Time to trade Peterka

[LGR4GM]

Only 6 players from the 2023 draft have played at least 10 NHL games to this point. 

Bedard 1st overall

Fantilli 2nd 

Carlsson 3rd

Smith 4th

Michkov 7th

Benson 13th

Theoretically, 2025-26 should be Benson's rookie year by all accounts and yet he's managed borderline elite defense while playing for 2 different hc and being jerked around all over the lineup. Idk what his offensive ceiling is, but I don't think we'll find out for another 4yrs.

 

[Archie Lee]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Only 6 players from the 2023 draft have played at least 10 NHL games to this point. 

Bedard 1st overall

Fantilli 2nd 

Carlsson 3rd

Smith 4th

Michkov 7th

Benson 13th

Theoretically, 2025-26 should be Benson's rookie year by all accounts and yet he's managed borderline elite defense while playing for 2 different hc and being jerked around all over the lineup. Idk what his offensive ceiling is, but I don't think we'll find out for another 4yrs.

 

I stand by my view that Benson should have gone back to junior for at least one and probably two years. My reasoning has almost nothing to do with Benson and almost everything to do with my view that Benson making the team two years ago was, for me, the beginning signs that Adams was in way over his head. 

That said, I love Benson. When I look at our current roster, I see him on the wing with Norris and Thompson.  A healthy Norris is kind of a veteran Kulich: a shoot-first, defensively responsible, two way centre. Thompson is an elite scorer who is also a good playmaker, and who has improved his defensive game.  Benson is a very good defensive player with a growing offensive game and some elite playmaking skills. He is also a rat who will drag Norris and Thompson into the fight on January nights in random NHL cities. I think they can realistically combine for 75-90 goals and rarely get dominated by top lines. The big question mark on this line is not Benson (or Thompson). 

 

[darksabre]

3 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

I just don't see Benson ever being a top end guy (see 25G 60P) type which is the very least I want for a top 6 forward.

I actually think he can do it. He plays the game the right way, which I think is going to pay off for him real soon. He's still so young. 

[JohnC]

47 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I stand by my view that Benson should have gone back to junior for at least one and probably two years. My reasoning has almost nothing to do with Benson and almost everything to do with my view that Benson making the team two years ago was, for me, the beginning signs that Adams was in way over his head. 

That said, I love Benson. When I look at our current roster, I see him on the wing with Norris and Thompson.  A healthy Norris is kind of a veteran Kulich: a shoot-first, defensively responsible, two way centre. Thompson is an elite scorer who is also a good playmaker, and who has improved his defensive game.  Benson is a very good defensive player with a growing offensive game and some elite playmaking skills. He is also a rat who will drag Norris and Thompson into the fight on January nights in random NHL cities. I think they can realistically combine for 75-90 goals and rarely get dominated by top lines. The big question mark on this line is not Benson (or Thompson). 

 

There are a number of appealing aspects to Benson. Because he is so young there is a potential that he will become a very good player. But for the sake of argument, if he doesn't reach the maximum of what some people expect of him, he's still going to be a solid player for us who has a grittiness to his game that this team desperately needs. So his lower baseline is still a desirable positive while his potential higher baseline is exciting to consider. 

Most young players who are developing, such as Quinn and JJP, have liabilities to their game that you have to contend with. That's not the case with Benson. Even with plenty of room to grow his game, I have never felt that he was a liability for us. That's not to say that he was a noticeable producer, but he was not player who hurt you while he was playing.  

[DarthEbriate]

33 minutes ago, JohnC said:

There are a number of appealing aspects to Benson. Because he is so young there is a potential that he will become a very good player. But for the sake of argument, if he doesn't reach the maximum of what some people expect of him, he's still going to be a solid player for us who has a grittiness to his game that this team desperately needs. So his lower baseline is still a desirable positive while his potential higher baseline is exciting to consider. 

Most young players who are developing, such as Quinn and JJP, have liabilities to their game that you have to contend with. That's not the case with Benson. Even with plenty of room to grow his game, I have never felt that he was a liability for us. That's not to say that he was a noticeable producer, but he was not player who hurt you while he was playing.  

Benson has two major areas to grow:

1) Cut down on the stick penalties. Eventually, the refs will let him get away with more garbage. But he has to keep his stick clear of skates because the slightest tap on a veteran scorer is going to lead to a tripping call (in the regular season).

2) Work on the shot. Reinhart did it. Dahlin did it. Heck, even Krebs has a better shot how. I have full confidence that Benson will also be able to put some mustard on it as his frame fills out.

To your point, his baseline as defensively-responsible tenacious playmaker is something that be used on any line on any team in the NHL.

[BullBuchanan]

Trading Peterka should not just be a fireable offense, but a criminal one. He is EXACTLY what this team should be trying to get more of. If he was on the Bruins or the leafs he'd be a superstar. Did we learn nothing at all from getting rid of Sam Reinhart?

[LGR4GM]

9 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

Trading Peterka should not just be a fireable offense, but a criminal one. He is EXACTLY what this team should be trying to get more of. If he was on the Bruins or the leafs he'd be a superstar. Did we learn nothing at all from getting rid of Sam Reinhart?

When Peterka plays defense like Reinhart and creates offense like Reinhart, then sure. 

And I mean 23yr old Reinhart 

Also it's only if we're getting a better player. 

[dudacek]

I like the Reinhart and Benson comparisons because the best skill of each is reading the game, and the biggest concerns are shot and strength. 

Sam's 20-year-old season he put up 42 points. I think Zach is certainly capable of the same in his 20-year-old season next year.

Kinda like Sam, Brad Marchand was 23 when he broke out with 55 points and 28 when turned into a point-a-game guy.

We might be waiting longer for Benson than we might like.

[JoeSchmoe]

 

Weathermen get the bad rap, but NHL Insiders have them beat a million times over.

[The Jokeman]

33 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

 

Weathermen get the bad rap, but NHL Insiders have them beat a million times over.

Ultimately we move JJP based on the contract he think he's worth, if it's in the $5-$6 million two - three year bridge deal think he stays if he's looking for a $8-9 million nine yea deal think we move him. 

[sabremike]

38 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

 

Weathermen get the bad rap, but NHL Insiders have them beat a million times over.

Allan Walsh has been playing The Game and this is the Sabres playing The Game.

 

It's All About The Game:

[JohnC]

4 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

Benson has two major areas to grow:

1) Cut down on the stick penalties. Eventually, the refs will let him get away with more garbage. But he has to keep his stick clear of skates because the slightest tap on a veteran scorer is going to lead to a tripping call (in the regular season).

2) Work on the shot. Reinhart did it. Dahlin did it. Heck, even Krebs has a better shot how. I have full confidence that Benson will also be able to put some mustard on it as his frame fills out.

To your point, his baseline as defensively-responsible tenacious playmaker is something that be used on any line on any team in the NHL.

Of all the players on the team, I thought that the referees seemed to single him out for calls that most other players wouldn't get. As you point out, knowing when to do things, where to do things and when to do things is something that he will have to learn. He's a smart enough player to make the necessary adjustment as he gains experience. 

[JohninMinn.]

Sabres do not have the luxury of losing one of their few talented players.

[K-9]

I’m convinced more than ever that this is all agent-generated bullcrap when it comes to these Peterka rumors. 

[JohnC]

2 minutes ago, K-9 said:

I’m convinced more than ever that this is all agent-generated bullcrap when it comes to these Peterka rumors. 

On a WGR segment, Paul Hamilton stated that the talk was agent driven. (As you noted.)

[BullBuchanan]

1 hour ago, The Jokeman said:

Ultimately we move JJP based on the contract he think he's worth, if it's in the $5-$6 million two - three year bridge deal think he stays if he's looking for a $8-9 million nine yea deal think we move him. 

If it's $8-9M for 7 years, lock him up. That will be be dirt cheap by the time it's over. Even now it isn't top 32 money.

Edited 1 hour ago by BullBuchanan