Sabre the Win
Joke of a Franchise
- Jun 27, 2013
- 12,902
- 5,522
Prospect Info: Zach Benson, LW/C, Wenatchee (WHL), Signed ELC- 2023, 13th Overall
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Satanphonehome
Registered User
- Jan 4, 2015
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- 1,673
As he approaches the end of his rookie season, I went to eliteprospects to check comparables for Zach's rookie year
There have only been 83 U19 players to play in the NHL this century. Depending on how you define it, about 40 spent the bulk of that year in the NHL. Benson sits in a tie for 24th-best production.
Among players who weren't top 10 draft picks he is tied for 3rd:
Among "small forwards" he ranks 4th
22 players in the past 24 years have put up 30 points as a U19 NHLer. 37 have put up 20.
The worst careers from that bunch are:
www.eliteprospects.com
One of the most interesting findings of this dive is how few of these guys were "ruined" by playing at 18. The most interesting finding is how likely it is that those players become studs.
There have only been 83 U19 players to play in the NHL this century. Depending on how you define it, about 40 spent the bulk of that year in the NHL. Benson sits in a tie for 24th-best production.
Among players who weren't top 10 draft picks he is tied for 3rd:
- Bergeron 39
- Sillinger 31
- Pastrnak 27
- Benson 27
- O'Reilly 26
- Sbisa 7
Among "small forwards" he ranks 4th
- Bedard 59
- Nugent-Hopkins 52
- Gagner 49
- Benson 27
- Jack Hughes 21
- Pierre-Marc Bouchard 20
- Tim Stutzle 29
- Alexander Barkov 24
- Tyler Seguin 22
22 players in the past 24 years have put up 30 points as a U19 NHLer. 37 have put up 20.
The worst careers from that bunch are:
- Gagner, who only once topped his rookie season, but still played 1,000 NHL games
- Bouchard, who peaked early with seasons of 57, 59, and 63 points then fell off the radar
- Alex Galchenyuk who roughly echoed Bouchard's career
- And Sillinger, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Kappo Kakko, who are still young and finding their games
Elite Prospects - NHL Stats All-time season
All-time/historical regular season stats and leaders per season for NHL, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more.
www.eliteprospects.com
One of the most interesting findings of this dive is how few of these guys were "ruined" by playing at 18. The most interesting finding is how likely it is that those players become studs.
The Blunder Years
Registered User
His off the puck and forechecking abilities are what has impressed me the most. He is a puck magnet.
Misko
Registered User
- Sep 30, 2020
- 329
- 547
I think Benson hits 30 pts by end of the season. For an 18 year old, it's pretty darn impressive and Benson has only gotten better as the season has gone on. I think he's gonna be a bonafide 1st line winger for this team for a longtime, I think he can be a point per game player within a few years too, he just plays the game the right way, so much skill and smart and compete.
OkimLom
Registered User
- May 3, 2010
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Looking at their “1st years” only, I’d say Benson had a better overall effort from game 1. Reinhart was rightfully sent down for a reason and he needed it.
I don’t think Benson has shown any dynamic aspect of his game this season, so it will be interesting to see how the two guys’ 2nd seasons compare if he’s able to carry any of that over. That’s when Reinhart really put the profile of a Top 6 NHL player together.
Beerz
Registered User
- Jun 28, 2011
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This, always on the right spot causes turnovers and has that quick twitch mind to pounce on loose pucks and get it to the open guy his vision is incredible
Misko
Registered User
- Sep 30, 2020
- 329
- 547
With his goal today, Benson officially has 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) to close out the season in 71 games. For an 18 year old player, this has by all accounts been a great, if not remarkable season for Benson especially once you take into account some of his bad luck offensively (posts, chances he has generated that were not buried by teammates, etc) and more importantly his invaluable role off the puck on both the forecheck and defensively.
For reference, his 18 year old season is better than every 1st overall forward's 18 year old season (J. Hughes, Laf and Slafkovsky) since Matthews if you don't count Bedard. It's hard to overstate how impressive Benson's season has been for an undersized 18 year old player, let alone one drafted outside of the Top 10.
I think we got a real gem of a player here.
For reference, his 18 year old season is better than every 1st overall forward's 18 year old season (J. Hughes, Laf and Slafkovsky) since Matthews if you don't count Bedard. It's hard to overstate how impressive Benson's season has been for an undersized 18 year old player, let alone one drafted outside of the Top 10.
I think we got a real gem of a player here.
Better point and points/game than Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Seguin, Evander Kane, Kirby Dach too. It was a great first year.
Ace
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2015
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I’m grading his rookie season as flat out excellent. The points are nice and will only increase…but he would have gotten that grade without it. I wish many players played the game the way he already does.
Jacob582
Registered User
- Oct 16, 2012
- 10,103
- 3,733
Benson led his draft class this season with 70 games played. Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson dealt with worse injuries.
MOGlLNY
Registered User
- Jan 5, 2008
- 12,305
- 12,548
Benson is very special. It sucks being a fan of this team but we are lucky to have this kid. A+ season for him.
Gabrielor
Registered User
let's not go overboard and give him an A+
He had a D+ year, which is really good for an 18 year old (the overwhelming majority get Fs). But he was still a below average NHLer overall
He had a D+ year, which is really good for an 18 year old (the overwhelming majority get Fs). But he was still a below average NHLer overall
MOGlLNY
Registered User
- Jan 5, 2008
- 12,305
- 12,548
Gabrielor
Registered User
Whoever this is quoting, I can't see it, and it's blissful.
Fjordy
Registered User
- Jun 20, 2018
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This is the guy who said Dahlin was bad and should be traded
and how is it a hot take to say that Benson was below average? Is 30 points what we should expect from an average NHLer? One who got plenty of time in the top 6?
MarkusKetterer
Shoulda got one game in
Dude can only legally drink in 1/3 of Canada. 30 points is a great season for an 18 year old.
