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

[57special]

Beniers does everything well and plays C, but at this point we are having a conversation about the ceilings of players that are more similar than not, and that we don't really have a clue about how they will turn out. Turcotte, Beniers, and Boldy are all hard working, two way players with talent. Beniers has a bit more flash to his game, Boldy has subtle sophistication, Turcotte...well, he looks kind of lost right now, and seems to be deferring to Zegras, who is looking like one of the best prospects on the planet.

I certainly would love to see my team draft Beniers next year, if he keeps playing the way he is and develops. Then we'd have Boldy and Beniers. They have similar long, gangly frames that will only get stronger as they fill out, which bodes well for a pro career. Beniers is ahead of Boldy development wise because he is playing NCAA before his draft, as well as the WJC.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Beniers does everything well and plays C, but at this point we are having a conversation about the ceilings of players that are more similar than not, and that we don't really have a clue about how they will turn out. Turcotte, Beniers, and Boldy are all hard working, two way players with talent. Beniers has a bit more flash to his game, Boldy has subtle sophistication, Turcotte...well, he looks kind of lost right now, and seems to be deferring to Zegras, who is looking like one of the best prospects on the planet.

I certainly would love to see my team draft Beniers next year, if he keeps playing the way he is and develops. Then we'd have Boldy and Beniers. They have similar long, gangly frames that will only get stronger as they fill out, which bodes well for a pro career. Beniers is ahead of Boldy development wise because he is playing NCAA before his draft, as well as the WJC.

Beniers has a nice caring home for him in Anaheim

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Beniers does everything well and plays C, but at this point we are having a conversation about the ceilings of players that are more similar than not, and that we don't really have a clue about how they will turn out. Turcotte, Beniers, and Boldy are all hard working, two way players with talent. Beniers has a bit more flash to his game, Boldy has subtle sophistication, Turcotte...well, he looks kind of lost right now, and seems to be deferring to Zegras, who is looking like one of the best prospects on the planet.

I certainly would love to see my team draft Beniers next year, if he keeps playing the way he is and develops. Then we'd have Boldy and Beniers. They have similar long, gangly frames that will only get stronger as they fill out, which bodes well for a pro career. Beniers is ahead of Boldy development wise because he is playing NCAA before his draft, as well as the WJC.

Development isn't linear so we don't know for certain
who develops most but Beniers w/o question is a more fluid skater than Boldy. Ultimately that matters is the ability to gain open ice and make plays and put more shots on net. Beniers skating is right now equal to Turcotte and he is 20 months younger which is meaningful right now. Turcotte will turn 20 in February while Beniers will be 18 still when a season starts next October.

This isn't a knock on Turcotte or Boldy as both are terrific team players, just how good I think he is.

I'm from Mass. so I hope Boldy turns out as good
as Beniers so there is no bias from me against Boldy.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Well the USA really has only traditionally brought fall birthdate draft players, so where you're born does matter. That is a part of the equation, not a massive part, but I certainly care about that. I think Luke Hughes should be on Team USA right now, but they didn't bring him because of how young he is and he is a full 10 months younger than Beniers and it matters in terms of when you evaluate them for me.

I feel like Beniers is a top 5 guy for me, I like him. Not as high on him as I was Turcotte but time will tell.

He's a top 5 guy for me as well and I would have no reservation at this point selecting him higher than 5. I think he surpasses Turcotte... this kid has a lot going for him and although he is not as slick as some might want as a 1C .. I think if he keeps developing he will be one.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Beniers does everything well and plays C, but at this point we are having a conversation about the ceilings of players that are more similar than not, and that we don't really have a clue about how they will turn out. Turcotte, Beniers, and Boldy are all hard working, two way players with talent. Beniers has a bit more flash to his game, Boldy has subtle sophistication, Turcotte...well, he looks kind of lost right now, and seems to be deferring to Zegras, who is looking like one of the best prospects on the planet.

I certainly would love to see my team draft Beniers next year, if he keeps playing the way he is and develops. Then we'd have Boldy and Beniers. They have similar long, gangly frames that will only get stronger as they fill out, which bodes well for a pro career. Beniers is ahead of Boldy development wise because he is playing NCAA before his draft, as well as the WJC.

I think you are way off. You keep suggesting Beniers is some ultra flashy offensive player. You compared him to Barzal earlier this week. When in reality, I think it’s the opposite. Yes, he can skate well and has above average puck skills, but his point scoring skills are a little lacking. He’s a good prospect that needs to improve his scoring for top five range, but it’s not unrealistic given his work ethic, size, skating, and puck handling.

And I’m not sure where you get that Turcotte looks lost. You can tell whose skimming these games and watching them based on how they assess how Turcotte’s playing. To act like Zegras is carrying him is far off.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

He certainly does not have a higher ceiling than Boldy.

Berniers should legitimately still be a HS senior.
Boldy is a college sophomore. There is more room for growth for Berniers than Boldy physically and mentally.

Like I said before I'm a Mass guy and would love to
see both max out as 1C\1W players.

 

[WeThreeKings]

This seems to match up with the eye-test so far for me.. look at the expected assists for Beniers (again, he's a draft eligible on the WJC so don't make this an indictment on his entire potential), but that's just not good enough for a center and will need to not seep into his collegiate play and his play going forward, he needs to create or he will have to play the wing or in the bottom 6.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

This seems to match up with the eye-test so far for me.. look at the expected assists for Beniers (again, he's a draft eligible on the WJC so don't make this an indictment on his entire potential), but that's just not good enough for a center and will need to not seep into his collegiate play and his play going forward, he needs to create or he will have to play the wing or in the bottom 6.

Now, there are very good reasons to believe X is not the case, which I will mention now, so don't get me wrong, but... what if X is true?!?!

 

[WeThreeKings]

Now, there are very good reasons to believe X is not the case, which I will mention now, so don't get me wrong, but... what if X is true?!?!

Then he shouldn't go as high as projected right now, a player like that goes where somewhere like Ryan Poehling went. Late-teens early 20s.

I don't think that's the case, he has a lot of growth to go and I imagine his coaches will see the same things.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Because Boldy does everything well. They may have similar ceilings but at this point there is notthing to indicate he has a higher ceiling

Well Beniers is a vastly better skater, also better able to carry the puck. Not to mention he's younger and arguably has been just as good if not better than Boldy this tournament.

If I had to pick one I'd take Beniers without even thinking.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Well Beniers is a vastly better skater, also better able to carry the puck. Not to mention he's younger and arguably has been just as good if not better than Boldy this tournament.

If I had to pick one I'd take Beniers without even thinking.

Definitely... and I think Boldy America's best all-around forward.

 

[2Pair]

Well Beniers is a vastly better skater, also better able to carry the puck. Not to mention he's younger and arguably has been just as good if not better than Boldy this tournament.

If I had to pick one I'd take Beniers without even thinking.

That would be a pretty terrible argument

 

[Rabid Ranger]

This seems to match up with the eye-test so far for me.. look at the expected assists for Beniers (again, he's a draft eligible on the WJC so don't make this an indictment on his entire potential), but that's just not good enough for a center and will need to not seep into his collegiate play and his play going forward, he needs to create or he will have to play the wing or in the bottom 6.

These are interesting times to be alive. Using stat projections based on one game in one tournament to have any kind of an opinion on a player's future.

 

[WeThreeKings]

These are interesting times to be alive. Using stat projections based on one game in one tournament to have any kind of an opinion on a player's future.

I mean the interesting piece is that you ignored the entire conversation where I literally mentioned a bunch of times, it's just the WJC, it's a short tournament, he's draft eligible and trying to find chemistry.. and that these were observations on his current play -this tournament- and the stats are confirming what I am seeing.

Literally in the exact post you are quoting - This seems to match up with the eye-test so far for me.. look at the expected assists for Beniers (again, he's a draft eligible on the WJC so don't make this an indictment on his entire potential), but that's just not good enough for a center and will need to not seep into his collegiate play and his play going forward, he needs to create or he will have to play the wing or in the bottom 6.

Read before you react.

 

[57special]

What are his weaknesses? Passing? Shot? His two way play is outstanding, and his skating and puck carrying well above average.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

What are his weaknesses? Passing? Shot? His two way play is outstanding, and his skating and puck carrying well above average.

i've only watched him in this WJC and noticed his shot kind of stinks

 

[ForeverHabs97]

What are his weaknesses? Passing? Shot? His two way play is outstanding, and his skating and puck carrying well above average.

Based on this WJC alone, I'd say it's his offensive playmaking skills.
He's got an excellent motor and work ethic, two way play looks fantastic as you said.
I would think he would get better at playmaking but so far it doesn't look too good.
Could just be the linemates he's with, they have no chemistry with Caufield.

 

[drw02]

He was excellent tonight and all tournament really. Pushed himself up into the top 3 in the draft atp

 

[dedutchhockey]

Stock is rising.
He has great motor and IQ.


Would not be surprised if he goes top 5

 

[bsu]

Brayden Point vibes for sure. Guy is everywhere.

 

[Asquaredx2]

This guy is a beast. What a motor. Would love him on the Sens.

 

[funky]

Loved this kid. Plays the game hard with skill. Can’t wait to see him continue his progression. I think he was even younger than Faber. Had a great tourney.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

For a draft eligible, he had a very respectable tournament. It's not easy playing against older players in a best on best tournament. I didn't think he was great, more in the above-average category, but I think the outlook on his tournament is a positive one.

Next year, he'll be expected to be one of the leaders. He's one of the best players in the American 2002 age group. Hopefully he continues to have success at Michigan, gets drafted high, and then he can help lead us to another Gold.

 

[William H Bonney]

I'm surprised by his development. Not that he's come out of nowhere as he came into the NTDP with some underrated hype, and he was clearly a 1st round caliber prospect while there, but I would have never guessed he had top 5 upside. That's not to say he's a surefire top 5 pick in such a wide-open year, but full credit to him for continuing to improve, and I'd be pretty shocked if he's not a top 10 guy at worst.

I'm not sure Beniers has elite offensive skills, but I think some folks are overrating a small WJC tournament. These last couple of months are his first time playing center regularly since his pre-NTDP days. He's never played with anyone as talented as Caufield or Boldy on a regular basis. And the Beniers, Boldy, Caufield line was a stylistic mismatch.

I think he's got high hockey IQ, but I'd like to see him be more patient with the puck. He goes balls-to-the-wall 100% of the time, which is awesome, but when he learns to slow the pace sometimes in the offensive zone to open lanes, he'll be better for it.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

showed great wheels and tenacity but the end product was missing, could never make that final pass to the open man or get a good shot off. Hopefully he improves in that regard.