Zach Benson: how good will he be this year?

[dudacek]

Fantastic tape of the Carnival Kid playing the game as it was meant to be played.

Winning battles, going to the dirty areas, making smart passes and working his ass off.

 

What are people's expectations for #9 this year?

Edited 2 hours ago by dudacek

[Pimlach]

I picked the first option.   I think he is going to be a good player.  

[oddoublee]

Like the idea for the poll...but feel like it's missing an option...

He's a future strong top 6 player. I still think he needs a little more marinating. 

14 goals and 18 assists. 

He's still a kid. 

[Archie Lee]

I love the kid. I think he can and will be an effective top 6 player this year. I think fans who look at his point total and don’t see a top 6 player, are under the false impression that playoff teams have 1st lines of 70+ point players and 2nd lines of 60+ point players, etc., when this is just not the case. If Benson plays the entire year on a line with Thompson or Tuch and gets some PP time, he will get 40 points at minimum and that combined with his defensive acumen and the grit and energy he brings will make him a very good top 6 player. I also think that his skating and, to a lesser degree, his size, do represent legitimate issues and probably cap his ceiling below that of a true 1st line, star calibre player. But, so what?  

[JohnC]

5 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I love the kid. I think he can and will be an effective top 6 player this year. I think fans who look at his point total and don’t see a top 6 player, are under the false impression that playoff teams have 1st lines of 70+ point players and 2nd lines of 60+ point players, etc., when this is just not the case. If Benson plays the entire year on a line with Thompson or Tuch and gets some PP time, he will get 40 points at minimum and that combined with his defensive acumen and the grit and energy he brings will make him a very good top 6 player. I also think that his skating and, to a lesser degree, his size, do represent legitimate issues and probably cap his ceiling below that of a true 1st line, star calibre player. But, so what?  

I can’t recall a game last year where I considered him a liability. He’s an effort player who didn’t coast no matter what the situation was. It’s going to be interesting to see if he comes into camp bulkier and stronger.

[shrader]

Calder candidate

[Thorny]

Not really in love with the poll options. Probably closest to 1, but it’s not something I necessarily expect to unfold this season 

that the sabres are counting on it necessarily, for success, on that sort of time frame, when he’s 19 or whatever isn’t a commentary on being a beaten down fan if one finds difficulty in predicting it: it’s a commentary on the fact it’s an objective gamble 

[7+6=13]

This young man just plays the game right.  The best way I know how to support that statement is to take a dig at myself.  I know so little about hockey "fundamentals" or how to look at the off puck things or another words, seeing with my eyes that a player has high hockey IQ.

Even I see it with Benson.

I believe it's unlikely at this point that he doesn't become good.  It would have to be injury driven, IMO, or something like that.  When he gets more grow man strength, I think he's got a shot at being very good.

[Archie Lee]

20 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Not really in love with the poll options. Probably closest to 1, but it’s not something I necessarily expect to unfold this season 

that the sabres are counting on it necessarily, for success, on that sort of time frame, when he’s 19 or whatever isn’t a commentary on being a beaten down fan if one finds difficulty in predicting it: it’s a commentary on the fact it’s an objective gamble 

I do think the Sabres should trade for a veteran player or two and that it would increase their chances of making the playoffs if they made the right trade(s). I would trade Kulich and Quinn for Rakell and Rust without a 2nd thought , as an example.  

There was no two part question here though. The question is how good do you think Benson will be this year, not how good do you think Benson will be this year and what does that mean to the Sabres chances of making the playoffs if they don’t make any additional roster moves? If it had been the two part question, I would have added to my praise of Benson that as good as I think he is, it won’t be nearly enough to help the Sabres be a playoff team. 

Edited 29 minutes ago by Archie Lee

[K-9]

He plays the game the right way so it largely depends on his line mates. Also depends on any added strength over the offseason.