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

[Fjordy]

He definitely has earned 9 games. With nobody else looking near up to filling Quinn's spot, I'm on board with seeing how it goes and even keeping him on the roster barring a clear stretch of being out-matched. I guess even if he does start to wear out from the schedule, Quinn should be back in time to give Benson some rest.

Benson absolutely deserved those 9 games and maybe even more. When Quinn returns, we don't even know what our roster will look like, given potential injuries and the theoretical trade Olofsson.

 

[Puppa2Miller]

He definitely has earned 9 games. With nobody else looking near up to filling Quinn's spot, I'm on board with seeing how it goes and even keeping him on the roster barring a clear stretch of being out-matched. I guess even if he does start to wear out from the schedule, Quinn should be back in time to give Benson some rest.

Last year, Granato rotated both Quinn and Peterka out of the lineup from time to time in the early months to help them adjust to the grind. One has to think he would follow a similar game plan with Benson

 

[Dingo44]

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Did they enhance his acne there?

 

[Weltschmerz]

Did they enhance his acne there?

yeah I see more than 7 points there

 

[Paxon]

View attachment 749715

 

[old kummelweck]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am looking forward to the cringey "Benson v. Bedard" threads on the main board from over-zealous sabres fans.

 

[Panthaz89]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am looking forward to the cringey "Benson v. Bedard" threads on the main board from over-zealous sabres fans.

Please No.

 

[ChadBigly]

I love this kid. That is all.

 

[zuikan]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am looking forward to the cringey "Benson v. Bedard" threads on the main board from over-zealous sabres fans.

Well, he outscored him in preseason so I expect the regular to be no different. Heh. I hope they put him on a line with Peterka & Mitts.

 

[Mattilaus]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am looking forward to the cringey "Benson v. Bedard" threads on the main board from over-zealous sabres fans.

Nah, It will be something like a winnipeg fan or some shit who posts it but sabres fans will still get dumped on for it anyways.

 

[Chainshot]

Nah, It will be something like a winnipeg fan or some shit who posts it but sabres fans will still get dumped on for it anyways.

And rather than just let a thread die, some ride-or-die types will keep it going well after it's clear the thread should just pass on.

 

[Digable5]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am looking forward to the cringey "Benson v. Bedard" threads on the main board from over-zealous sabres fans.

Bedard? Pshht....Look at the preseason leader board. He's better than McDavid!

 

[ckg927]

Please No.

Agreed. Look, I like Benson(and he IS that dude), but Bedard is on another level and it's not even close.

 

[Strat]

Is it official that Benson is getting those 9 games?

 

[Chainshot]

Is it official that Benson is getting those 9 games?

At least the first one by how the roster has been made.

 

[Bombshell11]

Is it official that Benson is getting those 9 games?

Im a habs fan, personally i had Benson equal to Bedard in talent and i would say maybe more.

In my opinion he deserves to play those 9 games and i think he'll impress so much they might keep him, he's a real gamer and good person to have around from the looks of it.

Hopefully we can see him play with Buffalo this year.

 

[TehDoak]

So, for the record, Benson HAS exceeded expectations. The issue is, we don't have a slot for an extra scoring forward. When everyone is healthy, we likely have Olofsson riding the bench. Scoring wingers is the deepest position we have.

If Adams legit wants to keep him, someone else has to go.

If you are assuming a center spline of Thompson/Cozens/Mittelstadt/Krebs

That leaves you with:

Skinner, Tuch, Benson, Quinn, Peterka, Greenway, Olofsson, Jost, Girgensons, Okposo.

Right now, it's not an 'issue' with Quinn out, at least pure numbers wise. You can run 13F, 7D, 3G.
The other issue is that Benson doesn't solve any problems with the team. The issue isn't that we didn't score enough, the issue is play in the d-zone play and goaltending. Benson doesn't solve that issue.

 

[Zman5778]

Right now, it's not an 'issue' with Quinn out, at least pure numbers wise. You can run 13F, 7D, 3G.
The other issue is that Benson doesn't solve any problems with the team. The issue isn't that we didn't score enough, the issue is play in the d-zone play and goaltending. Benson doesn't solve that issue.

Benson doesn't "solve" the d-zone issue......but in our top 9, he might be the 2nd best defensive forward for the times he's in. He certainly didn't look lost in his own zone the way guys like Tage/Skinner/Quinn/Peterka/Olofsson often do/did.

 

[BUCKSHOT]

So, for the record, Benson HAS exceeded expectations. The issue is, we don't have a slot for an extra scoring forward. When everyone is healthy, we likely have Olofsson riding the bench. Scoring wingers is the deepest position we have.

If Adams legit wants to keep him, someone else has to go.

If you are assuming a center spline of Thompson/Cozens/Mittelstadt/Krebs

That leaves you with:

Skinner, Tuch, Benson, Quinn, Peterka, Greenway, Olofsson, Jost, Girgensons, Okposo.

Right now, it's not an 'issue' with Quinn out, at least pure numbers wise. You can run 13F, 7D, 3G.
The other issue is that Benson doesn't solve any problems with the team. The issue isn't that we didn't score enough, the issue is play in the d-zone play and goaltending. Benson doesn't solve that issue.

might have to (try) win games 9-7 all season

 

[Djp]

So, for the record, Benson HAS exceeded expectations. The issue is, we don't have a slot for an extra scoring forward. When everyone is healthy, we likely have Olofsson riding the bench. Scoring wingers is the deepest position we have.

If Adams legit wants to keep him, someone else has to go.

If you are assuming a center spline of Thompson/Cozens/Mittelstadt/Krebs

That leaves you with:

Skinner, Tuch, Benson, Quinn, Peterka, Greenway, Olofsson, Jost, Girgensons, Okposo.

Right now, it's not an 'issue' with Quinn out, at least pure numbers wise. You can run 13F, 7D, 3G.
The other issue is that Benson doesn't solve any problems with the team. The issue isn't that we didn't score enough, the issue is play in the d-zone play and goaltending. Benson doesn't solve that issue.

exceeded expectations? Not really for a forward many had in the top 5 of the draft.

Preseason on is him playing against mainly AHL rosters and nhl players playing at 80%

 

[jd1970]

. Benson doesn't solve that issue.

Neither did resigning Okpos9.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Benson much like Quinn doesn't have issues with defensive positioning, his issue will be getting over powered by stronger players. His advantage over Quinn is that he's squat, so he has better leverage vice being a blown up bean pole on some of those plays along the wall.

I mean damn, slow it down and watch the tape to see who is out of position. Much like the savants blaming Mitts last year when most were because Olofsson didn't do his job, these preseason goals against can be attributed to other players breaking down except for the Pit goal when he was over powered at the net

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Bombshell11]

Really? he made the team? Niiiiice...