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

[Andiamo]

(He’s 159).

I’d like this pick a lot more if we didn’t draft Savoie last year.

170 pounds at the Combine.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I’m so happy over this pick, which will be nearly universally praised, I can’t even argue with the 3 people going “but da size!!!”

 

[joshjull]

 

[Club]

 

[Digable5]

”1st overall caliber player”

 

[Dingo44]

Kid is a legit top 5 pick in most drafts that fell to us at 13.

 

[joshjull]

 

[Der Jaeger]

BPA at 13 by a mile, and a heck of a player.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

@Zman5778 he's better than Savoie in everything except skating. Saying that, his edgework is sublime, very Skinnerish. Every time I'd watch the Ice #9 would jump out and that's going back to the midpoint of last season.

People argued with me earlier this year when I said that Benson was the best player on that team

 

[joshjull]

 

[TehDoak]

Adams has now drafted 24 forwards and 4 d-men since 2020.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Not one of them could clear a net in the playoffs..

What sort of farkakte defensive scheme uses it's playmaking winger to clear the crease instead of supporting the D?

 

[Chainshot]

Some other tidbits from EP's draft preveiw:

This skill is visualized in Brown’s manually tracked data set. Benson’s expected primary assists and slot pass success percentage check in at the 100th percentile, in a sample that includes 700 forwards from this season. In a multi-year data set of over 3000 forwards, his underlying playmaking data is second to only Connor McDavid. You might have heard of him.

Simply put: Benson doesn’t play small. He’s interior-driven as a puck carrier, protective on the first touch, and capable of establishing inside positioning along the walls for retrievals. The contemporary NHL is more about leverage than it is about size, and he’s going to be just the latest example of that dynamic. The same is true of his work in the defensive zone.

The ICE forward is a proactive, intelligent defensive contributor, always occupying the right passing lane, and equipped with a great defensive stick that allows him to steal possession from his opponents

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

 

[Husko]

The willingness to go to the net, hockey iq, and quickness/puck skill in tight space reminds me of… Briere?

 

[ckg927]

@Zman5778 he's better than Savoie in everything except skating. Saying that, his edgework is sublime, very Skinnerish. Every time I'd watch the Ice #9 would jump out and that's going back to the midpoint of last season.

People argued with me earlier this year when I said that Benson was the best player on that team

And except for Bedard, no draft-eligible player scored more points than Benson did last season.

 

[Chainshot]

Another bit from BB -

Realistically, the scoring rates off the rush, and the skating are the only average to slightly above average traits he possesses. The rest is not only there but it’s there in spades. He’s an elite competitor who is one of the smartest players in this class. He might not end up on a highlight reel at the same rate as some of these other remarkable prospects, he also might be more injury prone given how he plays and how small he is. Very tricky to rank.

In a lot of viewing, I would be comfortable calling him the best PKer in the WHL this past season.

 

[old kummelweck]

Biron, Duff, and Baker live stream:

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

 

[Dominance]

Sabres strong-arming me into jumping on the bandwagon by pretty much taking all my favourite guys from 2019-on.

Might have to embrace it and stop just lurking. My take on Benson:

Sabres just won the draft. Benson is the smartest player in this class, true 100+ point potential, and is now going to play with a linemate he has incredible chemistry with.

Between Benson-Savoie, Thompson-Tuch, and Peterka-Cozens-Quinn, who the f*** is going to be Buffalo’s first line???

 

[Kublakhan]

WTF is he’s top 5 hi end talent who dolts dudnt draft bc he’s 5 10. Don’t get angry bc Buffalo is fh smart guy in the room. I’ve seen him play in person and we got a steal - who - oh - has mad chemistry with our last top 10 pick

This writing style looks familiar

 

[joshjull]

 

[Gabrielor]

Sabres strong-arming me into jumping on the bandwagon by pretty much taking all my favourite guys from 2019-on.

Might have to embrace it and stop just lurking. My take on Benson:

Welcome. This fanbase cares a lot. Especially on HFboards.

 

[BG82]

Matt Sàvoie is happy with this pick

 

[LetsGoBuffalo1126]

I had convinced myself to argue (again, with myself) that the choices were going to be Moore, Perreault, ASP, Barlow, etc. Initially I had really wanted Benson but as the process unfolded it seemed virtually impossible that he'd fall to 13. Once Vancouver was on the clock, I stood up and started to pace all the way until KA said Winnipeg. I may have woken up my children, but it was worth it! What a pick!