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

[MOGlLNY]

Benson is also a massive reason Tage has been heating up on the Sabres PP.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

You mean the NCAA leading scorer as a rookie?

I like Smith, but I'd take Benson with his elite motor and impressive all around game. And it's not like Benson isn't a capable offensive player - put Benson on the top line in college hockey and he'd probably be lighting up too.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

You mean the NCAA leading scorer as a rookie?

Pretty sure that's the one who he means.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Smith

As a Sharks fan who had Benson ranked 5th pre-draft and Smith 6th… I like Benson more as a player but for a team with next to no high-end prospects, I always knew that Smith would be the pick and stand by it even if Smith doesn’t hit his upside.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

As a Sharks fan who had Benson ranked 5th pre-draft and Smith 6th… I like Benson more as a player but for a team with next to no high-end prospects, I always knew that Smith would be the pick and stand by it even if Smith doesn’t hit his upside.

From your lips to Bettman's ears cause Smith is freakn' awesome.

 

[Misko]

Think about what happens when a big car runs into a little car. This is basic stuff.

I don't have all day but some recent examples of smaller players getting dinged up - Kailer Yamamoto (who was great as a rookie), Tyler Ennis, Tyler Johnson, Nick Blankenburg (one of the Jackets best players in his early games, can't stay healthy).

Physics can be against smaller players when it comes to getting hit, but smaller players play differently than bigger players, and usually don't put themselves in positions to receive the same type of hits as bigger players and dont throw the same type of hits either. Due to their size, they grow up playing a specific type of game which I think evens out the risk and injury susceptibility.

Think of Slafkovsky, who is one of the largest 1st overalls in a very long time who seemed to be getting domed in the head every other night in his rookie season and ended up injured most of the year. Slaf is better now but Benson has been much healthier than him in his own rookie year for example.

 

[Faceboner]

How many 18 year Olds not drafted in the top 5 have scored 30+points? Benson is having an impressive campaign not only was he able to stick on the roster but continually improve his play throughout the season as the season is winding down it looks like he got more settled.

 

[Gabrielor]

18 year olds usually aren't as ahead of the curve on the all-around game as him. He's amongst the best defensive forwards on the team. His points will go up with development and PP1 time. They didn't try him on PP1 until like game 75, and it immediately worked.

 

[MOGlLNY]

special player considering everything else he does.

 

[dj Mahoney]

Sabre's got a good one , deep draft though .

 

[tsujimoto74]

special player considering everything else he does.

I can’t wait to see what a 24yo Benson looks like. He’s a gem.

 

[Fearnot]

 

[Realgud]

This player is completely out of control, good on the refs for taking the proper precautions and jailing this monster for 2 minutes at a time when he gets a little too comfortable and starts being a danger to the players around him. That crosscheck on Trouba could have paralyzed him.

 

[Faceboner]

Softest calls ever probably league wide officials hazing him only explanation I could think of

 

[ORRFForever]

Softest calls ever probably league wide officials hazing him only explanation I could think of

Send the video to the League. Most of those calls were pathetic.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Lot of people still sleeping on this guy.

I've seen a lot of "only 30 points", "only in the NHL at 18 because Sabres", and "low ceiling, too small and slow".

As it stands right now, he's the 2nd-leading scorer from the the 2023 draft. I won't be surprised if he's still there after this season. I won't be surprised if he's still there when he retires.

I don't really care about the measurables. He's a treat to watch and just really good at hockey.

Plays the game the way it's meant to be played.

 

[bigdog16]

Lot of people still sleeping on this guy.

I've seen a lot of "only 30 points", "only in the NHL at 18 because Sabres", and "low ceiling, too small and slow".

As it stands right now, he's the 2nd-leading scorer from the the 2023 draft. I won't be surprised if he's still there after this season. I won't be surprised if he's still there when he retires.

I don't really care about the measurables. He's a treat to watch and just really good at hockey.

Plays the game the way it's meant to be played.

Yeah great player but disagree significantly with the bolded. Id be surprised if hes top 5

 

[Fatass]

Lot of people still sleeping on this guy.

I've seen a lot of "only 30 points", "only in the NHL at 18 because Sabres", and "low ceiling, too small and slow".

As it stands right now, he's the 2nd-leading scorer from the the 2023 draft. I won't be surprised if he's still there after this season. I won't be surprised if he's still there when he retires.

I don't really care about the measurables. He's a treat to watch and just really good at hockey.

Plays the game the way it's meant to be played.

Benson is good but he’s still small and struggles with nhl speed and size. Lots of smaller players have been successful though and it’s because of their smarts. Benson has smarts. So he should make a go of it.

 

[Beerz]

I'll be surprised if this kid doesn't win multiple Selke's

 

[Gliff]

I'll be surprised if this kid doesn't win multiple Selke's

So you’re saying he will be a hall of famer?

 

[Beerz]

So you’re saying he will be a hall of famer?

You think Micheal Peca is a Hall of Famer?

 

[Matt Ress]

Benson is good but he’s still small and struggles with nhl speed and size. Lots of smaller players have been successful though and it’s because of their smarts. Benson has smarts. So he should make a go of it.

He is a very smart player but he's certainly not struggling physically at the NHL level. I can see why that's an easy assumption to make but it really isn't true.

 

[Fatass]

He is a very smart player but he's certainly not struggling physically at the NHL level. I can see why that's an easy assumption to make but it really isn't true.

Of course Benson will struggle with the speed and size of nhl players. He’s smaller and slower than most. But he will make up for that lack of size and speed with elite smarts. He will appear not to struggle (a lot) because he’s a very smart player. But the struggle will still be there.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

Of course Benson will struggle with the speed and size of nhl players. He’s smaller and slower than most. But he will make up for that lack of size and speed with elite smarts. He will appear not to struggle (a lot) because he’s a very smart player. But the struggle will still be there.

He doesn’t struggle. He adapts.

 

[Matt Ress]

Of course Benson will struggle with the speed and size of nhl players. He’s smaller and slower than most. But he will make up for that lack of size and speed with elite smarts. He will appear not to struggle (a lot) because he’s a very smart player. But the struggle will still be there.

That doesn't really make sense. I will respectfully and fundamentally disagree with you while you're point is just a ghost argument not to be addressed anyway.