bob_sauve28 Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 In a bad season like this at least there is a few bright spots. Zac Benson is definitely one. 9 goals and 14 assists for an eighteen year old kid. He plays with grit, determination, vison and finesse. Just wondering what everyone things this kids upside will be. When looking back ten years from now, will he be one of the best players in the league, a very solid player or just someone who gets by? Just guess work here, no need to preface remarks with, "Obviously this is just a guess..." No kidding. 😘 I think he's going to be super good! Top ten in scoring, all star and Sabre playoff hero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyldnwoody44 Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 I think his size is going to be a detriment in today's NHL. Nothing he can do about it. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sauve28 Posted March 31 Author Report Share Posted March 31 3 minutes ago, Wyldnwoody44 said: I think his size is going to be a detriment in today's NHL. Nothing he can do about it. Doesn't bother Kucherov, right? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi2000 Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 He's going to be great. That said, and I've been saying this since training camp, he would've been better off with another year or two of juniors. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalonill Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 26 minutes ago, Wyldnwoody44 said: I think his size is going to be a detriment in today's NHL. Nothing he can do about it. brayden point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyldnwoody44 Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 32 minutes ago, Buffalonill said: brayden point? A few outliers. Sure, he can maybe make it. I do like his game a lot; and he is 18. He's getting rag dolled a lot. Again he's got time to bulk up. Wish the rest of the team played like him. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerreaultForever Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 To the question it depends. Is it a contract year? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverPowerYou Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 Probably better than Zack Kassian 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jad1 Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 His hockey IQ is off the charts. He doesn't seem to have an elite shot, though, or elite speed. Not sure about his puck possession skills because he does tend to get knocked off the puck a lot. One criticism is that he doesn't always move his feet while backchecking, which causes him to reach, which results in penalties. You would think that Granato and staff would have addressed this during the season. Right now he is often outmatched physically, but his skills should continue to emerge as he gets stronger. At this point he seems like a puck mover/playmaker. He'll score by being in the right place at the right time. He also seems to have leadership ability. Hopefully he doesn't have that beaten out of him by the team's overall lack of success. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidc3000 Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 Time will tell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddoublee Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 His upside is a point a game player. Good to have. His size makes the odds of it happening less favorable. Not impossible...and worst case, a top 9 forward....but he will have a tough battle towards 75-85 points a year. Fwiw....I like the kid quite a bit...just not a building block you build your franchise around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallawaySabres Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 His confidence and attitude will be completely derailed by this team at this same time next year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAud Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 10 minutes ago, CallawaySabres said: His confidence and attitude will be completely derailed by this team at this same time next year. Oh come on, that’s ridiculous. It’ll take 2 years. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAud Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 On the right team he becomes a point per game annoying gnat of a player who everyone hates except that team’s fans who love him. On the Sabres, he’ll be struggling, disgruntled 45 point guy. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stads Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 1 hour ago, OverPowerYou said: Probably better than Zack Kassian He's no Luke Adam 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeSchmoe Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 He's going to be a real humdinger! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brawndo Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 3 hours ago, Buffalonill said: brayden point? Benson has almost identical advanced metrics to Point Rookie’s Season who was 21 at the time 2 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimlach Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 Benson is a very good player. He will get bigger and stronger. He is going to be a pain to play against - high hockey IQ, hard worker, fearless and determined. Get stronger and work on that shot in the off season. That should be his priority working with the development staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TageMVP Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 He won't be any good. I see some odd bias for this guy and I think its because the Sabres are historically bad and some fans will look for a silver lining in anything Sabres related. If he's so good now, trade him. Why do the Sabres need another 5'9 guy who is "skilled"? I think we have too many of "those" guys. He fits the track record of guys the Sabres ALWAYS pick. Pass I dont see him being anymore than a 20 goal 40 point kinda guy. He doesn't hit or fight or bring anything else but some so called hockey "IQ". Kinda amazed to see people jump on his bandwagon THAT fast, honestly. To each their own. To add, he definitely won't get any better if Granato remains coach, what a joke that guy is. Anyway, just my opinion. I dont dislike him as a player, I just don't see him the way others do. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaught Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 He'll be the next Zemgus Girgensons 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TageMVP Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 2 hours ago, jad1 said: His hockey IQ is off the charts. He doesn't seem to have an elite shot, though, or elite speed. Not sure about his puck possession skills because he does tend to get knocked off the puck a lot. One criticism is that he doesn't always move his feet while backchecking, which causes him to reach, which results in penalties. You would think that Granato and staff would have addressed this during the season. Right now he is often outmatched physically, but his skills should continue to emerge as he gets stronger. At this point he seems like a puck mover/playmaker. He'll score by being in the right place at the right time. He also seems to have leadership ability. Hopefully he doesn't have that beaten out of him by the team's overall lack of success. See I dont understand this post. The first sentence makes sense in supporting Benson as a soon to be "good" player. The rest of the post, however, says the exact opposite. I honed in on the bold to support what I just said 2 minutes ago, skaught said: He'll be the next Zemgus Girgensons This is far more likely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalonill Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 22 minutes ago, TageMVP said: He won't be any good. I see some odd bias for this guy and I think its because the Sabres are historically bad and some fans will look for a silver lining in anything Sabres related. If he's so good now, trade him. Why do the Sabres need another 5'9 guy who is "skilled"? I think we have too many of "those" guys. He fits the track record of guys the Sabres ALWAYS pick. Pass I dont see him being anymore than a 20 goal 40 point kinda guy. He doesn't hit or fight or bring anything else but some so called hockey "IQ". Kinda amazed to see people jump on his bandwagon THAT fast, honestly. To each their own. To add, he definitely won't get any better if Granato remains coach, what a joke that guy is. Anyway, just my opinion. I dont dislike him as a player, I just don't see him the way others do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewookie1 Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 Based on how his personality has been seen during games and his personal desire to play 200ft from the get-go; I’d guess he becomes far stronger physically over the next couple years and becomes a poor man’s Brayden Point or slightly slower less dirty version of Marchand. The Juniors rule screwed him a bit but he held his own as an NHLer at 18 while being both undersized and a less physically mature forward. If development was the most important factor he would have been in Rochester but we didn’t have that choice. IMHO he had nothing to gain from Juniors since he already plays a 200ft game which is rare among his peers. Plus Juniors doesn’t tend to help much with bulking up due to the schedule. He needed to play with Pros and likely would of put up 50 pts in Rochester had he been there. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jad1 Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 18 minutes ago, TageMVP said: See I dont understand this post. The first sentence makes sense in supporting Benson as a soon to be "good" player. The rest of the post, however, says the exact opposite. I honed in on the bold to support what I just said This is far more likely So you don't think there are players in the NHL who have high hockey IQ, but not elite skills? He's 18. Nobody can say how good this guy will be, but I think he's shown enough to not be considered a bust. He's probably closer to Derek Roy than Girgensons. He's not going to be as physical as Girgensons, and won't be a 4th liner. At the same time, he's probably smarter than Roy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TageMVP Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 1 minute ago, jad1 said: So you don't think there are players in the NHL who have high hockey IQ, but not elite skills? He's 18. Nobody can say how good this guy will be, but I think he's shown enough to not be considered a bust. He's probably closer to Derek Roy than Girgensons. He's not going to be as physical as Girgensons, and won't be a 4th liner. At the same time, he's probably smarter than Roy. How can this be quantified, already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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