Player Discussion Tyler Benson

[replacement]

He can't play tonight?

Likely won't play because they're getting to Edmonton in the afternoon. Will only draw in if there's an additional injury or illness.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I like this comp a lot, because I think these players have the same challenges. For Cleary it wasn't so much on the ice, it was his overall maturity that really evolved him in to somebody that could really be a toolsy, hard checking, smart player with a little skill in the NHL.

Both grew up as highly touted offensive guys, but neither really have any standout offensive elements to their games at the pro level. For Cleary, finding his role, finding ways to produce that were more based on consistent effort and consistent focus was what made him extremely valuable as a guy who could work all over the line-up. Benson is kind of in that mould. I kind of see it as the opposite of Yamamoto's situation, in that Yamamoto's challenge has been to bring skill in to an already solid work rate.

Too bad he can't play tonight. But imagine what it must feel like for an Edmonton kid to jump right in to the BoA? Big stage, big moment, can't wait to see it!

Benson's best attributes are his passing, hockey IQ and grit. IMO he could be anywhere from a 3rd line guy like a Cody Eakin to a complimentary 1st liner alongside Connor. His passing should work well with Connor.

 

[OiledUp]

Likely won't play because they're getting to Edmonton in the afternoon. Will only draw in if there's an additional injury or illness.

They took the scenic route to make sure he would be overripe on arrival.

 

[oobga]

Benson's best attributes are his passing, hockey IQ and grit. IMO he could be anywhere from a 3rd line guy like a Cody Eakin to a complimentary 1st liner alongside Connor. His passing should work well with Connor.

What a shame that Benson couldn't make it to the team on time now that Neal is out.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

I’m curious to get a look at Kyrou tonight. He’s a guy I’ve hoped might shake loose from the Blues.

 

[Aerrol]

Neal's got a foot injury apparently - do we see Benson in next game? I hope so.

 

[3IR]

Remenda and Quinn tonight said they expected Benson to dress tonight if he arrived on time, but didn't tippett say he wanted to give him a couple practices first?

Either way, I can't imagine him drawing in against Cgy since we won this game and it seems to be forbidden among oldschool coaches to change the lineup despite khaira being his usual self

 

[noeticfuzz]

Neal's got a foot injury apparently - do we see Benson in next game? I hope so.

I think he was dealing with it for a while.

Does anyone know if Benson is tough? Does he have some sand paper to his game?

 

[Del Preston]

Remenda and Quinn tonight said they expected Benson to dress tonight if he arrived on time, but didn't tippett say he wanted to give him a couple practices first?

I think that was speculation by Lowetide. Tippett said Benson and Lagesson were out tonight because they didn't get to the city until the afternoon.

Khaira and Russell only got two 5-on-5 shifts in the third tonight and gave up a goal on one of them.

 

[ImmuneEH]

I think he was dealing with it for a while.

Does anyone know if Benson is tough? Does he have some sand paper to his game?

Absolutely.

 

[Barrsy]

@McCanovin covers a lot of what i would have said as well.

Gagner had a great game against Calgary. Very inspiring. Cant remember the last game where Gagner looked so good.

Having said that Gagner through the majority of his career is not a player i would use as a benchmark for any prospect. Gagner is streaky and has rarely/if ever outscored the defiecencies in his game.

Benson as mentioned is a higher iq playmaker. Gagner a higher offensive dangler.

Both being slower is the only similarity. Benson has the potential to have a much better career imo, even if he scores less in points.

Edit: i dont think we will see him in a top 6 role. However the more i think about it the more i like a line of Benson, McDavid, and Kassian. Both linemates compliment his strengths and help negate his weaknesses.

I don't believe you have any sense at all as to how good a player Benson has to become to be as good an NHL'r as Gagner was/is. And to just throw it out there that Benson has higher hockey IQ is laughable. I doubt you have ever seen him play pro hockey,

 

[Barrsy]

I think he was dealing with it for a while.

Does anyone know if Benson is tough? Does he have some sand paper to his game?

A bit. Not a ton. Probably similar to Strome. Maybe a bit more.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

I'm not holding much hope Benson is anything more than Anton Lander.

But I hope I'm wrong, like I was about KY.

 

[Barrsy]

I'm not holding much hope Benson is anything more than Anton Lander.

But I hope I'm wrong, like I was about KY.

Im hoping he can be an effective 3rd liner. Which is pretty good & useful. Anything more than that he and the Oilers hit it out of the park.
Frankly, I think there are ridiculous expectations for this kid. If he was from anywhere but Edmonton , where he was a very good minor hockey player (btw there were around 4 or 5 kids who were just as good) the expectations/hope would be far more realistic and sane.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Im hoping he can be an effective 3rd liner. Which is pretty good & useful. Anything more than that he and the Oilers hit it out of the park.
Frankly, I think there are ridiculous expectations for this kid. If he was from anywhere but Edmonton , where he was a very good minor hockey player (btw there were around 4 or 5 kids who were just as good) the expectations/hope would be far more realistic and sane.

I think it was that he always seemed to find a way to excel at that next level.

Since his first year in junior, this year was his first statistical regression... but not many of the AHL leading scorers are PPG, and he's near the top of that league.

It's one of the key reasons everyone is excited about him. He seems to have a knack of figuring out the next level.

 

[Paralyzer]

You guys keep forgetting, before his first key injury, and before he played his first junior game, he was touted as the next 1st Overall in the NHL due largely to his numbers in AAA (200+ points in 60 some games I think?). This is a guy that could do everything on the ice before even going to junior. Then the injuries happened and that was a chore in itself for him to get back to the way he was playing. I know some players when they got injured were never the same again, but Benson pushed and pushed and now hes got his NHL shot. I really feel he will surprise everyone here.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

You guys keep forgetting, before his first key injury, and before he played his first junior game, he was touted as the next 1st Overall in the NHL due largely to his numbers in AAA (200+ points in 60 some games I think?). This is a guy that could do everything on the ice before even going to junior. Then the injuries happened and that was a chore in itself for him to get back to the way he was playing. I know some players when they got injured were never the same again, but Benson pushed and pushed and now hes got his NHL shot. I really feel he will surprise everyone here.

At this point if he could become a 20 goal scorer it would be a huge win. I think it's possible.

 

[Barrsy]

At this point if he could become a 20 goal scorer it would be a huge win. I think it's possible.

Massive win.

 

[Barrsy]

You guys keep forgetting, before his first key injury, and before he played his first junior game, he was touted as the next 1st Overall in the NHL due largely to his numbers in AAA (200+ points in 60 some games I think?). This is a guy that could do everything on the ice before even going to junior. Then the injuries happened and that was a chore in itself for him to get back to the way he was playing. I know some players when they got injured were never the same again, but Benson pushed and pushed and now hes got his NHL shot. I really feel he will surprise everyone here.

There were about a half dozen guys in Bantam AAA who were his equal. He was on an Uber stacked team and they played the shit out of him to get his points. Steamrolled teams all the time. And his skating was always average( it’s just that he was a lot bigger than most and matured quicker that made him look pretty fast). And average as a skater starts getting slower as you move up the food chain. Skating/quickness is by far his biggest issue in his game
He’s got pretty good skill, a very good noggin and competes. He has a pretty decent chance to be a fairly decent NHL’r. Which would be great.

 

[Aerchon]

I don't believe you have any sense at all as to how good a player Benson has to become to be as good an NHL'r as Gagner was/is. And to just throw it out there that Benson has higher hockey IQ is laughable. I doubt you have ever seen him play pro hockey,

Sam Gagner IS a borderline nhl player who has been healthy scratched or sent to the minors since 2015 at age 26. Typically when a forward hits his prime. In his last two years he has almost as many ahl games played as nhl.

He is 13th forward at best on a cup contending team.

You should trust your eyes more and your nose less when it comes to Sam Gagner and his effectiveness at the nhl level.

He is only 30 and closer to washing out of the league than being an nhl regular.

The brutal truth is Gagner at his best was a suspect nhler. Great offensive instincts, great danger, no defensive IQ, and well below average skating.

To each their own but I find it ridiculous that you think Gagner currently is anything of note/value when he can't even keep his spot on this teams roster.

Kharia is a more valuable nhler right now than Samwize by the way the organization have used them.

As for Benson I've watched him a few times in junior and camps but not recently at the ahl level. My point is Gagner sets a low bar for a young player that is reportedly doing very well at the ahl level and a good playmaker.

 

[jeffff]

The brutal truth is Gagner at his best was a suspect nhler. Great offensive instincts, great danger, no defensive IQ, and well below average skating.

C'mon man, he's played 826 NHL games. In his first 6 seasons with Edmonton he had 295 pts in 481 games (.61 PPG)

He's not the player he once was but as you said he's getting older. He can still contribute and he's played a 1000 times better that Khaira in the last 2 games.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

There were about a half dozen guys in Bantam AAA who were his equal. He was on an Uber stacked team and they played the **** out of him to get his points. Steamrolled teams all the time. And his skating was always average( it’s just that he was a lot bigger than most and matured quicker that made him look pretty fast). And average as a skater starts getting slower as you move up the food chain. Skating/quickness is by far his biggest issue in his game
He’s got pretty good skill, a very good noggin and competes. He has a pretty decent chance to be a fairly decent NHL’r. Which would be great.

you play the shit out of your best player?
shocking!

 

[Oil Dood]

you play the **** out of your best player?
shocking!

Must explain all the points McD and Drai get as well. If a player cannot put up top points playing minimum time he must be a bust.

 

[Aerchon]

C'mon man, he's played 826 NHL games. In his first 6 seasons with Edmonton he had 295 pts in 481 games (.61 PPG)

He's not the player he once was but as you said he's getting older. He can still contribute and he's played a 1000 times better that Khaira in the last 2 games.

He has played great the last two games. Said as much earlier.

Kharia hasn't recently.

Play Gagner while he is on a hot streak, we all know how streaky he is, but be ready to send him back to the ahl.

Gagner is what he is, imo as he always has been, a fringe nhler. Putting up points is needed obviously but over a full season Gagner is typically more bad than good.

Ive heard he gives 110% and is a great teammate, we know he can put up points... Why does he keep getting scratched and sent to the minors? Because points dont mean much if you simply cant play the game at the nhl level with any consistency.

Gagner two best seasons were his rookie year and in Columbus where he was heavily sheltered and used as a PP specialist.

 

[Barrsy]

Sam Gagner IS a borderline nhl player who has been healthy scratched or sent to the minors since 2015 at age 26. Typically when a forward hits his prime. In his last two years he has almost as many ahl games played as nhl.

He is 13th forward at best on a cup contending team.

You should trust your eyes more and your nose less when it comes to Sam Gagner and his effectiveness at the nhl level.

He is only 30 and closer to washing out of the league than being an nhl regular.

The brutal truth is Gagner at his best was a suspect nhler. Great offensive instincts, great danger, no defensive IQ, and well below average skating.

To each their own but I find it ridiculous that you think Gagner currently is anything of note/value when he can't even keep his spot on this teams roster.

Kharia is a more valuable nhler right now than Samwize by the way the organization have used them.

As for Benson I've watched him a few times in junior and camps but not recently at the ahl level. My point is Gagner sets a low bar for a young player that is reportedly doing very well at the ahl level and a good playmaker.

I'm not talking of the Gagner of today. I am talking about when he was a decent NHL'r. And again, to suggest at this stage that Bensons hockey IQ is higher than Gagners is frankly, ridiculous.