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

[Jim Bob]

 

[toddkaz]

His effort and tenacity is already better than anyone on this team.

I want to see him make the team. Its unfortunate he can't play in the AHL because its a waste going back to the WHL.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

He is getting at least 9 games. If during those 9 games he does not look lost and is playing well at both ends of the ice and is helping us win games, he should not be sent down to Juniors. If he does have struggles than absolutely send him down.

What I have seen so far is no flaws and a constant drive and hounding for the puck. If that continues for the 9 games stretch I do not understand the belief that his body is not ready for the NHL - what do you think is going to happen to his body. His weight is in line with current NHLers in his size range.

It's not necessarily size, but strength. As the regular season gets more physical, and grinds along like a pro season, Benson will likely struggle with that. Despite that, he just may be the best option though.

 

[Caroline Says ll]

It's not necessarily size, but strength. As the regular season gets more physical, and grinds along like a pro season, Benson will likely struggle with that. Despite that, he just may be the best option though.

Yeah but I feel like he is going to experience that this year, or next year no matter what when he eventually gets his crack at a full-time NHL spot. It is part of adapting to the NHL.

If defensively he remains tenacious and he produces and helps the team win, I just can't fathom the idea that another year in junior will add something to his game on this vague concept of strength. If he looks lost more often than not, then send him down.

 

[Faceboner]

Yeah but I feel like he is going to experience that this year, or next year no matter what when he eventually gets his crack at a full-time NHL spot. It is part of adapting to the NHL.

If defensively he remains tenacious and he produces and helps the team win, I just can't fathom the idea that another year in junior will add something to his game on this vague concept of strength. If he looks lost more often than not, then send him down.

Honestly I was in the camp of send him down after 9 but now I think we should keep him up unless it looks like he needs to be sent back whether it's 9 or 37 games or he stays up ll year don't care about the elc slide

 

[HOOats]

While Benson may not be "ready for 82," he's already a pro in every way outside of physicality. He might already be too valuable to cut as a broadly complimentary, traited-up top 9 piece. Whether he stays here past nine is entirely up to his performance at this point I think. Either way, I wasn't high enough on him this summer, he's been super impressive.

I could see 50 NHL games spread out with some days off around strength training/recovery and sending him to WJC depending on our roster status - all positioning him to be a maturing contributor come playoff time. A more engaged, competitive version of the Wright treatment for lack of better example.

There's going to be more mixing and matching up front this year, given last year's healthy forward corps, Quinn showing up on New Year's, the likely pushes of Rosen & Kulich, Biro/Rousek chances, Savoie pending, Kane daydreams...Benson fits into that mix really well.

He seems like the type who'd benefit more from being around a competitive, close-knit NHL team versus being sent back to romp through juniors (especially with the situation in Wenatchee). I value ELC slides (read: service time manipulation) heavily, but as others have pointed out his second contract at 21 shouldn't be a monster (and if it is, he's been amazing and it's a great problem to have). We could either bridge him short of UFA or sign him forever - future cap landscape is pretty uncertain anyways.

 

[Mattilaus]

Let's take a moment and just appreciate we are even having this discussion about a player drafted 13th. #blessed

 

[Ace]

Give him 9 games, keep Savoie around rehabbing in Buffalo or Rochester, then give Savoie 9 games. Benson gets a taste, Savoie gets a taste, we get a taste, everybody gets a taste

I think there is a very good chance something like this happens. But. I’m not sure Benson won’t play his way into more. If he’s going to play with Tage and Skinner…and that line works. And Tuch being with Mitts makes that line work. You aren’t going to throw it away to push off paying a guy for a year. You need to win games. I struggle to see a scenario where Benson leaving and Olofsson remaining in the lineup does that.

Decent chance after nine games we aren’t talking about how Benson is working out…we’re talking about why Cozens and Peterka are off to such bad starts. Same reason Mitts struggled most of the last two years. Same reason Tage and Skinner had a bad couple games to start last year until Tuch was put back.

Because Olofsson is the one who has to go.

Contract be damned…I’ll bet everything that after his nine game look…it’s very clear that the person who has to be replaced if Savoie gets in isn’t Benson. It’s Olofsson.

 

[OkimLom]

Benson for me has earned that 9 game sample size based on his play. While he hasn't been perfect, I don't think it's going to hurt much to give him those 9 games.

Despite his offensive production though, I don't think his game is at a consistent level where it's a no-brainer to keep him up. He showed a fantastic foundation that he and the organization is working from, but there are enough flaws in his game, and areas in which I would like to see worked on where he can get in major minutes and games in. There's really no rush for Benson. Tell him what you want to see from him, give him a development plan to follow. IMO, Perfect opportunity to "test" the prospect to see what he does to improve his game when nobody is around. He follows that, then he has a legitimate opportunity to lock down a roster spot next season out of camp.

But then the business side of the game/league comes into play. I think for the long term plans for the organization, it's probably best to let his ELC slide.

 

[Ace]

Benson for me has earned that 9 game sample size based on his play. While he hasn't been perfect, I don't think it's going to hurt much to give him those 9 games.

Despite his offensive production though, I don't think his game is at a consistent level where it's a no-brainer to keep him up. He showed a fantastic foundation that he and the organization is working from, but there are enough flaws in his game, and areas in which I would like to see worked on where he can get in major minutes and games in. There's really no rush for Benson. Tell him what you want to see from him, give him a development plan to follow. IMO, Perfect opportunity to "test" the prospect to see what he does to improve his game when nobody is around. He follows that, then he has a legitimate opportunity to lock down a roster spot next season out of camp.

But then the business side of the game/league comes into play. I think for the long term plans for the organization, it's probably best to let his ELC slide.

I’m going to disagree with this pretty wholeheartedly. What he needs to learn is what works at the NHL level. Which he won’t learn in the WHL. As far as the areas he goes to, his understanding of play and his effort on forechecking and backchecking…I need most of the other forwards to learn that. Where can we send them to work on it?

 

[BloFan4Life]

I still wouldn't keep him up here. The season is just too long and physically demanding. I remember when Cole Sillinger played for Columbus and I didn't understand it. You look at his career now, and wonder if he was thrust in too early.

 

[Ace]

I still wouldn't keep him up here. The season is just too long and physically demanding. I remember when Cole Sillinger played for Columbus and I didn't understand it. You look at his career now, and wonder if he was thrust in too early.

Where do you draw the line? Bedard is small too. So clearly talent can outrank your physical size and you should stay. Or else Chicago is making a giant mistake according to your perspective. So you have to be better than Benson…who was the second best player in the WHL to Bedard? Who has shown out through camp and earned the look…but he shouldn’t get it?

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I still wouldn't keep him up here. The season is just too long and physically demanding. I remember when Cole Sillinger played for Columbus and I didn't understand it. You look at his career now, and wonder if he was thrust in too early.

Kind of where I'm at. I want him to succeed, but for the length of his career, not just the first 30 games of it.

 

[elchud]

I remember when Luke Adam had a strong 2 weeks or whatever it was centering Vanek and Pominville.

It goes without saying that Benson has to look really strong in those 9 games but that's a small sample size to commit to an 18 year old forward who is going to feel the grind and may hit a wall halfway in the season.

I'd play conservative on this one, play the long game. Roll Benson-Krebs-Savoie in 24-25 as a 3rd line.

 

[Mattilaus]

If he burns out after 30 games then send him back down. He can spend the 2nd half of the year ripping the whl apart. Would it suck to lose the 1 year of elc on 30 games? Yes, but it wouldn't be the end of the world and it would give him invaluable experience imo.

 

[yahhockey]

This may come as a surprise but there is also a weight room in Buffalo so whether he is here or out west he can still play hockey and add to his frame. If the rest of the team sees him as an asset and that he has been putting the effort in to learn the system and become a professional maybe they would appreciate the GM putting the most talent on the ice even if he isn't expected to play 82 games. Maybe 50-60 plus playoffs is worth one year of his ELC if it makes the team better. Not that he can't play the whole season, I have no idea, however in a situation where it is deemed the best strategy for him to take games off the net benefit to the team while he is on the ice may be worth the year of his contract.

 

[Zman5778]

This may come as a surprise but there is also a weight room in Buffalo so whether he is here or out west he can still play hockey and add to his frame.

Very, very, very few players add mass/muscle to their frames in-season in the NHL. That's primarily an offseason thing. Hell, most players LOSE mass during the course of the season due to the physical workload -- that's why team nutritionists are a thing now.

You can do it in juniors as the regimens aren't nearly as heavy/physical as they are in the NHL.....there's more time for bulking work.


And that's where the concern comes from -- Benson isn't a big guy by any means. And now you're throwing him into a place where he's certainly not going to add to his frame in-season and will most likely lose from his frame.


I'm still very much on the side of "Give him his 9 games then send him back". It'll be better for us in the long run most likely.

 

[Ace]

I'm just going to assume the people steadfast on sending him back after 9 games no matter what are the same people who argued he had no chance at making the team.

Can't let go. Won't let go.

There is a better chance you are talking about sending a first line player getting PP time after nine games than not. To what? Give more ice to Victor Olofsson? Tyson Jost? A different young player who isn't as good?

Good luck with that.

 

[Gras]

I'm just going to assume the people steadfast on sending him back after 9 games no matter what are the same people who argued he had no chance at making the team.

Can't let go. Won't let go.

There is a better chance you are talking about sending a first line player getting PP time after nine games than not. To what? Give more ice to Victor Olofsson? Tyson Jost? A different young player who isn't as good?

Good luck with that.

Jost plays an entirely different role than Benson, the two have nothing to do with each other.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Jost plays an entirely different role than Benson, the two have nothing to do with each other.

It's simple math...Benson will be able to handle the NHL grind even though hardly any draft year players ever do. He will be better than any other option even after the grind sets in on him physically, while our already established and best players will regress. Anyone that knows a sucker bet will make money off the dumb people thinking Benson is in the same tough boat as 99% of draft year guys.

AmIright??? (in reference to post #7,346 in roster speculation, page 294)

 

[Caroline Says ll]

Very, very, very few players add mass/muscle to their frames in-season in the NHL. That's primarily an offseason thing. Hell, most players LOSE mass during the course of the season due to the physical workload -- that's why team nutritionists are a thing now.

You can do it in juniors as the regimens aren't nearly as heavy/physical as they are in the NHL.....there's more time for bulking work.


And that's where the concern comes from -- Benson isn't a big guy by any means. And now you're throwing him into a place where he's certainly not going to add to his frame in-season and will most likely lose from his frame.


I'm still very much on the side of "Give him his 9 games then send him back". It'll be better for us in the long run most likely.

I believe in sending players to junior who need to work on fundamental aspects of the game. This idea that Benson needs to gain strength just seems like a casual excuse for people thinking an 18 year old is too young.

Almost all of the smaller stars in the league have exactly the same build as they have always had. Some played right from their draft year like Jack Hughes, while others went down to Junior for a year like Marner.

For me, Benson is thriving. He could ware down mid season, but the exact same thing could happen if his full year is next year. But I see him currently as a weapon for us that helps us win games, and if he for echecks, back checks and produces then I don't need him to gain strength, just keep on working on what makes him dangerous.

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

Let's take a moment and just appreciate we are even having this discussion about a player drafted 13th. #blessed

As a Canucks fan, screw you guys first of all but more importantly, screw my team. He's everything I thought he would be. When he fell to the Canucks I was over the moon but secretly I just knew my team would also be one of the idiots to pass on this talent.

He was a can't miss prospect for me and #5 on my draft board. Rated his IQ as 2nd best behind Bedard and with his effort was best in class, his defensive capabilities were best in class and the only thing limiting him were straight line speed (average) and size but with his IQ I didn't worry about it anyways.

I'm happy for you guys. But screw you. So hard.

I'm so jealous and I'm definitely more of a Sabre fan because he was this years' Caufield and most of us could see it a mile away.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

As a Canucks fan, screw you guys first of all but more importantly, screw my team. He's everything I thought he would be. When he fell to the Canucks I was over the moon but secretly I just knew my team would also be one of the idiots to pass on this talent.

He was a can't miss prospect for me and #5 on my draft board. Rated his IQ as 2nd best behind Bedard and with his effort was best in class, his defensive capabilities were best in class and the only thing limiting him were straight line speed (average) and size but with his IQ I didn't worry about it anyways.

I'm happy for you guys. But screw you. So hard.

I'm so jealous and I'm definitely more of a Sabre fan because he was this years' Caufield and most of us could see it a mile away.

1 - I feel your pain.

2 - Come to the light, we still have room for more to join us.

 

[Zman5778]

As a Canucks fan, screw you guys first of all but more importantly, screw my team. He's everything I thought he would be. When he fell to the Canucks I was over the moon but secretly I just knew my team would also be one of the idiots to pass on this talent.

He was a can't miss prospect for me and #5 on my draft board. Rated his IQ as 2nd best behind Bedard and with his effort was best in class, his defensive capabilities were best in class and the only thing limiting him were straight line speed (average) and size but with his IQ I didn't worry about it anyways.

I'm happy for you guys. But screw you. So hard.

I'm so jealous and I'm definitely more of a Sabre fan because he was this years' Caufield and most of us could see it a mile away.

As someone who watched their goalie-needy team take a smallish, skilled forward (Rosen) over Wallstedt (or even Cossa) in 2021.....or a smallish, skilled forward in Nylander over Chychrun/Sergachev/McAvoy back in 16........I totally feel your pain.

You're always welcome here as long as you hate the Leafs.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Benson and Levi are in the same category for me - if each is contributing to winning games, he stays; if he's a detriment he goes. This is not a development year.

So far so good. I'm amazed Benson is still in camp, let alone fitting in perfectly on the top line and PP1. He fully deserves to be here.