2023 NHL Draft June 28 and 29, Nashville, TN (Selections - 13, 39, 45, 86, 109, 141, 173, 205)

[Chainshot]

I completely agree with the guy that said Detroit and Ottawa will leave us in the dust this past year because they’re further along in their rebuild



Benson is a younger version of Olofsson. He’s the definition of “meh”.

Disagree strongly on that last comment -

Benson is ultra competitive and plays on the right side of the puck all over the ice. He works to get the puck back like his next meal depends on it. He isn't straight line fast (yet) but he's quick and knows were to be. He competes for pucks. Your assessment is way, way off.

 

[Chainshot]

I can't help but feel Yager is the prototypical Adams draftpick when I look at who is likely available at 13, but still would not be too big of a reach (McKenzie has him at 15).

I am hoping there is not a specific type of player they target and that the homogeneous trend has just been a coincidence, but the evidence is starting to make coincidence seem unlikely.

Danielson has some Sabre stuff too.

 

[Zman5778]

Benson is a younger version of Olofsson. He’s the definition of “meh”.

Wow. Benson right now is far better in his own zone that Olofsson will ever be. And he's a far better skater, especially on his edges. The literal only things that Benson lack are top-end speed and size.

 

[Slangston]

I can't help but feel Yager is the prototypical Adams draftpick when I look at who is likely available at 13, but still would not be too big of a reach (McKenzie has him at 15).

I am hoping there is not a specific type of player they target and that the homogeneous trend has just been a coincidence, but the evidence is starting to make coincidence seem unlikely.

I completely agree. He's another player that I think fits their draft philosophy.

 

[jc17]

I got a brad Lambert vibe from musty, and not necessarily in a bad way, but just super limited in what I've watched.

What's the biggest knock on him?

 

[Slangston]

I got a brad Lambert vibe from musty, and not necessarily in a bad way, but just super limited in what I've watched.

What's the biggest knock on him?

That he's not always engaged. Inconsistent when it comes to his compete level.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Since tis the lying season, I'm interested in the rumor that Ritchie spent the entire season with a bad wing, but still produced. It makes you sit back and go damn when you remember he plays with truculence and has no qualms about kicking some ass. He was ranked #6 in Bob's preseason poll but fell when his productivity didn't match expectations

 

[Dirty Dog]

Benson is smarter, works harder and is a better two way player than any of the guys people would want because they’re three inches taller.

Agreed! If benson fell, he’s likely the pick because other similarly talented players already got picked. Simashev is still the dream, but benson would be awesome

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Disagree strongly on that last comment -

Benson is ultra competitive and plays on the right side of the puck all over the ice. He works to get the puck back like his next meal depends on it. He isn't straight line fast (yet) but he's quick and knows were to be. He competes for pucks. Your assessment is way, way off.

And every game I saw, he was useless. He did nothing except wait to get a puck. It was never his puck. It was always “y’all fight for it and I’ll wait”.

He’s the opposite of what this team needs more of. We don’t need to go the Leafs style of all skill. There’s a reason they love Knies (organizationally and fanbase) AND pay for grit every year. There’s a reason we love Krebs and Cozens.

 

[Zman5778]

Alright. I know no one was wondering, but here's my personal top 13:

1.) Connor Bedard
2.) Adam Fantilli
3.) Matvei Michkov
4.) Leo Carlsson
5.) Will Smith
6.) Dalibor Dvorsky
7.) Ryan Leonard
8.) Zach Benson
9.) David Reinbacher
10.) Dmitri Simashev
11.) Nate Danielson
12.) Tom Willander
13.) Colby Barlow

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Wow. Benson right now is far better in his own zone that Olofsson will ever be. And he's a far better skater, especially on his edges. The literal only things that Benson lack are top-end speed and size.

Both are useless if they’re not scoring. That was my point.

 

[Zman5778]

And every game I saw, he was useless. He did nothing except wait to get a puck.

Both are useless if they’re not scoring. That was my point.

Then, put simply, you watched his outlier games. Every time I saw him, he was relentless.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Both are useless if they’re not scoring. That was my point.

You aren’t describing Benson though. He is a high-motor player who is consistently engaged in both zones.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Alright the mob has spoken. You’ll be over the moon if the Sabres draft him. Hopefully he’s gone before they pick so he’s not an option at all. Because he’s the second worst option behind ASP and ahead of Perreault for me.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Alright the mob has spoken. You’ll be over the moon if the Sabres draft him. Hopefully he’s gone before they pick so he’s not an option at all. Because he’s the second worst option behind ASP and ahead of Perreault for me.

Just because a group is in the majority, doesn’t make them a mob. I just have never heard that criticism of Benson before, it’s the opposite take of every time I watched him.

It’s like arguing josh Allen has a weak arm. Benson being a floater? I don’t see it

 

[Ace]

A floater. That’s legitimately hilarious.

Scouts are worried he plays too fearless. And today he’s a floater.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I like the idea of trading up for a target (Bonk in this mock) if KA does not trade this years assets away for a player(s).

T. McGee’s Last Mock Draft of the Year

DBTBers – Just days away from the 2023 NHL Draft, I have revealed my FINAL Mock Draft for all of you to laugh at, er, appreciate fondly. Who will the Sabres select? Will it be another future star…

www.diebytheblade.com

and another 7 rounder mock (without the trade but still getting Bonk ?)

Buffalo Sabres: Seven-round mock draft for 2023 (Who goes at 13th?)

The Buffalo Sabres are picking 13th in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft, but who will they take at 39th overall and beyond? Let's dive in.

sabrenoise.com

Question: Will Pronman and Wheeler have one more mock ?

 

[truthbluth]

And every game I saw, he was useless. He did nothing except wait to get a puck. It was never his puck. It was always “y’all fight for it and I’ll wait”.

He’s the opposite of what this team needs more of. We don’t need to go the Leafs style of all skill. There’s a reason they love Knies (organizationally and fanbase) AND pay for grit every year. There’s a reason we love Krebs and Cozens.

This is a patently absurd take. I don’t even know what to do with it. Benson is pretty much universally lauded as having not just a high motor, but having the A #1 highest motor in the draft. Often described as the 1st or 2nd best defensive forward in the draft.

 

[Chainshot]

And every game I saw, he was useless. He did nothing except wait to get a puck. It was never his puck. It was always “y’all fight for it and I’ll wait”.

He’s the opposite of what this team needs more of. We don’t need to go the Leafs style of all skill. There’s a reason they love Knies (organizationally and fanbase) AND pay for grit every year. There’s a reason we love Krebs and Cozens.

Are you sure you weren’t watching McClennon? Because that was very much his game.

 

[Ace]

This is a patently absurd take. I don’t even know what to do with it. Benson is pretty much universally lauded as having not just a high motor, but having the A #1 highest motor in the draft. Often described as the 1st or 2nd best defensive forward in the draft.

Black Book gave him the full 9 in hockey sense and compete. They wrote about he has the drive and fearlessness that you can’t teach. One of their guys mocked him to us on the Locked on Senators mock draft and said the reason he’d fall is that the injury risk is high BECAUSE of how he goes to the hard areas despite his size.

Floater

 

[truthbluth]

FWIW, I’m less concerned about size than most and Benson is my #5 prospect. I would take him over everybody that has any chance of being available at 13. The pick would be in by the second syllable of whichever names comes out at 12.

Edit: the injury risk is real though. His fearlessness is going to get him rocked for sure.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

That was my knock on Savoie after his nasty concussion in the USHL and having his season ended last year, and he's significantly larger in mass than Benson. I'd have no qualms with picking him even though he'd be another surf in the pool. I think his ability to make plays off the wing will translate, and he was the best player on a dominant WHL team

 

[Ace]

FWIW, I’m less concerned about size than most and Benson is my #5 prospect. I would take him over everybody that has any chance of being available at 13. The pick would be in by the second syllable of whichever names comes out at 12.

Edit: the injury risk is real though. His fearlessness is going to get him rocked for sure.

It’s the biggest thing for sure. Sometimes guys get hurt in ways that they aren’t the same player anymore. I still have him in my top 5 or 6. He’s that good.

 

[Husko]

We'll be rooting for the Sabres to draft Wood so I can go watch him at UConn. All other considerations are secondary.

 

[Fezzy126]

FWIW, I’m less concerned about size than most and Benson is my #5 prospect. I would take him over everybody that has any chance of being available at 13. The pick would be in by the second syllable of whichever names comes out at 12.

Edit: the injury risk is real though. His fearlessness is going to get him rocked for sure.

Yeah, the HP guys talked about this in their last Q&A podcast, Brad Allen compared him to Frank Nazar from last year. Basically, when you play that fearless style at that size, expect to spend time on the IR or gutting it out at less than 100% more often than not. That seemed to be their biggest reason for dropping him down the rankings.