12. Zach Benson, LW, 18 (Buffalo Sabres — No. 13, 2023)
There were a lot of nights
two seasons ago, on an Ice team that boasted half a dozen of the better forwards and two of the top defencemen in the WHL, where this kid was the best player on the ice (which included him leading them in scoring in the playoffs with 23 points in 15 games) as a 16-year-old. And then last season there was no doubt: Though an injury kept him out of the first round of the playoffs and allowed Ice and now Sabres teammate Matt Savoie to really take over in the postseason, Benson was the best forward on arguably the CHL’s most talented team at forward.
And while he has benefitted from playing with talented linemates, Benson’s a driver in every sense. He’s a multi-dimensional forward who has quick acceleration, can handle the puck at speed and change tempos in control, can shape play by opening up his hips to go heel to heel, thrives in traffic, is a triple shot-deke-pass threat, plays one step ahead of the game in possession, supports the play effectively, problem-solves as well as anyone on this list, works hard off the puck to keep his energy up (he plays heavier and scrappier than he looks, too), and sets the pace and effort level for his line (whether by picking it up or slowing it down to use his creativity).
He’s the kind of player who fills the stat sheet and elevates his linemates in subtle ways, while providing shockingly impressive two-way play for a smallish (about 5-foot-10 and 160-something pounds) winger. Increasingly, I’ve been impressed by his agility in and out of breaks and cuts (his skating is an almost underrated asset for him and particularly impressive through his edges and crossovers, though he can get going the length of the ice, too). He’ll make plays to the inside from the perimeter on one shift, and then go right to the guts of the ice to make something happen in a congested area the next. When you package all of that skill with a dogged work ethic that keeps him around pucks all the time, you’ve got a tremendous player. If he were a little bigger, he’d be a scout’s dream. I think he’s going to be a top-of-the-lineup player regardless.
24. Matt Savoie, C/RW, 19 (Buffalo Sabres — No. 9, 2022)
Savoie’s game has the potential to thrill. He’s got extremely quick side-to-side hands that help him beat defenders one-on-one off of cuts. He’s got an NHL shot (which he can place with pinpoint accuracy from a bad angle and rip by a goalie clean from a distance, but he also loves to change up and slide five-hole). He does an excellent job creating plays to the slot out of traffic. He’s a burning skater with explosiveness and quick three-step acceleration that allows him to win races, separate in transition and put defenders onto their heels, or dash through holes in coverage to the net (or draw a penalty). He’s a soft, small-area passer who blends deception into his movements.
And then on top of those things, he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’s always engaged, he keeps his feet moving, he plays with a ton of energy, and he finishes all of his checks and knocks his fair share of players over despite being on the smaller side. He’s also sturdier on his feet than his listed height (5-foot-9) might suggest, which helps him play between checks.
It was nice to see him really pop as the second-leading scorer to Stankoven in the WHL playoffs this spring. I’m a believer in him becoming a high-tempo, top-six, goal-creation type. He’s an exciting talent, with clear PP1 upside due to his shooting/skill package and clear five-on-five upside because of his skating and motor. Even in games where the points don’t fall, he’s almost always dangerous and threatening on the ice — and he’s seldom going to leave you wanting more. His speed might even make him a useful penalty killer to give him all-situations value as well. I’m looking forward to watching him as a big part of Team Canada at the 2024 world juniors in Gothenburg.
25. Jiri Kulich, LW/RW, 19 (Buffalo Sabres — No. 28, 2022)
Up there with Snuggerud and Lane Hutson as one of the best stories of the 2022 draft so far, Kulich is a sturdy, driven, hard-shooting player who can morph his game to his role. He can function as the detail-oriented, above-puck defender who makes quick plays and stays on pucks. He can play off of talented linemates to free his dangerous shooting arsenal up. Or he can carry the puck and function as the primary handler on a line. I like his positioning off the puck. I like the strength, balance and control of his skating stride. I like how quickly and hard shots come off of his stick (not just with his world-class one-timer but through a deceptive early release point in stride too).
He’s got quick hands and flashes skill with the puck on a string one-on-one and under the triangles of defenders’ sticks. He’s got good feel around the net. He plays hard. His skating is noticeable off the puck in his ability to pursue and recapture possession to extend sequences. The ice tends to tilt in his favour when he’s on it. He stays over pucks and protects them extremely well. He supports play well. There’s a lot to like about his makeup. He just looks like a pro — and played like one as an 18-year-old in the AHL last season, which included leading a good Americans team in playoff scoring with seven goals in 12 games. I have no doubt that he’s going to be an NHLer — and likely a very good one.
Honourable mentions (sorted alphabetically):
Noah Östlund, C (Buffalo Sabres)
Isak Rosen, LW (Buffalo Sabres)
The Ranking
Here’s the ranking broken down into tiers for a better sense of the proximity within groups of players.
This year’s ranking is divided into four tiers. They are: 1, 2-7, 8-29, 30-50+. I debated swapping each of the final few players I have ranked with most of the 77 players I have listed as honourable mentions below. Consider it more of a 30-127 tier (though there’s probably one more divide in there between the players I seriously considered and the ones who only got passing consideration).
