Prospect Info: Zach Benson, LW/C, Wenatchee (WHL), Signed ELC- 2023, 13th Overall

[beerme1]

Playoffs or bust!

 

[HOOats]

Weird scenario but curious about it. If Benson plays 10+ games this year and his ELC kicks in, what is the scenario next year? Is it still Buffalo or WHL only? Or can he play in Roch once his ELC clock is running? If he played next year in WHL, would it slide or does sliding end when an ELC begins?

Hopefully that was coherent but I'm doubtful.

 

[Weltschmerz]

Weird scenario but curious about it. If Benson plays 10+ games this year and his ELC kicks in, what is the scenario next year? Is it still Buffalo or WHL only? Or can he play in Roch once his ELC clock is running? If he played next year in WHL, would it slide or does sliding end when an ELC begins?

Hopefully that was coherent but I'm doubtful.

From what I have seen he would be allowed to play in the AHL next season anyway.

 

[HOOats]

From what I have seen he would be allowed to play in the AHL next season anyway.

Ah that's right, he's going to get the exemption. I'm still curious about the scenario as a hypothetical though.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Benson looks like the player we all were wishcasting Reinhart to be.

"wishcasting"

 

[AaronPines]

I mean he’s the only whose played like he’s worthy of that spot… was hoping to see more steps from more guys, but if Benson does snag it, is that so bad? He’s playing to earn it.

His defense already shows enough shine to take a VO role (that is faint praise, I know but there’s not nothing there)

 

[Weltschmerz]

Ah that's right, he's going to get the exemption. I'm still curious about the scenario as a hypothetical though.

Don’t know much about that CHL agreement but if we would just have to kick off the ELC we could Savoie give his 10 games and send him to Rochester. Doubt it works like that.

 

[Jacob582]

Ah that's right, he's going to get the exemption. I'm still curious about the scenario as a hypothetical though.

Once a player plays 10 NHL games their contact starts and can no longer slide.

The start of an ELC does not qualify a CHL player for the AHL. AHL is dependent on age or playing 4 junior seasons.

 

[HOOats]

Once a player plays 10 NHL games their contact starts and can no longer slide.

The start of an ELC does not qualify a CHL player for the AHL. AHL is dependent on age or playing 4 junior seasons.

So if Benson played ten games this year, it would be year 1/3 ELC, then even if he played all year in the W next year it would be year 2/3 ELC.

 

[valet]

So if Benson played ten games this year, it would be year 1/3 ELC, then even if he played all year in the W next year it would be year 2/3 ELC.

yes. there is no slide after 10 games

 

[Matt Ress]

Don’t know much about that CHL agreement but if we would just have to kick off the ELC we could Savoie give his 10 games and send him to Rochester. Doubt it works like that.

It's different with every league and complicated so it's understandable. Essentially you want to avoid having CHL kids play 10 NHL games unless you want them to be on your NHL roster full time.

 

[toddkaz]

The NHL-CHL agreement to keep the CHL competitive is understandable but there should be buyouts allowed. If Buffalo gives a CHL team 500k-1m just an estimate as I have no idea the actual financial impact of losing a player is that not better than say Benson playing another year in the WHL? I am not saying it should be a constant but why not allow 1 buyout every 3-5 years to allow players who have nothing to gain returning back to the NHL

 

[HaNotsri]

We should play the best team this year, no matter what. If he's good enough to make the roster either play him or improve the roster through trade in order to send him down.
The time has come for short term performance.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

We should play the best team this year, no matter what. If he's good enough to make the roster either play him or improve the roster through trade in order to send him down.
The time has come for short term performance.

Agree in principle, but it's not that simple.

Benson might continue to have a great camp, show he belongs during a 9 game stint, and then wear down significantly as the grind of playing 82 games against much bigger and stronger opponents as a 5'9", 165 lb. 18 year-old rookie takes its toll.

I love his game and what he's demonstrated already, but let's be realistic about his near-term future.

 

[HaNotsri]

Agree in principle, but it's not that simple.

Benson might continue to have a great camp, show he belongs during a 9 game stint, and then wear down significantly as the grind of playing 82 games against much bigger and stronger opponents as a 5'9", 165 lb. 18 year-old rookie takes its toll.

I love his game and what he's demonstrated already, but let's be realistic about his near-term future.

Yeah but then you send him down game 15 or whatever. I just don't care about elc years at all.

 

[jd1970]

Agree in principle, but it's not that simple.

Benson might continue to have a great camp, show he belongs during a 9 game stint, and then wear down significantly as the grind of playing 82 games against much bigger and stronger opponents as a 5'9", 165 lb. 18 year-old rookie takes its toll.

I love his game and what he's demonstrated already, but let's be realistic about his near-term future.

But when he's 10 years older he won't wear down?

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Yeah but then you send him down game 15 or whatever. I just don't care about elc years at all.

If Benson gets sent back after 15 games, he shouldn't have been on the roster in the first place. That's my point.

And needlessly burning an ELC year wouldn't be the end of the world, but why do that?

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

But when he's 10 years older he won't wear down?

You're comparing how an undersized 18 year-old rookie would fare physically in an NHL season to what he will as a 28 year-old? I don't get it.

 

[Yultron]

Yeah now that the competition is getting more NHL Level Benson definitely needs another season in junior from what I’ve seen and his -3 today outing

 

[BUCKSHOT]

Yeah now that the competition is getting more NHL Level Benson definitely needs another season in junior from what I’ve seen and his -3 today outing

part of the factor is ... look is playing defense (for the Sabres) in this game

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

We should play the best team this year, no matter what. If he's good enough to make the roster either play him or improve the roster through trade in order to send him down.
The time has come for short term performance.

Otoh, I'm all in favor of this. Playoffs or bust afaic.

 

[Yultron]

part of the factor is ... look is playing defense (for the Sabres) in this game

Benson is best suited going back to junior , the hype was pretty good but no need to rush him .

He will be more than ready for next season . Give him the Mitchell Marner approach .

Plus we have Savoie back next week

 

[Sabreality]

Never underestimate a carny.

 

[jcbeze]

Benson is best suited going back to junior , the hype was pretty good but no need to rush him .

He will be more than ready for next season . Give him the Mitchell Marner approach .

Plus we have Savoie back next week

He's ready. Throw him in there

 

[Yultron]

Boy I certainly was wrong in this game , ok then throw him in there what a turnaround:

I just don’t want him to be rushed but if he can hold his own then keep him