pi2000

How about we stop labelling him as player x or player y. He's bigger, more skilled, and a smarter player than Ekblad was at his age. Beniers is JT Compher 2.0 tho 🙂

Sabres doctors - rest/rehab Eichel's doctor - rest/rehab Eichels 2nd option - sURgErY LFGGGGG!!!!!

What is with all these Bergeron comparisons? Beniers NHLe (82g) is 27 points, how is that going to change the future of this franchise?

oH gReAT aNoTHeR EUro CoAch j/k @MODO Hockey I don't know anything about Gronborgen, but wow, what a head of hair on that guy! Beard is also perfection. After a long run of follically challenged head coaches (Ruff, Bylsma, Housely, Kruger, Granato).... maybe he's the answer?

That was my concern earlier in the season, but watching him play the past few months he's really taken another step. He handles pressure extremely well for an 18yo in his own end, he looks like a savvy vet with the puck on his stick. Gallant has recognized this is and is feeding him minutes in key situations against seasoned NHL veterans. He never looks rattled, in complete control at all times, just uncanny for a kids his age. For this reason I'd argue his floor is extremely high. What's his ceiling? What NHL player can he become? Terrible questions... he's the first ever Owen Power, let him write his own story. That said, he'll need to learn how to defend at the NHL level (as do all 18yo defensemen) but with his physical gifts and smarts I have no doubt he'll adapt quickly. Again, I also like Beniers, he'd be a safe pick and fills a need, but Power has those "can't teach" attributes that IMO put him ahead of Beniers as a prospect.

That's my vision for him. He's the guy you can throw out there in all key situations, PP/PK/OT, end of periods, close games, etc... and eat 25min/night.... eventually.

Beniers has all the tools, he skates really well and plays both ends. A nice well-rounded prospect. That said, there's nothing that really jumps out about him that IMO would vault him to the #1 pick. Powers combination of size, skill and smarts puts him ahead of Beniers if for no other reason than it's typically more difficult to acquire a defenseman like Power than it is to acquire a guy like Beniers. Hypothetically, Power's trade value this summer is certainly higher than Beniers, so for that reason I'm out on Beniers at #1.

You're not wrong. He's already filling that role for Team Canada at the WCs. He was on the ice the final minute of regulation and started the 3-on-3 OT session, winning player of the game for Canada. That said, he's not as physical as a Samuelsson maybe more in the mold of a Brett Burns or Shea Theodore.

Good point, but now you're talking about drafting for need... or lack of need at D. I'd argue that big, skilled, smart D is more valuable than a top 6 F... they're certainly much more difficult to acquire than a similarly skilled forward. You draft Beniers and then if you move Risto and McCabe doesn't come back, suddenly the D is looking pretty thin. I say draft BPA Power and then if you suddenly have a surplus of left shot D, throw in a guy like a Borgen or Bryson as part of some package (Reinhart?) to sweeten the return. Having Power in the cupboard opens up all kinds of possibilities and shores up a top pairing or top 4 spot for the next 15 years.

He has better skill and hockey sense than Parayko did at his age. I have him somewhere between Tyler Myers and Bobby Orr.

My source says this is fake news.

Who has a higher floor, Power or Beniers?

Agreed, was just thinking the same thing about McCabe. Doesn't matter. You don't pass on this guy. Period.

#1 pick confirmed. I watched him closely this game, and he was fantastic... in total control, drove play, silky passes on the breakouts... he's special.

That's allowed, smh.

Buffalo already has an injury prone center, don't need another... #draftpower

It was a hard hit, hockey is a violent game. Scheifele has no previous history. 1 game tops.

switch okposo for skinner and there might be something here...

Fake injury to avoid Sabres?

🤦🏻‍♂️

Have you watched Power play? He looks like a 10 year vet out there. He's everything Ekblad was but bigger and more skilled. Don't overthink this.

Beniers reminds me of Mittlestadt. His college season Casey had 30 points in 34 games, Beniers college season 24 points in 24 games 👀... both in the BIG-10. Power is a beast, you can't teach his combination of size and skill. He'll be a cornerstone for the next 15 years.... think Jones, Weber, Hedman, Pronger, Chara, Robinson, Burns, MacInnis, Blake, Murphy, etc... he's cut from the same cloth, you don't pass that up, ever.

Knowing KA personally, my money is on Power becoming a Sabre.

DRAFT POWER EVERY PROSPECT HAS WARTS. You don't find D with his size and skill set very often... he'll eat minutes, provide offense and shore up the d-zone. He's a grade A kid with a fantastic head on his shoulders, a coaches dream. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I love Zegras, he was my pick when BUF took Cozens. That said, DRAFT POWER... KEEP EICHEL. Trade Reinhart and Risto to solidify the goaltending position and perhaps some forward depth.