In another universe where Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli are either too old or young to be eligible for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, there would be a case for Zach Benson to be a top-three pick. But he has fallen on some lists in recent weeks, and there is a chance that he could even fall out of the top 10 come draft day.
That could be a grave mistake, because he is one of the best players available, and once the benefit of hindsight is available, he could be the source of a lot of regret among top-10 teams who didn’t take him.
Birthplace: Langley, British Columbia
Date of birth: May 12, 2005
Shoots: Left
Position: LW/C
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 159 lbs.
Team: Winnipeg ICE (WHL)
A first-rounder in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, Benson was nearly a point-per-game producer right out of the gate. He put up 20 points through 24 contests in his first year with the club, then followed up with 63 points in 58 games during the 2021-22 season. This put him firmly on the map for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and he didn’t disappoint in his draft year.
His 98 points were third best in the WHL, behind consensus first-overall pick Connor Bedard and over-ager Chase Wheatcroft. Outscoring a litany of already drafted prospects, Benson confirmed his status as a top talent, and should be off the board relatively early on June 28.
As proclaimed in the title of this article, you’re getting an elite playmaker with Benson. His vision is arguably the best in the draft, and his intelligence combined with deadly accurate passing lead to a wild amount of opportunities for his linemates. He isn’t just one of the best passers in the WHL, he’s arguably the very best of the entire draft class.
Even when there isn’t a passing lane for him to exploit, he creates it through the use of his skating. His top-end speed is excellent, and more importantly, he boasts explosive lateral movement that allows him to take the puck from the boards into the middle or get around defenders without being touched. It is a common sight to see him cut to the middle after gaining the offensive zone, scanning all the while, and deliver a wow-factor pass to one of his linemates for a high-danger scoring chance.
Zach Benson: VERY good at hockey #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/1MWvgBSTuW
— Ross Levitan (@RossLevitan) February 2, 2023
His shot, while possessing accuracy akin to that featured in his passing, doesn’t yet have elite velocity to beat goaltenders clean with regularity. But when it comes to creating offensive opportunities for himself, he uses his elite skating and puck handling to get into high-percentage areas near the net. Developing a more potent shot could add another layer to his offensive game, but he isn’t suffering offensively without it.
There is a rare aspect to Benson’s game as well, as he is one of the few undersized scoring forwards who boasts top-notch defensive skills. His positioning is near flawless, and he uses a crafty stick-on-stick checking game to turn pucks over. Once he takes possession, the same passing and skating abilities that make him a problem to deal with offensively make him a positive transitional player.
His responsibility in his own end is such that he can be trusted to play at centre or the wing, and while he likely projects long term as a winger, the versatility in his 200-foot game should prove valuable at the next level.
The main knock against Benson at this stage appears to be his size. Despite being the exact same height as Connor Bedard, he is nearly 30 pounds lighter, so the concern lies with his perceived durability. Adding some muscle to his frame wouldn’t be mandatory given what he’s already capable of, but it would likely help him improve his shot, as well as compete physically with the bigger bodies he’ll encounter at the professional level.
It would also help him reach his ceiling, which is incredibly high. He draws comparisons to Mitch Marner, and projects as an elite top-six playmaker in the NHL, with excellent defensive skills allowing him to be trusted in all situations. If he were to bulk up this summer, there is a possibility that he could play in the NHL as early as the 2023-24 season.
He has top-five talent without a doubt, and the fact that a number of outlets have ranked him outside of that range is a testament to just how strong the top of this class is.
Preliminary Rankings
Dobber Prospects: #6
Elite Prospects: #5
FCHockey: #6
Hockey Prospect: #12
Hadi Kalakeche: #5
McKeen’s:#6
Bob McKenzie(TSN): #5
NHL Central Scouting: #6 (North American skaters)
Corey Pronman (The Athletic): #17
Scott Wheeler (The Athletic): #6
If you believe the reports surrounding the Montreal Canadiens’ intentions with their fifth-overall pick, they appear to have their attention focused elsewhere. I would argue that this is a massive oversight if true, a classic case of overlooking the smaller skilled player in favour of filling a need or adding size.
They’ve been linked to players like Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and David Reinbacher, while also rumoured to be trying to move up higher in the top five. If they can’t accomplish a move up, I think Benson is a better pick than any of the players they’ve been linked to so far, and they should be strongly considering him unless someone else happens to fall into their lap.
The only players I personally rank higher than Benson – and who stand the chance to be available at fifth-overall – are Leo Carlsson and Matvei Michkov. If neither of those names remain on the board when the Habs are on the clock, I’ll pray to the hockey gods that they take Benson.
This is not intended as disrespect to Smith, Leonard, or Reinbacher. They’d make excellent picks as well, but I feel the dynamic game and two-way abilities of Benson are too good to pass on.
Scott Matla
