2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Estimated_Prophet]

I’m perfectly fine. You should feel bad for the guy that can’t handle that non-sporty people might know more about sports than him and are more successful.

You have a big day ahead of you, now you just go out and do the best that you can do.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Not sure is agree with the better vision. Benson hockey IQ is at high level

Benson for sure has the higher hockey IQ, but Smith is an incredible playmaker, has eyes in the back of his head. Great example of the difference between IQ and vision.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Pretty much, I think Zuccarelo fits better, but yeah.

Agree.

For Ryan Leonard, if he was been at 6"2, I would compare him to Matthew Tkachuk. One of my favorite player in this draft.

 

[ReHabs]

Benson for sure has the higher hockey IQ, but Smith is an incredible playmaker, has eyes in the back of his head. Great example of the difference between IQ and vision.

Knowing the right play (all-cases) and making the right play (with the puck) are not exactly the same, that's true.

Though for me it's hard to distinguish between them when watching games.

I tend to value 'knowing the right play' over 'making the right play with the puck' because I think the latter is more easily improved if the former is in place. But Drouin is supposedly a student of the game and he's hardly effective as a hockey player. So who knows.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I have a tough time finding a comp for Benson. Probably Point, but he’s not as fast.

Knowing the right play (all-cases) and making the right play (with the puck) are not exactly the same, that's true.

Though for me it's hard to distinguish between them when watching games.

I tend to value 'knowing the right play' over 'making the right play with the puck' because I think the latter is more easily improved if the former is in place. But Drouin is supposedly a student of the game and he's hardly effective as a hockey player. So who knows.

Drouin is an example of a guy who has good vision but who’s hockey IQ is terrible. He can see the ice but makes terrible decisions.

 

[Jack Skellington]

I can read just fine.

Guhle is a fast skater and hes not a "low standard for speed."

thats what you said.

Benson is 100% in a similar tier when it comes to IQ, vision and hands. Marner has better skating, Benson has a better motor.

Damn you think? I really really like Benson but Marner is a top 10, maybe 5 guy for those attributes. He was on a stacked team but he has 126 pts in 63 games his draft year. Benson's team probably wasn't quite as stacked as London but was still great. I hope you're right, we need that upper echelon offensive player badly.

 

[Vachon23]

Damn you think? I really really like Benson but Marner is a top 10, maybe 5 guy for those attributes. He was on a stacked team but he has 126 pts in 63 games his draft year. Benson's team probably wasn't quite as stacked as London but was still great. I hope you're right, we need that upper echelon offensive player badly.

Even if he was in a stack team, he was the best player of that team and the catalyst of that offense

 

[Tutu to]

3 inches taller, better vision, shot, hands. Zegras-like ceiling, bust potential higher. Put him with quality, puck retrieving players like Leonard and he'll thrive IMO.

Benson works harder, better floor. But he's really small and not that fast. Point-like ceiling.

You say that like if Point wasn't a better player than Zegras.

 

[Tutu to]

I have a feeling im going to be very dissapointed by this draft. I could see us drafting Dvorsky with our early pick and then trading the Florida pick for PLD (a player we likely could get for free)

My opinion of this management group could completely change this draft.

 

[tooji]

Wow. Rough...


...


...BensonBoys did we get too cocky?

Someone said martin st louis as Benson’s ultimate upside and that’s someone I see as well. He will need to work on his lower body strength obviously but he screams of a guy that will wear the A or the C for a team one day.

 

[bcv]

You have a big day ahead of you, now you just go out and do the best that you can do.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Benson is nothing like Marner. He doesn't control the puck like Marner. He doesn't casually beat people like Marner. He doesn't steal pucks like Marner did. He doesn't have his passing skills or vision either. He doesn't skate like Marner did either. Marner was a much better overall skater, and has improved everything with greater strength. His only real weakness coming in was a weak shot, which he's also improved.

The game looks easy for Marner, and it's never looked easy for Benson in my viewings.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Canada got smoked.... jesus

Lots of Swedes with good showings

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Boomhauer once again with the communication issues.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I have a tough time finding a comp for Benson. Probably Point, but he’s not as fast.


Drouin is an example of a guy who has good vision but who’s hockey IQ is terrible. He can see the ice but makes terrible decisions.

The Ryan Merkley special

 

[jfhabs]

Not sure is agree with the better vision. Benson hockey IQ is at high level

Offensively, Smith creates open lanes with more ease I think. But 200 feet IQ goes to Benson.

 

[JoelWarlord]

I can't in good conscience sign-off on drafting someone called Will Smith.

I have to admit that even though I think he's a perfectly fine pick at any spot 5th through 7th, there's a part of me that just doesn't want to draft him solely because I don't think I could handle listening to years and years of HAHAHAHA HES THE FRESH PRINCE HHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA stuff

Although I did see someone in here call him the Fresh Bust of Bel Air which I'll 100% be adopting if we don't draft him

 

[NotProkofievian]

Come to think of it I've never watched a game where ASP didn't impress me. He's always stood out to me. I guess he's an easy player to notice because of his skating and puck moving.

 

[Toene]

I have to admit that even though I think he's a perfectly fine pick at any spot 5th through 7th, there's a part of me that just doesn't want to draft him solely because I don't think I could handle listening to years and years of HAHAHAHA HES THE FRESH PRINCE HHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA stuff

Although I did see someone in here call him the Fresh Bust of Bel Air which I'll 100% be adopting if we don't draft him

 

[Habby Patty]

Come to think of it I've never watched a game where ASP didn't impress me. He's always stood out to me. I guess he's an easy player to notice because of his skating and puck moving.

He’s overhated on here for no reason. Would love to pick him up at 17.

 

[Michoulicious]

ASP with 5 points against Canada at U18.

I've been always a big fan of his, maybe people on this board will finally agree he's a top 10 pick after another dominant performance in his own age group.

You say that like if Point wasn't a better player than Zegras.

He's... for now.

 

[Mrb1p]

Benson is nothing like Marner. He doesn't control the puck like Marner. He doesn't casually beat people like Marner. He doesn't steal pucks like Marner did. He doesn't have his passing skills or vision either. He doesn't skate like Marner did either. Marner was a much better overall skater, and has improved everything with greater strength. His only real weakness coming in was a weak shot, which he's also improved.

As Ive said, Zuccarelo is the comparison. I do disagree though, youre harsh on Bensons IQ and passing skills. Benson is always in the right spot and finds the right play more often than not, just like Marner does.

The big albatross for Benson is size, skating and shot. I dont like drafting a guy with three such weakness high, but Im making an exception for Benson. There is just something very optimistic about his upside with the IQ and intensity he displays.

The game looks easy for Marner, and it's never looked easy for Benson in my viewings.

Probably two easy things, one being hustle and intensity and the other being skating. I dont disagree, its true. Not sure how I would interpret it though.

 

[Andrewcoursol]

Would need Michkov to be there and Detroit to really like him, but that's interesting.

i would not add the 37th pick in this scenerio, besides yzerman owes us for the drouin deal with tampa.

 

[Michoulicious]

He’s overhated on here for no reason. Would love to pick him up at 17.

Won't be there IMO.

 

[bcv]

Boomhauer once again with the communication issues.

What issues?