W/C Zachary Benson - (2023, 13th, BUF)

[Boonk]

I personally think taking Benson over Michkov would be a big mistake

Well if you’re drafting a winger you can’t go wrong either way, both are elite in this class. One is an elite scorer and point producer, the other produces and plays all 200ft of ice at an elite level. I’d be more inclined to take Michkov but if I miss out and Benson is right there I’m not passing on him.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

It's crazy how many guys in this draft are producing at 1st OA rates.

There's like legitimately 6-7 players that could be argued as 1st OA talents in this draft. Absolutely nuts.

There's going to be 2 guys with ~1.7 ppg in the WHL that likely go outside the top 4...

 

[austin63867]

Tbh Benson is what I thought Savoie would be his draft year. Not a knock on Savoie, but Benson is definitely an impact player. Savoie will be as well hopefully.

 

[Doublechin]

At this point I think it's safe to say that at least 5 players from this year would go 1st on 50% of draft years

 

[Matsun]

WHL DRAFT SEASONS	GP	G	A	P	PPG	DRAFTED
CONNOR BEDARD	45	54	60	114	2,53	?
SAM REINHART	60	36	69	105	1,75	#2
ZACH BENSON	54	33	59	92	1,70	?
ANDREW CRISTALL	42	30	41	71	1,69	?
NIC PETAN	71	46	74	120	1,69	#43
SETH JARVIS	58	42	56	98	1,69	#13
LEON DRAISAITL	64	38	67	105	1,64	#3
EVANDER KANE	61	48	48	96	1,57	#4
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS	69	31	75	106	1,54	#1
KAILER YAMAMOTO	65	42	57	99	1,52	#22
MATTHEW SAVOIE	65	35	55	90	1,38	#9
KOEHN ZIEMMER	55	31	42	73	1,33	?
CODY GLASS	69	32	62	94	1,36	#6
BRAYDEN POINT	72	36	55	91	1,26	#79

What a draft this could be.

 

[wetcoast]

Watch Benson. He’s more impressive than his ridiculous stat. Other than size and an elite shot, he’s literally everything you could possibly want in a player.

I’m not arguing for him over Fantilli or Carlsson necessarily, but I am saying that I would take Benson over anyone drafted in 2022 and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up the second best player in his draft class.

I have watched him and really like him as a player but the reality is that big skilled centers are harder to find via trade so it's really hard to see any NHL GM taking Benson over either of those 2 centers.

Whoever misses on the "big" 4 won't feel so bad.

It's a really deep high end draft first 15 teams should be thrilled with the player they get but of course not every single player develops as planed.....

 

[wetcoast]

WHL DRAFT SEASONS	GP	G	A	P	PPG	DRAFTED
CONNOR BEDARD	45	54	60	114	2,53	?
SAM REINHART	60	36	69	105	1,75	#2
ZACH BENSON	54	33	59	92	1,70	?
ANDREW CRISTALL	42	30	41	71	1,69	?
NIC PETAN	71	46	74	120	1,69	#43
SETH JARVIS	58	42	56	98	1,69	#13
LEON DRAISAITL	64	38	67	105	1,64	#3
EVANDER KANE	61	48	48	96	1,57	#4
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS	69	31	75	106	1,54	#1
KAILER YAMAMOTO	65	42	57	99	1,52	#22
MATTHEW SAVOIE	65	35	55	90	1,38	#9
KOEHN ZIEMMER	55	31	42	73	1,33	?
CODY GLASS	69	32	62	94	1,36	#6
BRAYDEN POINT	72	36	55	91	1,26	#79

What a draft this could be.

Does anyone else see that production doesn't always translate to the NHL level?

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Does anyone else see that production doesn't always translate to the NHL level?

For the majority of those players it did.

 

[Colezuki]

Does anyone else see that production doesn't always translate to the NHL level?

There was something I saw and I can't remember where but it basically illustrated that of the three CHL leagues the W was the worst at projecting NHL potential based on point totals.

 

[docbenton]

I know he's producing well and works hard, but not yet convinced that this player has elite level skill. Good forechecker and everything despite his drawbacks and once in a while flashes some skill, but I don't see the ability to dissect defenses or control the game the way someone like Will Smith or Andrew Cristall can. Also plays hunched over and so looks even smaller than his size.

With small players I worry about lack of dynamic skill above all else. See - Nic Petan, Marco Rossi. Not sure if there's enough there with Benson. I think he'll play though because he's versatile, but not sure if he'll be a big scorer.

 

[wetcoast]

For the majority of those players it did.

Only if you are talking about making the NHL.

Given their PPG in their draft year and draft position a lot of those guys under performed at the next level.

 

[BB88]

I wouldn’t think so but am just looking for some confirmation from hardcore Ice/WHL fans.

I mean Savoie is a SH demon at the WHL level also and his PPG was pretty close last year when he was Benson’s age to Benson this year. And he centers with Benson on his wing.

I don’t think it’s a crazy question. I’m truly interested in knowing if Benson is a level above given their scoring rates this year and Benson’s rise as a probably top 5 pick in what is perceived to be a stronger draft or if we are sleeping on Savoie/hyping the younger guy more just because he (Savoie) came back this year and isn’t scoring at quite the rate he did in his draft year.

Is Benson legit a different level as a play driver and all around player? Last years draft is considered weak and Savoie went 9th. This years is considered amazing and Benson is as high as 3rd and probably no worse than 5th or 6th on most lists. So I get that would mean his perceived value as a prospect is much higher. But is this factually the case from those who can compare them on the same team and same line in fact on a near nightly basis?

Savoie posted 1.38 ppg in his draft year and Benson is up to 1.7

Benson has already scored 3 more points in 10 less games than Savoie did.
So at this rate it would be around 20 points difference

 

[bsu]

Brayden Point in terms of play style. If Ducks slide like they always do out of the #4 I'd still be stoked at #5.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I like him more than Carlsson.

 

[Mrb1p]

Does anyone else see that production doesn't always translate to the NHL level?

Theres 2 players on that list that didnt pan out.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Brayden Point in terms of play style. If Ducks slide like they always do out of the #4 I'd still be stoked at #5.

Difference is that Brayden Point is "short", he's not small.

 

[bsu]

Difference is that Brayden Point is "short", he's not small.

He was at 17

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

As a Canucks fan I hope our pick is no lower than 5th. Benson is my 5th overall in this draft.

 

[bsu]

As a Canucks fan I hope our pick is no lower than 5th. Benson is my 5th overall in this draft.

Same as a Ducks fan

 

[Halfy]

Looks to be out long term with an upper body injury after leaving tonight’s game in the first against the lowly Edmonton Oil Kings. Really unfortunate.

 

[rt]

Looks to be out long term with an upper body injury after leaving tonight’s game in the first against the lowly Edmonton Oil Kings. Really unfortunate.

Head?

 

[Nabrules]

Looks to be out long term with an upper body injury after leaving tonight’s game in the first against the lowly Edmonton Oil Kings. Really unfortunate.

What happened???

 

[lanky]

Head?

What happened???

In the Ice thread @snowkiddin said this
"Benson was hurt eight minutes in after a nasty hit from behind from a dude with six points all year. Was favouring his arm, hopefully it’s not broken, but it didn’t look good. We’ll need him for the playoffs. Unfortunate that a plug had to hurt him."

 

[Halfy]

What happened???

Boarding penalty, missed the hit. No replay btw because right under camera. Looked to be shoulder/collarbone. Saw him after the game in a sling.

And yes as the poster said above, against the worst team in the league. The ICE were absolutely deflated for the rest of the game after the play.

 

[snowkiddin]

In the Ice thread @snowkiddin said this
"Benson was hurt eight minutes in after a nasty hit from behind from a dude with six points all year. Was favouring his arm, hopefully it’s not broken, but it didn’t look good. We’ll need him for the playoffs. Unfortunate that a plug had to hurt him."

I was pretty heated after it happened lol so I went a bit overboard but yeah it was a hit from behind into the boards. Definitely took the steam out of the ICE