Last year Benak was already very strong in this tournament, so no surprise to see him very strong this year.
It was very complicated last year afterwards.
It's a friendly summer tournament. Many players are not at their maximum and do not reveal their true level. McKenna is the most obvious example. Ihs Wozniak doesn't seem to be at full strength either. Those who have nothing to prove in this tournament.
It is the performance in the USHL that will determine his rank. And it will take exceptional performance (1.5PPG) with outstanding gaming characteristic
The best expected for the 2025 draft are not there. Hagens, Martone, Ryabkin, Misa, Hensler, Frondell, Trethewey, McQueen and Moore are not there. Impossible for Benak to be in front of these guys.
Small guys wingers who have his level, there are 3 others (Schmidt, Potter, Mooney). And next to them, there are Martone, Spence, Guite, Reschny. Without forgetting all the centers and defenders.
The guys here have been on the site for years. So I expect the draft lessons have been learned.
Caufield was selected 15th with his exceptional goalscoring quality. Supporter of Montreal, he is satisfied but his profile requires the coach to adapt according to him and a 2nd Caufield is really not desired in Montreal.
Yamamoto, we're talking about a guy currently without a contract even though he hasn't reached 26 years old.
And then, no one of this size has been chosen in the 1st round in the last 10 years.
Top 20 is currently out of reach for Benak.