“Similarities? Well I look at, good looking, lots of hair and a British Columbia boy,” Gare said with a laugh. “No, he’s a feisty kid, protects the puck well, very smart, the hockey IQ is high. I like him. He’s got good upside and he’s not afraid to get his nose dirty.
These days, you don’t see a lot of players compared to those from the ’70s and ’80s. The game has changed in a lot of ways. But Benson is a throwback because of the way he competes at his size. He wins 50-50 battles against much bigger players, always finds his way to the front of the net and isn’t afraid to mix it up after the whistle.
“I take pride in that,” Benson said. “I’ve been like that since I was a young, young guy. I’ve always loved getting in the middle of things and just being a s— disturber. I’ve loved it since I was young. I would say it’s more natural than anything.”
