C/LW Matthew Beniers - Univ. of Michigan, NCAA (2021, 2nd, SEA)

[Fjordy]

I don’t know where Eichel is going, but it sounds like he’s going to be traded. It sounds like the same thing for Reinhart. Cozens and Mittelstadt as the top two centers is not sufficient for an NHL team or even building an NHL team down the road. They both may not even be centers.

I agree that Samuelsson needs to still prove more, but he did well as a rookie and is a lot more proven than Laaksonen, Borgen, and Johnson.

The situation with Eichel is now one big unknown and we definitely don't need another ROR trade. But even if we trade Eichel and Reinhart, can't we return the centers in the deal or the prospects of the center? I think we need to pick a BPA in the draft, if it's Beniers, no problem, if it's Power, our GM should take him, if it's someone else, you take him and so on.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Despite his injury, do people think his performance in the WC increased or reduced his draft stock? As a Kraken fan I would be thrilled about either Power or Beniers but am curious of his perceived value after the WC.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Despite his injury, do people think his performance in the WC increased or reduced his draft stock? As a Kraken fan I would be thrilled about either Power or Beniers but am curious of his perceived value after the WC.

I don’t think it changed. Beniers was unspectacular, but showed he could hang. That’s all you can really expect from an 18 year old getting 7 minutes a game. Most 18 year olds aren’t Quinn Hughes or Owen Power, who earned huge ice time with their play.

 

[bsu]

Beniers sucks!!!!!!! Ducks are telling the Kraken.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think it dropped his stock. Power elevated his. Beniers is probably considered by most to be the next best player, so if the guy you are competing with for first on most lists plays great and you play okay, you hurt your stock, despite not playing bad to do so.

 

[Kcoyote3]

He won’t make it past Columbus regardless.

 

[Oan]

Awfully quiet here for a 2nd overall pick.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Reminds me of Nico Hischier in terms of his projection. Low end 1C who will contribute at both ends of the ice. Not sexy, but an extremely useful player.

 

[vildurson]

Awfully quiet here for a 2nd overall pick.

His pick is most obvious one for second overall and least controversial. Not really surprising. Power as a first is much more controversial.

 

[BondraTime]

His pick is most obvious one for second overall and least controversial. Not really surprising. Power as a first is much more controversial.

No it’s not, more (10/10) scouts interviewed by McKenzie ((head scouts) have Power at 1st than they have Beniers at 2nd (4/10). Beniers was as low as 6.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Beniers sucks!!!!!!! Ducks are telling the Kraken.

Funny stuff.

 

[vildurson]

No it’s not, more (10/10) scouts interviewed by McKenzie ((head scouts) have Power at 1st than they have Beniers at 2nd (4/10). Beniers was as low as 6.

Solid point. I counter it in a sense that every professional scout in the planet agree that he should be nr 1 but the internet amateur scouts won't. Makes a bit more interesting discussion even though internet guys seem to be on the losing side of this one. Power is more controversial with his upside for the mighty internet at 1 than Beniers at 2.

 

[MMC]

Welcome to Seattle

 

[Dominance]

Low risk, low-reward choice. Beniers fits that lineup really well. Too well.

 

[Hinterland]

Low risk, low-reward choice. Beniers fits that lineup really well. Too well.

100%. Also the way they picked 2 days ago. Not a fan of their expansion draft and certainly not of Beniers at 2.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Was Beniers the ‘safe pick’ here? I keep reading some online scouting reports that say he can be a reliable two-way forward that can bounce around your line up.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Was Beniers the ‘safe pick’ here? I keep reading some online scouting reports that say he can be a reliable two-way forward that can bounce around your line up.

That's because he is a reliable two-way forward. Of course that's a death sentence around here. Much prefer volatility. No matter that these types of players are often the backbones of teams.

 

[flying v 604]

P

100%. Also the way they picked 2 days ago. Not a fan of their expansion draft and certainly not of Beniers at 2.

not to pile on Francis but what an underwhelming week for the newest franchise imo.
They chose to pass on the big-ticket players that would have made them a better team off the bat or used to acquire some assets by retaining $ and flipping them which makes the signing of Olesiak and Larsson a bit of a head-scratcher.
When it comes to Beniers I think he is a fine pick but at #2 I'm going for the highest possible ceiling.
I know the risk is high and I'm sure that played a part but a guy like Kent who's ceiling might be Petey Esq or Edvinsson who has the chance to be a #1 or the very obvious Ecklund would have been my choices but I do see the logic behind being safe.

 

[scoutman1]

I thought Seattle did well...went with a younger team...Benders in my eyes was a real good pick...gives you that high in two way player a team needs and wants...its a marathon jot a race

 

[Damien]

Is another #2 overall, 1st ever pick by an expansion team (Nashville), David Legwand, a fair comparison for his potential impact as a pro?

 

[57special]

P not to pile on Francis but what an underwhelming week for the newest franchise imo.
They chose to pass on the big-ticket players that would have made them a better team off the bat or used to acquire some assets by retaining $ and flipping them which makes the signing of Olesiak and Larsson a bit of a head-scratcher.
When it comes to Beniers I think he is a fine pick but at #2 I'm going for the highest possible ceiling.
I know the risk is high and I'm sure that played a part but a guy like Kent who's ceiling might be Petey Esq or Edvinsson who has the chance to be a #1 or the very obvious Ecklund would have been my choices but I do see the logic behind being safe.

When I watched Michigan play, Beniers looked like the best player, period. Better than Power, better than Johnson. International play confirmed this assessment. Taking him at 2oa has nothing to do with settling, and everything to do with his play.

I see a better skating Bergeron. You take that all day long.

 

[thrillhous]

Is another #2 overall, 1st ever pick by an expansion team (Nashville), David Legwand, a fair comparison for his potential impact as a pro?

I’d say his floor is a Legwand-like player. Considerable chance to be on a different level offensively.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I’d say his floor is a Legwand-like player. Considerable chance to be on a different level offensively.

Legwand has over 600 career points. I like Beniers but that's hard to call almost anyone's floor.

 

[wetcoast]

I thought Seattle did well...went with a younger team...Benders in my eyes was a real good pick...gives you that high in two way player a team needs and wants...its a marathon jot a race

Perhaps with Beniers you are correct but from an assets management prospective the whole week was a disaster for Seattle not getting more draft picks.

They should have looked more to what Arizona was doing IMO and maybe they still will with a guy like Giordano.

But then again maybe they are focusing on Wright and the following draft?

 

[thrillhous]

Legwand has over 600 career points. I like Beniers but that's hard to call almost anyone's floor.

So if someone says “a Legwand-like player” is a players floor you take that to mean that they think that their floor is to play 16 NHL seasons?