Beniers VS Wright VS Catton

[Sasso09]

I was brainstorming fantasy trades in my head about how the Hawks could end up getting a young top 6C if they end up drafting Schaefer or Martone and it led me here. I'm mostly reaching out to Kraken fans to get a gauge on the value, how do you guys rank these players long term?

 

[majormajor]

Wright is first, no doubt.

I was always relatively low on Wright (was even accused of being a hater back in his draft year). But he's steadily improved on his weaknesses, especially strength, balance, aggressive pursuit, and puck protection. And now the pendulum of opinion has swung too low on Wright. He's already scoring a lot in the NHL. His scoring rate is near the top and Benier's is near the bottom. He's an odd player in that you would prefer not to have to teach a guy to be aggressive and try things, but there's undeniable value in how easily he can score with just a couple touches on his stick. The scoring upside is very high.

One caveat to those stats is that the Kraken are flat in terms of linemate quality and Beniers plays significantly harder minutes and is a defensively focused two-way guy. Beniers is still driving play really well in terms of the xGs and will likely see his scoring totals rebound if he has a great scorer to work with. (*As far as Hawks possibilities, Beniers-Bedard is a very ideal combo, they cover each other's weaknesses perfectly).

Catton is the most fun player to watch, he's more skilled than Beniers and more willing to hold the puck and try things than Wright. But there's still a lot of uncertainty at his size about how he'll translate and we don't know if he'll be a center or a winger. I could see him becoming a lot like Clayton Keller. We desperately need a player like that and I'm wondering if I'd rather have him than Beniers just because of how badly we need a playmaker of Catton's upside. But a sober analysis probably still puts his value below Beniers, having a really solid two-way 2C is a very valuable thing too, and we are certain Beniers can be that.

As far as trade possibilities go - the Kraken aren't in any hurry to trade these guys, we're not overly full at center. Catton might be best at wing or we might slide one of these guys to wing and still get a lot of value out of it. But who knows if they draft a Frondell or Desnoyers or something and start listening on Beniers. I can tell you I would be listening a lot if you put a Vlasic or Rinzel in a trade offer (not interested in Korchinski). Realistically the ownership is very win-now oriented so I can tell you we won't be trading an NHL center for a guy who isn't ready to play big minutes in the NHL.

 

[Sasso09]

Wright is first, no doubt.

I was always relatively low on Wright (was even accused of being a hater back in his draft year). But he's steadily improved on his weaknesses, especially strength, balance, aggressive pursuit, and puck protection. And now the pendulum of opinion has swung too low on Wright. He's already scoring a lot in the NHL. His scoring rate is near the top and Benier's is near the bottom. He's an odd player in that you would prefer not to have to teach a guy to be aggressive and try things, but there's undeniable value in how easily he can score with just a couple touches on his stick. The scoring upside is very high.

One caveat to those stats is that the Kraken are flat in terms of linemate quality and Beniers plays significantly harder minutes and is a defensively focused two-way guy. Beniers is still driving play really well in terms of the xGs and will likely see his scoring totals rebound if he has a great scorer to work with. (*As far as Hawks possibilities, Beniers-Bedard is a very ideal combo, they cover each other's weaknesses perfectly).

Catton is the most fun player to watch, he's more skilled than Beniers and more willing to hold the puck and try things than Wright. But there's still a lot of uncertainty at his size about how he'll translate and we don't know if he'll be a center or a winger. I could see him becoming a lot like Clayton Keller. We desperately need a player like that and I'm wondering if I'd rather have him than Beniers just because of how badly we need a playmaker of Catton's upside. But a sober analysis probably still puts his value below Beniers, having a really solid two-way 2C is a very valuable thing too, and we are certain Beniers can be that.

As far as trade possibilities go - the Kraken aren't in any hurry to trade these guys, we're not overly full at center. Catton might be best at wing or we might slide one of these guys to wing and still get a lot of value out of it. But who knows if they draft a Frondell or Desnoyers or something and start listening on Beniers. I can tell you I would be listening a lot if you put a Vlasic or Rinzel in a trade offer (not interested in Korchinski). Realistically the ownership is very win-now oriented so I can tell you we won't be trading an NHL center for a guy who isn't ready to play big minutes in the NHL.

Appreciate the response, yeah i know it's a pipe dream that you guys would trade any of those players, i'm just jealous at the depth and it made me curious. I figured Wright would probably have the highest ceiling. And Catton was one of my favorite prospects in that draft, he's dynamic, i didn't follow Wright or Beniers in their draft years as closely.

 

[biturbo19]

I'd take Beniers. Particularly for the Canucks where he'd be a great two-way 2C complement behind Pettersson. I don't actually see that hugely much difference in the offensive "upside" between Beniers and Wright anyway. I think there's plenty more to give with Beniers, than what he's produced lately. The age difference is...whatever. Beniers is still quite young with a lot of good years left in his prime and a contract situation that is a bit rich, but is at least sorted and settled. And the difference in two-way dependability is pretty massive.

As far as Catton...he's potentially got the most offensive upside, but as mentioned above, i've got plenty of reservations about his size and physical tools overall, and whether that will actually translate as an NHL Center. But when given the choice, i'll almost always take the surefire Center over the Winger. Particularly given the Canucks current situation...but also just the general environment around the league, where there are probably at least 16+ Teams all looking with varying degrees of urgency and desperation, for a reasonably young Top-6 Center. Heck, at the moment you've even got a handful of playoff teams that are in dire need of a true 2nd Line Center.



All that said, i don't really see the Krakens being in any particular hurry to unload any of the three. Possibly Chanandler Stephenson, but even that contract...i'd wager they're fine with it still, and probably enjoy having potential options and depth down the middle...or really just Beniers-Wright-Stephenson which is still not overwhelming at the top-end, if Catton does pan out as a Winger. So "Top-9 Center by committee" probably becomes their strategy, particularly with the extensive collection of mid they have on the wings to basically just run 3 "second lines".

 

[Favin]

Beniers, Wright, Catton
(all good though)