Panthers’ Sam Bennett hasn’t scored since being selected to 4 Nations Face-Off
Where has all the scoring gone?
Since being named to the Canadian rendition that will compete at the 4 Nations Face-Off next month, Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett has failed to find the goal column, while putting up only four assists in the 17 ensuing contests.
In the midst of a contract season, Bennett has collected 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points through 42 games – meaning he had 24 points in the 25 games prior to his Team Canada selection. But since the announcement, Bennett is the only forward named to the Canadian squad yet to reach double-digit points, a list headlined by Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon who has amassed 29 points counting six goals and 23 assists in his past 18 games.
| Forward | Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
| MacKinnon (COL) | 18 | 6 | 23 | 29 |
| McDavid (EDM) | 18 | 5 | 23 | 28 |
| Point (TB) | 18 | 9 | 17 | 26 |
| Marner (TOR) | 19 | 5 | 18 | 23 |
| Crosby (PIT) | 18 | 4 | 18 | 22 |
| Konency (PHI) | 19 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
| Hagel (TB) | 18 | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| Reinhart (FLA) | 18 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
| Stone (VGK) | 16 | 6 | 11 | 17 |
| Jarvis (CAR) | 19 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| Cirelli (TB) | 17 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| Marchand (BOS) | 17 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| Bennett (FLA) | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Among forwards not named to Team Canada, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele leads the pack with 23 points counting 12 goals and 11 assists through 18 games, followed by fellow Jets pivot Gabriel Vilardi with 21 points in 18 games and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas who has notched eight goals and 13 assists in 18 outings.
“That’s the appreciation for a style of game as much as anything,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told NHL.com correspondent Adam Kimelman at the time of Bennett’s selection. “He’s not necessarily a 140-point guy, but he’s closing on being a point-a-game player. So, he’s got some great offense, great speed, but there’s a physicality to his game, and I’m glad he was appreciated by Team Canada for the game that he plays.”
A veteran of 657 career contests with the Calgary Flames and Panthers, Bennett has collected 150 goals and 163 assists for 313 points with 633 penalty minutes. Last season, the 28-year-old native of Holland Landing, Ont., reached the 40-point plateau for the third-consecutive season before adding another seven goals and seven assists in 19 postseason appearances to help the Panthers claim their franchise-first Stanley Cup championship.
Bennett has previously represented Canada on three occasions, including the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the 2013 Under-18 World Championship, and the 2013 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, with the latter two underscored by first-place finishes.