C/LW Matthew Beniers - Univ. of Michigan, NCAA (2021, 2nd, SEA)

[SannywithoutCompy]

He's got smarts, but I don't see much in the way of vision and creativity which I think will keep him as a 60-70 point two way guy. Nothing wrong with that and a very valuable player but I view him similarly to Brady Tkachuk a few years ago: will absolutely be amongst the 10 best players drafted but probably won't be top 5 in a redraft 10 years from now. Great pick for a team having a down year with just one hole in the lineup though.

 

[2 others]

Sorry if this has already been asked: Where would he go in the 2022 draft?

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Sorry if this has already been asked: Where would he go in the 2022 draft?

Too early to say frankly. Folks always fall in love with the next year's draft class, so you'll probably get responses that he wouldn't go top 10 or something like that.

I'd say Wright and Lambert have the pedigree where you can say they're ahead of Beniers. Anyone else I think we'd have to see play more hockey.

 

[thethinglonger]

Here's a second shift-by-shift we've got for him, this time from a game in February:

 

[Herby]

Larkin has quietly been one of the most inconsistent offensive players in the league. He looked like a future star as a teenager and has had a couple of nice seasons as well as a couple where he just flat out hasn't produced at a level a player of his talent should.

I don't think Beniers is capable of a near point-per season like Larkin had a couple of years ago, and I don't see him scoring 20+ and making the all-star team as a teenager next season (hopefully he doesn't have the chance) but I think it will be a more level NHL career than Larkin, not as many offensive highs and lows.

I don't think either player should be an alpha forward on an NHL team, although Larkin has been asked to be that in Detroit, he'd be much better if he were playing 2nd line behind a dominant 1C.

 

[Orca Smash]

Cant say i agree with alot of these takes on this page, I love berniers game. Reminds me alot of brayden point.

 

[Eggtimer]

Beniers to me seems less dynamic but has more tools than most in this draft ? To me someone like Johnson looks more dynamic but in the long run , I’m not sure who the better player will be. Am I off with thinking this way?

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Beniers to me seems less dynamic but has more tools than most in this draft ? To me someone like Johnson looks more dynamic but in the long run , I’m not sure who the better player will be. Am I off with thinking this way?

It's classic floor versus ceiling and how likely that prospect will come close to their ceiling.

 

[ponder]

It's classic floor versus ceiling and how likely that prospect will come close to their ceiling.

Sometimes people really underestimate ceilings though, especially when it comes to guys with minimal flash but great compete and well rounded games. Like back in the 2013 draft, I remember when the Nucks took Horvat over Nuke, tonnes of people thought it was a mistake because Horvat‘s ceiling was too low, and Nuke’s much higher. Didn’t turn out that way.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Sometimes people really underestimate ceilings though, especially when it comes to guys with minimal flash but great compete and well rounded games. Like back in the 2013 draft, I remember when the Nucks took Horvat over Nuke, tonnes of people thought it was a mistake because Horvat‘s ceiling was too low, and Nuke’s much higher. Didn’t turn out that way.

The hardest part is properly prognosticating who will reach that ceiling. It doesn't matter if a prospect's ceiling is the Sistine chapel if they will only hit the 80's basement tile drop ceiling. Not a betting man but I would wager that Beniers ends up being more impactful to his future team than Johnson, even though Johnson may outscore him occasionally

 

[Herby]

It's classic floor versus ceiling and how likely that prospect will come close to their ceiling.

A lot of it is organizational preference or in the case of this board fan preference. For me, if I am picking in the Top 5 I am swinging for the fences on the higher ceiling guy. I know I get accused of underrating Beniers by a lot of people here and on other UM boards, and I by no means think he is a bad prospect, whoever gets Matty Beniers is getting a guy who is going to play for a long time in the NHL and be a quality player, whatever his role ends up being, but for a Top 5 pick he just doesn't scream game changer for me.

In comparing these guys I think its similar to 2019 with Turcotte and Zegras. Turcotte like Beniers presented a higher floor, a higher certainty of making it, a higher compete level, there was no doubt you were getting atleast a 2nd line player who was going to give you everything he had. With Zegras there was a higher ceiling but obvious question marks about how his flashy style would translate, how good a goal-scorer he might end up, his compete level wasn't horrible but was not at the level of Turcotte.

Now I'm not saying Kent Johnson is going to do what Trevor Zegras has done in the next two years, there is a realistic chance that Johnson ends up as one of those guys who flashes crazy skill sometimes but tops out as a soft 2nd liner who doesn't make a big impact on the game. But his ceiling is really really high if he can figure it out, he does things with the puck and can make passes that scream future NHL star, but also can go long stretches where you don't know he's playing. But I'd still take the chance on the homerun rather than settling for the ground rule double, but I understand why others feel differently.

I am looking forward to seeing them in person next year.

 

[Orca Smash]

A lot of it is organizational preference or in the case of this board fan preference. For me, if I am picking in the Top 5 I am swinging for the fences on the higher ceiling guy. I know I get accused of underrating Beniers by a lot of people here and on other UM boards, and I by no means think he is a bad prospect, whoever gets Matty Beniers is getting a guy who is going to play for a long time in the NHL and be a quality player, whatever his role ends up being, but for a Top 5 pick he just doesn't scream game changer for me.

In comparing these guys I think its similar to 2019 with Turcotte and Zegras. Turcotte like Beniers presented a higher floor, a higher certainty of making it, a higher compete level, there was no doubt you were getting atleast a 2nd line player who was going to give you everything he had. With Zegras there was a higher ceiling but obvious question marks about how his flashy style would translate, how good a goal-scorer he might end up, his compete level wasn't horrible but was not at the level of Turcotte.

Now I'm not saying Kent Johnson is going to do what Trevor Zegras has done in the next two years, there is a realistic chance that Johnson ends up as one of those guys who flashes crazy skill sometimes but tops out as a soft 2nd liner who doesn't make a big impact on the game. But his ceiling is really really high if he can figure it out, he does things with the puck and can make passes that scream future NHL star, but also can go long stretches where you don't know he's playing. But I'd still take the chance on the homerun rather than settling for the ground rule double, but I understand why others feel differently.

I am looking forward to seeing them in person next year.

Dont really agree with this, i had zegras at 2 or 3 in that draft, I was insanely high on him, im sure i even said I think he will be better then turcotte in a poll thread where turcotte was the run away favorite. I however take berniers over johnson all day. I get where your going with your comment, but they are different players. I have trouble with kent johnson however, i see the potential, but I am not as high on him, i just see a lack of speed and urgency or pace of play in his game, not that his skating is bad, but just the speed at which he plays the game overall. Something that is not an issue with berniers, he makes very quick decisions to go along with his skating and non stop motor.

 

[Kalv]

A lot of it is organizational preference or in the case of this board fan preference. For me, if I am picking in the Top 5 I am swinging for the fences on the higher ceiling guy. I know I get accused of underrating Beniers by a lot of people here and on other UM boards, and I by no means think he is a bad prospect, whoever gets Matty Beniers is getting a guy who is going to play for a long time in the NHL and be a quality player, whatever his role ends up being, but for a Top 5 pick he just doesn't scream game changer for me.

In comparing these guys I think its similar to 2019 with Turcotte and Zegras. Turcotte like Beniers presented a higher floor, a higher certainty of making it, a higher compete level, there was no doubt you were getting atleast a 2nd line player who was going to give you everything he had. With Zegras there was a higher ceiling but obvious question marks about how his flashy style would translate, how good a goal-scorer he might end up, his compete level wasn't horrible but was not at the level of Turcotte.

Now I'm not saying Kent Johnson is going to do what Trevor Zegras has done in the next two years, there is a realistic chance that Johnson ends up as one of those guys who flashes crazy skill sometimes but tops out as a soft 2nd liner who doesn't make a big impact on the game. But his ceiling is really really high if he can figure it out, he does things with the puck and can make passes that scream future NHL star, but also can go long stretches where you don't know he's playing. But I'd still take the chance on the homerun rather than settling for the ground rule double, but I understand why others feel differently.

I am looking forward to seeing them in person next year.

I get the will to naturally compare the recent situations, but I don't think they are all that same. First off, Beniers is bigger than Turcotte, and further ahead in being a pro by already proving to play in the NCAA (and performing better than Turcotte D+1 year), WJC and heck, now even in the Worlds. Arguably, Turcotte showed more skill in the USHL, tho.
Johnson has offensive ability no doubt he is a skilled player, but he is not the breathtaking guy that Zegras were at that time.

But they play on the same team like Z and T

 

[JoemAvs]

His situation reminds me a lot of Kotkaniemi (or maybe Hayton is a better comparable?)...

He probably will go way higher than he should because its a pretty bad forward (and especially center) draft..

Still should become a pretty good NHL player but I feel for the kid a bit considering how many fans on here already project there hopes onto him and project him to turn into something that he most likely won't be able to achieve just because he will go higher in the draft than he should..

But maybe he will beat my expectations and positively surprise me. I will be rooting for him.

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

Everything I read about Beniers screams Trockeck. I don't know if VT is a floor or a ceiling.

 

[lawrence]

Johnson is a Nylander
Beniers is a Horvat

both will be effective in their own right and I do think they will at least full fill what they were labeled as going forward.

 

[Random Comment]

He's got smarts, but I don't see much in the way of vision and creativity which I think will keep him as a 60-70 point two way guy. Nothing wrong with that and a very valuable player but I view him similarly to Brady Tkachuk a few years ago: will absolutely be amongst the 10 best players drafted but probably won't be top 5 in a redraft 10 years from now. Great pick for a team having a down year with just one hole in the lineup though.

Brady Tkachuk is 21 y/o and about to be captain of an NHL franchise, and one of the top power forwards in the entire league. If that’s what Beniers is projected at, every single GM would take him 1st overall in this draft. How would Tkachuk not go top 5 in his own redraft? There are arguments to have him redrafted at 1OA lol.

 

[Herby]

I get the will to naturally compare the recent situations, but I don't think they are all that same. First off, Beniers is bigger than Turcotte, and further ahead in being a pro by already proving to play in the NCAA (and performing better than Turcotte D+1 year), WJC and heck, now even in the Worlds. Arguably, Turcotte showed more skill in the USHL, tho.
Johnson has offensive ability no doubt he is a skilled player, but he is not the breathtaking guy that Zegras were at that time.

But they play on the same team like Z and T

I wasn't comparing them as players at the micro-level, just that both were high compete, pretty high skilled players who presented a very high floor + intangibles but maybe not the potential offensive ceiling of some others in their draft.

Beniers and KJ having similar statistics in their draft years doesn't mean a ton, even on the same team, Turcotte had better statistics than Zegras in their draft years on the same team. People talk about big guys needing to fill out, but sometimes for the creative vision guys they need the game to slow down for them, that has really happened with Zegras in the two years since the draft and the results speak for themselves. I could see the same thing happening with KJ the next couple of years. Maybe expecting the same type of offensive explosion is a bit of a reach for KJ, but it's not totally out of the question. He made some of those "TV passes" as I like to call them this year, where you can see a passing lane or a play develop on TV but 95% of players just don't have the vision to see at the ice level. If you watch TZ play he makes a ton of those also, so does Tim Stutzle, it's something you can't teach. The big concern with KJ is the compete level, he could overcome it and be a star or it could make him into an un-impactful PP specialist type guy, even as a guy intrigued by KJ's skill I acknowledge that result is a distinct possibility.

I totally understand why people prefer Beniers, and for a team like Ottawa or Anaheim who already have locked in future 1C's adding a guy like Beniers to be a championship caliber 2C is a very appealing thing. I just don't think a team is winning a SC with Matty Beniers as the 1C, unless he was surrounded by Vegas type wingers.

 

[Kalv]

I wasn't comparing them as players at the micro-level, just that both were high compete, pretty high skilled players who presented a very high floor + intangibles but maybe not the potential offensive ceiling of some others in their draft.

Beniers and KJ having similar statistics in their draft years doesn't mean a ton, even on the same team, Turcotte had better statistics than Zegras in their draft years on the same team. People talk about big guys needing to fill out, but sometimes for the creative vision guys they need the game to slow down for them, that has really happened with Zegras in the two years since the draft and the results speak for themselves. I could see the same thing happening with KJ the next couple of years. Maybe expecting the same type of offensive explosion is a bit of a reach for KJ, but it's not totally out of the question. He made some of those "TV passes" as I like to call them this year, where you can see a passing lane or a play develop on TV but 95% of players just don't have the vision to see at the ice level. If you watch TZ play he makes a ton of those also, so does Tim Stutzle, it's something you can't teach. The big concern with KJ is the compete level, he could overcome it and be a star or it could make him into an un-impactful PP specialist type guy, even as a guy intrigued by KJ's skill I acknowledge that result is a distinct possibility.

I totally understand why people prefer Beniers, and for a team like Ottawa or Anaheim who already have locked in future 1C's adding a guy like Beniers to be a championship caliber 2C is a very appealing thing. I just don't think a team is winning a SC with Matty Beniers as the 1C, unless he was surrounded by Vegas type wingers.

That does make more sense.
And yes, I don't see Beniers as a prototypical 1C as well. More like a good 2C. To me he's a less mean Kesler type of a player.
He us a very useful player but not necessarily one who would take games over offensively
That being said I would really want him on the Ducks.

 

[Herby]

That does make more sense.
And yes, I don't see Beniers as a prototypical 1C as well. More like a good 2C. To me he's a less mean Kesler type of a player.
He us a very useful player but not necessarily one who would take games over offensively
That being said I would really want him on the Ducks.

I agree on the last part. If the Ducks get Beniers they are completely set down the middle for the next decade plus. But not every team has a 20 year old future 1C already in house, quite the luxury.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

For anyone who watches soccer, I think what Beniers does is really similar to what excellent box-to-box midfielders like Joshua Kimmich or Fernandinho do for their respective teams.

There are a lot of folks asking whether he does anything "elite" or whether he has 1C upside, etc. Personally, I would say that Matt Beniers is as good as any center prospect I've seen in two very simple categories: helping his team win the puck back, and helping his team progress the puck forward.

Beniers is really excellent in helping his team win the puck back anywhere on the ice. In the offensive zone, it's his relentless forechecking, excellent work along the boards, and just a general tenacity to hound defensemen in possession. In the neutral zone, it's great positioning to clog lanes and an active stick to break up passes. In his own zone same thing, he closes passing lanes really effectively, he snuffs guys out on the boards, he's vocal in calling out assignments, he's very good on faceoffs (WJC aside). He's just a nightmare for opposition when they possess the puck.

As far as progressing the puck forward, I think Beniers benefits from a combination of excellent four-way skating, tenacious forechecking, and simple, consistent decision-making.

After winning the puck back in the neutral zone or high d-zone, Beniers has gotten a lot better this year at knowing when to simply recycle the puck back to his defensemen for a line change and controlled entry and when to push the transition offense. When he does lead transitions, that's where his skating really shines. He's very intelligent about knowing when to bomb in north-south when defenders are on their heels and when to sort of carve his way in east-west when the opposition is in a better defensive shape. While he can sort of do it all himself, he really benefits from a smart, skilled left-winger who can serve as an outlet if the opposition defenders cheat in on him (Kent Johnson at Michigan, Matt Boldy at the WJC). On the dump-and-chase, it's pretty simple- he's fast, strong, and savvy at winning board battles. He wins these more often than not, and I think that's going to continue to translate up to higher levels.

With all that considered, it's no surprise Beniers tops the charts in several advanced metrics which try to quantify transitions and general pace of play.

Does he have elite offensive tools?

I mean, no, not really. But he has very good offensive tools, and he has elite puck-winning and transition tools that allow teams to get the most out of the players around him.

Does he have high hockey iq?

Really depends how you define the most vague term in the hockey dictionary. He certainly isn't picking out eye-catching, high danger passes like Mitch Marner. I think he needs to get more comfortable slowing the game down in controlled, offensive zone possessions. But I think he's incredibly intelligent when it comes to dictating the pace of transition, knowing when to bomb forward and when to recycle the puck back to his defenseman, and marshalling defensive shape in 5 on 5 defense and penalty kills. I don't think it's a coincidence that Beniers earns major responsibility very quickly on whichever team he plays for, and I'm confident that will continue into his NHL career.

Can't you get players like this in the later rounds?

You can, but you probably won't. Frankly, I'd rather hunt for untapped goal-scoring wingers in the later rounds than two-way centers who push play as well as Beniers does.

Will he produce enough points to justify a top 5/3/1 pick?

If you're drafting Beniers to be the primary point-generating player on your team I think you're completely misevaluating the player. I think he does enough things well where he can get you ~60 points in his prime years, even north of that on that right team. But for all the reasons I mentioned above, I think Beniers is a player you draft to get the most out of your point-generating wingers and defensemen.

How good will he be?

Depends where he goes I think. In a nonsense organization like Buffalo who've proven countless times that they don't know how to properly develop and deploy their players he probably won't look like a top 5 pick. But if he goes to a team like the Ducks and he's allowed to be the water-carrier for a team with skilled point-generators like Zegras and Drysdale then I think he'll look excellent.

Ultimately I think the value of this player is very, very high. If you put him in a position to win the puck back and move it forward so the skilled players around him can generate offense, I think you'll be totally content with drafting Matt Beniers.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

For anyone who watches soccer, I think what Beniers does is really similar to what excellent box-to-box midfielders like Joshua Kimmich or Fernandinho do for their respective teams.

There are a lot of folks asking whether he does anything "elite" or whether he has 1C upside, etc. Personally, I would say that Matt Beniers is as good as any center prospect I've seen in two very simple categories: helping his team win the puck back, and helping his team progress the puck forward.

Beniers is really excellent in helping his team win the puck back anywhere on the ice. In the offensive zone, it's his relentless forechecking, excellent work along the boards, and just a general tenacity to hound defensemen in possession. In the neutral zone, it's great positioning to clog lanes and an active stick to break up passes. In his own zone same thing, he closes passing lanes really effectively, he snuffs guys out on the boards, he's vocal in calling out assignments, he's very good on faceoffs (WJC aside). He's just a nightmare for opposition when they possess the puck.

As far as progressing the puck forward, I think Beniers benefits from a combination of excellent four-way skating, tenacious forechecking, and simple, consistent decision-making.

After winning the puck back in the neutral zone or high d-zone, Beniers has gotten a lot better this year at knowing when to simply recycle the puck back to his defensemen for a line change or controlled entry and when to push the transition offense. When he does lead transitions, that's where his skating really shines. He's very intelligent about knowing when to bomb in north-south when defenders are on their heels and when to sort of carve his way in east-west when the opposition is in a better defensive shape. While he can sort of do it all himself, he really benefits from a smart, skilled left-winger who can serve as an outlet if the opposition defenders cheat in on him (Kent Johnson at Michigan, Matt Boldy at the WJC). On the dump-and-chase, it's pretty simple- he's fast, strong, and savvy at winning board battles. He wins these more often than not, and I think that's going to continue to translate up to higher levels.

With all that considered, it's no surprise Beniers tops the charts in several advanced metrics which try to quantify transitions and general pace of play.

Does he have elite offensive tools?

I mean, no, not really. But he has very good offensive tools, and he has elite puck-winning and transition tools that allow teams to get the most out of the players around him.

Does he have high hockey iq?

Really depends how define the most vague term in the hockey dictionary. He certainly isn't picking out eye-catching, high danger passes like Mitch Marner. I think he needs to get more comfortable slowing the game down in controlled, offensive zone possessions. But I think he's incredibly intelligent when it comes to dictating the pace of transition, knowing when to bomb forward and when to recycle the puck back to his defenseman, and marshalling defensive shape in 5 on 5 defense and penalty kills. I don't think it's a coincidence that Beniers earns major responsibility very quickly on whichever team he plays for, and I'm confident that will continue into his NHL career.

Can't you get players like this in the later rounds?

You can, but you probably won't. Frankly, I'd rather hunt for untapped goal-scoring wingers in the later rounds than two-way centers who push play as well as Beniers does.

Will he produce enough points to justify a top 5/3/1 pick?

If you're drafting Beniers to be the primary point-generating player on your team I think you're completely misevaluating the player. I think he does enough things well where he can get you ~60 points in his prime years, even north of that on that right team. But for all the reasons I mentioned above, I think Beniers is a player you draft to get the most out of your point-generating wingers and defensemen.

How good will he be?

Depends where he goes I think. In a nonsense organization like Buffalo who've proven countless times that they don't know how to properly develop and deploy their players he probably won't look like a top 5 pick. But if he goes to a team like the Ducks and he's allowed to be the water-carrier in a team with skilled point-generators like Zegras and Drysdale then I think he'll look excellent.

Ultimately I think the value of this player is very, very high. If you put him in a position to win the puck back and move it forward so the skilled players around him can generate offense, I think you'll be totally content with drafting Matt Beniers.

From your write up here I would love to have him on a line with Bjorkstrand or Laine. With hopefully Jones and Werenski as his defenseman on the points.

 

[57special]

When I started watching Mich hockey this year to see the twin wunderkinds( at that time) of Powers and Johnson, and to a lesser extent, check in on guys like York and Brisson, the guy who stuck out to me was Beniers. Powers got more comfortable as the season went on, and I get people having him as a #1 OA ( not really, I' m just being polite), and Johnson has some really cool skills, but I would still take Beniers over them in a flash. Keep in mind that my team needs C's above all- it might be different if they needed Dmen , or just a skilled offensive forward.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

For anyone who watches soccer, I think what Beniers does is really similar to what excellent box-to-box midfielders like Joshua Kimmich or Fernandinho do for their respective teams.

There are a lot of folks asking whether he does anything "elite" or whether he has 1C upside, etc. Personally, I would say that Matt Beniers is as good as any center prospect I've seen in two very simple categories: helping his team win the puck back, and helping his team progress the puck forward.

Beniers is really excellent in helping his team win the puck back anywhere on the ice. In the offensive zone, it's his relentless forechecking, excellent work along the boards, and just a general tenacity to hound defensemen in possession. In the neutral zone, it's great positioning to clog lanes and an active stick to break up passes. In his own zone same thing, he closes passing lanes really effectively, he snuffs guys out on the boards, he's vocal in calling out assignments, he's very good on faceoffs (WJC aside). He's just a nightmare for opposition when they possess the puck.

As far as progressing the puck forward, I think Beniers benefits from a combination of excellent four-way skating, tenacious forechecking, and simple, consistent decision-making.

After winning the puck back in the neutral zone or high d-zone, Beniers has gotten a lot better this year at knowing when to simply recycle the puck back to his defensemen for a line change and controlled entry and when to push the transition offense. When he does lead transitions, that's where his skating really shines. He's very intelligent about knowing when to bomb in north-south when defenders are on their heels and when to sort of carve his way in east-west when the opposition is in a better defensive shape. While he can sort of do it all himself, he really benefits from a smart, skilled left-winger who can serve as an outlet if the opposition defenders cheat in on him (Kent Johnson at Michigan, Matt Boldy at the WJC). On the dump-and-chase, it's pretty simple- he's fast, strong, and savvy at winning board battles. He wins these more often than not, and I think that's going to continue to translate up to higher levels.

With all that considered, it's no surprise Beniers tops the charts in several advanced metrics which try to quantify transitions and general pace of play.

Does he have elite offensive tools?

I mean, no, not really. But he has very good offensive tools, and he has elite puck-winning and transition tools that allow teams to get the most out of the players around him.

Does he have high hockey iq?

Really depends how you define the most vague term in the hockey dictionary. He certainly isn't picking out eye-catching, high danger passes like Mitch Marner. I think he needs to get more comfortable slowing the game down in controlled, offensive zone possessions. But I think he's incredibly intelligent when it comes to dictating the pace of transition, knowing when to bomb forward and when to recycle the puck back to his defenseman, and marshalling defensive shape in 5 on 5 defense and penalty kills. I don't think it's a coincidence that Beniers earns major responsibility very quickly on whichever team he plays for, and I'm confident that will continue into his NHL career.

Can't you get players like this in the later rounds?

You can, but you probably won't. Frankly, I'd rather hunt for untapped goal-scoring wingers in the later rounds than two-way centers who push play as well as Beniers does.

Will he produce enough points to justify a top 5/3/1 pick?

If you're drafting Beniers to be the primary point-generating player on your team I think you're completely misevaluating the player. I think he does enough things well where he can get you ~60 points in his prime years, even north of that on that right team. But for all the reasons I mentioned above, I think Beniers is a player you draft to get the most out of your point-generating wingers and defensemen.

How good will he be?

Depends where he goes I think. In a nonsense organization like Buffalo who've proven countless times that they don't know how to properly develop and deploy their players he probably won't look like a top 5 pick. But if he goes to a team like the Ducks and he's allowed to be the water-carrier for a team with skilled point-generators like Zegras and Drysdale then I think he'll look excellent.

Ultimately I think the value of this player is very, very high. If you put him in a position to win the puck back and move it forward so the skilled players around him can generate offense, I think you'll be totally content with drafting Matt Beniers.

That is the highest praise I award for a post. I think that sums up why Beniers will be such an important player for whatever team he's on.

 

[Hisch13r]

What ive read about him from HFB posters; he looks so good, reminds of him and him.
- is he actually good, or just looks good?, i assume he ranks really high at advanced/analytics stats?
which i couldn't care less of. - and the biggest reason why he is ranked so high?
because analytics, advances stats say he is really really really good

I have to admit,, i have not seen him much, only IIHF tournaments, so i can't say pretty much nothing about him
but still, i have no idea at all, why some are thinking he goes 1st overall.... also, why was he selected to the worlds????
didn't you learn from Jack Hughes experiment??? - dude is gonna get buried, hammered, at the worlds, my opinion

You can find good/great 2nd line two-way centers in 2-7 rounds, why use your 1st, your 1st overall pick, for someone like Beniers??

Maybe he proves me wrong.

Wouldn't be a Leafer post without him randomly dragging Hughes. Obsessed