL]. That was my goal this year. I think ultimately this is going to be the best for my career. I think after I get this all healed up I’ll just be that much more confident and that much more stronger when I do get a chance to play.”
The surgery not only hurts the Flames, but also Team Canada who were hoping to have Bennett at the 2015 World Juniors, and the Kingston Frontenacs who believed there was a good chance Bennett would be back with the team and the centre piece of their offence. With the injury, the Flames no longer have to make a quick decision about sending Bennett back to juniors, or keeping him up to play more than 9 games and burn a year on his entry-level deal.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving does not feel the injury will effect Bennett’s long-term development though.
“Ultimately this is just a speed bump,” Treliving told NHL.com. “[Bennett] is going to be a very good young player and I think these things happen. It’s not a major setback and he’ll be up and going again.”
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
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