NHL: Around the League 52

[Kevin Musto]

In my opinion, based on the eye test alone, I am not sure why Benson fell other than size. He just has it.

He's got Hagel heart and hustle.

But he's small, not elusive, weak on the puck and along the boards, not the greatest skater for his size.

13 was a couple spots too low for sure. But that's the Arizona effect.

 

[TLEH]

He's got Hagel heart and hustle.

But he's small, not elusive, weak on the puck and along the boards, not the greatest skater for his size.

13 was a couple spots too low for sure. But that's the Arizona effect.

Disagree with the bolded.

Also skating is getting overblown in the NHL. If you can think the game at an ELITE level, you can get by with good skating. People are just used to guys flaming out because they "can't skate" when its more that their average skating can't makeup for their lack of hockey intelligence.

Always exceptions with guys that are truly terrible skaters, but I am talking about the guys who are good but not great skaters. Like Mark Stone and Jason Robertson.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Disagree with the bolded.

Also skating is getting overblown in the NHL. If you can think the game at an ELITE level, you can get by with good skating. People are just used to guys flaming out because they "can't skate" when its more that their average skating can't makeup for their lack of hockey intelligence.

Always exceptions with guys that are truly terrible skaters, but I am talking about the guys who are good but not great skaters. Like Mark Stone and Jason Robertson.

I've seen him on numerous occasions in juniors getting knocked off the puck and taking big hits because he couldn't evade pressure. So to each their own.

As for Stone and Robertson, those guys are much bigger. They can take contact and dish it out if need be. They have an advantage that Benson never will. And it makes a huge difference.

 

[TLEH]

I've seen him on numerous occasions in juniors getting knocked off the puck and taking big hits because he couldn't evade pressure. So to each their own.

As for Stone and Robertson, those guys are much bigger. They can take contact and dish it out if need be. They have an advantage that Benson never will. And it makes a huge difference.

I just don't see the weakness either. I watched every pre-season game that he played and he was strong on pucks in the corners. For example this battle he wins against Matt Grzeylczk

Or here on the same shift against two guys where he wins the battle and flips the puck between 26s legs to Thompson in the middle of the ice.

Here he takes on Laine in the corner and then wins the puck and beats Laine to the net.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I just don't see the weakness either. I watched every pre-season game that he played and he was strong on pucks in the corners. For example this battle he wins against Matt Grzeylczk
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Or here on the same shift against two guys where he wins the battle and flips the puck between 26s legs to Thompson in the middle of the ice.


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Here he takes on Laine in the corner and then wins the puck and beats Laine to the net.


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Grzeylczk is small and Laine is as soft as Vlasic.

I'm not a hater. Just stating what I saw in juniors across the whole season.

 

[Mrfenn92]

 

[clydesdale line]

Heh... Ottawa reclaims him.

 

[Giovi]

 

[ClydeLee]

But why?

 

[No Fun Shogun]

I’d accept eight and a half million a year to not have to move.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Jets are forever a bubble team

 

[x Tame Impala]

Good for them and Jets fans

 

[No Fun Shogun]

ESPN sensibly promoting the NHL during the halftime of a Raiders game featuring Cup winner Eichel?

Well I’ll be….

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Awful news

Best wishes to Melrose and his family

 

[clydesdale line]

Buffalo locking up all of their young core.

 

[Paul Allen]

Buffalo locking up all of their young core.

That’ll be the Blackhawks in a couple years.

 

[Putt Pirate]

Edmonton went fullEdmonton last night.

 

[clydesdale line]

I gotta say.. this is really well done. GGs to the Blue Jackets.

 

[bwanajamba]

Fantilli picked up his first point- nice shot on the rush and Jake Bean scored on the rebound that Hart kicked about halfway back to Philly

 

[clydesdale line]

So Zach Benson lost the puck and missed the net during warmups when he went out solo as the usual rookie lap and Bedard got crucified by the jealous idiots on the internet for mishandling the puck when he passed it to Korchinski. Clearly he's a bust.

Nerves are a thing for 18 year olds. Best of luck to Benson going forward. This draft class was definitely special.

 

[Mrfenn92]

7 years $7.25 million aav

 

[Hawkaholic]

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7 years $7.25 million aav

Wow, makes Seths contract look even worse.

 

[TLEH]

That’s a good deal. I think his name/status is slightly overvalued in the league because he plays with Makar, but that’s still a great deal for them. He’s worth atleast that.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Devon Toews left at least ten million dollars on the table. Woof.

 

[Hawkaholic]

That’s a good deal. I think his name/status is slightly overvalued in the league because he plays with Makar, but that’s still a great deal for them. He’s worth atleast that.

He played great/even better when Makar was out last year.