Photo Credit: penguins.nhl.com
Lately, the Pittsburgh Penguins have not been having the best luck with their players. Their 2012 draft pick, Olli Määttä has been absent from the team since January due to injury along with Pascal Dupuis, Kris Letang, and Christian Ehrhoff to name a few. However, one player stands out from the rest and that player is Beau Bennett. Ever since the Penguins drafted Bennett in 2010, it seems like Bennett has been labeled one of the worse things in hockey.
Injury prone. Just hearing those words is enough to make a coach run for the hills, but it seems like the Penguins are willing to see if Bennett can improve. To give a run-down on Bennett’s injuries, he has sustained 4 in the last 2 year. First, Bennett suffered a wrist injury which resulted in surgery, 2 lower-body injuries within a month of each other and then finally the 2014-2015 season, Bennett sustained an upper-body injury in April which eliminated him from participating in the reason of the season. Penguins fans are also quick to never forget when some of the players got the mumps, Bennett included. Right now, it looks like Bennett is likely to be playing in the 2015-2016 season.
Bennett signed a 1-year contract worth $800,000 which is a good sign for the Penguins and Bennett. Bennett has a good attitude right now, especially about his new deal. When asked about it after its announcement, Bennett had this to say, “To redeem myself for the past two years is going to be huge for me and the team”. The fact that Bennett is “likely to play” was enough to have the Penguins resign him for at least another year. If Bennett can stay healthy, it looks like a long-term contract could be in the works and if Bennett doesn’t improve, the Penguins can finally cut ties with him.
