In this case, Buffalo's 1st round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft.
It's Zach Benson, who plays for Winnipeg of the WHL.
He's not the biggest player, but he's willing to go into high traffic areas and handle the puck in tight quarters.
In this case, Buffalo's 1st round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft.
It's Zach Benson, who plays for Winnipeg of the WHL.
He's not the biggest player, but he's willing to go into high traffic areas and handle the puck in tight quarters.
John Hemingway(facing certain death): I want to see Buffalo win the Super Bowl.
David Coltrane(threatening John): Nobody's going to live that long, pal.
-The John Larroquette Show, "A Dark and Stormy Night", 4/12/94
#7 prospect according to this site...https://canucksarmy.com/news/2023-nh...edard-and-more
Was he really rated that high, and if so why did he drop? Only 159 lbs?
YardRat Wall of Fame
#56 DARRYL TALLEY #29 DERRICK BURROUGHS#22 FRED JACKSON #95 KYLE WILLIAMS
YardRat (06-28-2023)
WNY food will beef him up.
OpIv37 (06-28-2023)
Danny Brie're 5' 9" 174 lbs.
WR Coleman DB Bishop DT Carter RB Davis C Granger
LB Ulofoshio DE Solomon OT Grable CB Hardy OT Clayton
sukie (06-29-2023)
- Pick Grade: A+
Scouting Report:
Benson stood out last season in the WHL by holding pace with the Ice's other top players; among them were Matthew Savoie (drafted ninth overall in 2022) and Connor Geekie (11th).
The 5'10", 159-pound winger managed to do even better this season as Winnipeg's best player, leading the team with 98 points in 60 games. Benson drives possession in a number of different scenarios. He's at his best when he's pushing the pace. With his combination of straight-line velocity and ability to change directions expeditiously, Benson is able to create and attack open ice.
sukie (06-29-2023)
I've had some time to marinate on this.
Long story short, I'm in love with this pick. There were other guys I wanted more (and with the he sabres timeline and the willingness from KA to move up, I was super bummed they didn't to get Michkov) but at the end of the day, Benson was a name I had high on my list and I didn't expect him to fall to 13.
Here's something that really REALLY hit me. A Twitter personality who specializes in NHL draft prospect scouting for content said this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/sabres/comm...t=share_button
Brown says that Benson is the best playmaker he has EVER tracked not named McDavid.
Even if he doesn't reach that height, his floor is second line winger, and that's great value at 13.
And when talking about draft slot value, heres some food for thought. On a sabres podcast this year, in maybe like February or March, they were talking about Mittlestadt being the 17 8th overall pick. They were saying how people believe CM was poor value for the 8th pick. They listed off the last 20 years 8th overall picks and when it all shook out, Mittlestadt may have been the 5-8th best 8th OA pick in that time period.
In short, Benson projects to be a MASSIVE value for that draft slot, deep draft or not.
Last edited by JATMtheJATM; 06-29-2023 at 08:23 AM.
The 159 is glaring however. If he was shorter we would be talking about him racing in the 3rd at Belmont.
Tyler Ennis/Briere size in this modern day hockey where hitting/enforcers arent as much of a problem shouldnt be that big of an issue honestly
Not here to be right, just here to have interesting discussions about my impulsive opinions
He's just 6 or 7 garbage plates away from 175+
OpIv37 (06-29-2023)
Also don’t forget he’s only 18. I’m 5’9”, maybe 5’10” on a good day. In my mid-late 20’s, I got into weightlifting a little and added probably about 25-30 lbs of muscle in less than a year. And that was just working out with my brother while I had a desk job. His job is to stay in shape and he has pro hockey trainers and nutritionists to help him do it.
It’s not unrealistic to think he could end up around 180 without losing any speed. That’s still not huge by NHL standards, but plenty of smaller guys are successful in the league
Was Savoie's linemate for 2 seasons.
swiper (07-03-2023)
Here's another interesting fact: Except for some guy named Connor Bedard.... :) ....no one scored more points in all of Canadian junior hockey last season.
swiper (07-03-2023)
And now, the rest of the 2023 draft class...
Round 2:
-C Anton Wahlberg(Malmo-SWE). I'll resist the temptation to make any Marky Mark puns and simply note that he had 6 points at the '23 WJC's to help pace the Swedes to a silver medal. (That pick was acquired from the Flyers.)
-D Maxim Strbak(Sioux Falls-USHL): 5-13=18 in 46 games for the Stampede and also was Slovakia's team captain at the WJC, racking up 6 points. He's heading to Michigan State. (No doubt, JATM can keep us apprised on how he's doing.)
Round 3: D Gavin McCarthy(Muskegon-USHL): Quentin Musty was the local product who was more well-known, BUT Gavin's a local guy too. He had 27 points for the Lumberjacks last season and noticed 4 goals on the PP. He's committed to Boston U.
Round 4: LW Ethan Miedema(Kingston-OHL): Overall, between Windsor and the Frontenacs, Ethan noticed 52 points and 32 assists.
Round 5: G Scott Ratzlaff(Seattle-WHL): He backstopped the Thunderbirds to a WHL title this season, notched 5 shutouts and a 2.15 GAA. (Seattle MIGHT be on my radar for a roadie next season...and yes, that includes watching the T-Birds and Everett Silvertips as well as the Kraken.)
Round 6: D Sean Keohane(Dexter Southfield School-MA): 4 goals and 12 assists this season for the team while serving as its captain. Committed to Harvard.
Round 7: D Norwin Panocha(Eisbaren Berlin DEL U-20; GER): 22 points in 34 games and added 5 points in 8 playoff games. He'll be moving up to the main squad for next season.
YardRat (06-29-2023)
Some comps I see when talking about Benson:
Barzel/Marner with better defense.