LGR4GM

Isn't the only center Cozens?

He was one of the best defensive players in the whl if I remember right.

But you haven't shown me any cats, you've just told me they exist. Eichel and Gerbe were both well over 18 when they were injured.

Almost all teams use the first 2-4 preseason games to evaluate players that aren't regulars. After this weekend, across the league you'll see droves of guys sent to their respective ahl and junior teams.

if Benson is not physically ready I would hope either he or the team vocalizes that and takes the necessary steps to protect him and help him get physically ready. If that is not this season, I am fine with that. Even if it is not next season I am fine with that.

It is exceedingly lazy and I laid out why. You are saying that if anyone at all wants Benson in the NHL it is imply for entertainment when what Benson does is literally for entertainment. Hockey is a sport, it is entertainment. This is like going to a restaurant and being mad they serve food. That is my take away as well.

Then you are advocating for the playing age in the NHL to be raised from 18 to say 20? That is really what you are doing.

To be honest this is a really lazy counter argument. The reason we watch hockey at all is to be entertained. The argument to add Benson to the Sabres this season would be if he is good enough to positively contribute. If you want to extrapolate that out to "contribution = winning = entertaining" than I suppose you can but it is a really weak argument. The only reason we want Tage or Tuch on the roster is to be entertained too. The only reason we want Levi in goal is to be entertained. He got injured several years later on a strange hit when he was... 23?

Nathan Gerbe is 5'4". You aren't using a real comparable and I can list players like say ... Jack Eichel who are 6'2" that have been injured and gotten surgery so I don't really see your point. Injury is a risk of hockey.

https://theathletic.com/4903739/2023/09/26/zach-benson-sabres-training-camp/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

He's making a joke

His WHL team would have to miss the playoffs for that.

Yes Benson is 18 until May.

I said when we drafted him that Zach Benson at #13 that he was immediately the best prospect in the system. I still believe that right now although I will say that Savoie was closer to him than I expected. That all said, Benson has just consistently shown he is that dog. What I mean is that he isn't some 18yr old kid out there trying to figure it out, he is out there playing his game. He forechecks like a pro, he manipulates like a pro, and he has so much battle in him that I can't wait until he is maybe an inch taller and 20lbs heavier. 5'11" 190lbs Benson will be other teams nightmare fuel. Now, last night it was a preseason game. There were about maybe 5-6 NHL regulars in Boston's lineup so it wasn't like Benson was playing a true forward or defensive lineup. That said, Benson played his game. One of the GDT questions that I think is very good to ask is, would Rosen or Kulich be as good with Tage and Skinner? I said no, that Benson wasn't good because he was with Tage and Skinner. Meaning, I do not think Benson was good because Skinner and Tage were making him look good but that Benson was playing exactly how he would play with them or Okposo and Zemgus. There is a surety and maturity to his game that works with anyone he plays with. Now was he perfect last night? No, I remember a "clever" little backhand pass that went straight to a defender. For as good as he can be forechecking there were times where larger players were able to just push him off the puck, although I remember on one of those occasions, Benson just revved his engine higher and took the puck anyways. My point here is should we be thinking about Zach Benson in Buffalo this season? He was not a liability at all last night with Tage and Jeff. He is only going to get better and the NHL is a place that will 100% challenge him. His bump pass to Skinner though and his manipulations of opposing players was on full display, he has the skills and the brain right now to make the jump. Personally, I would send him back to jr. I think he needs to improve his skating speed (he has high end edges but that initial jump needs to improve). I think his shot could also see improvement and the WHL would give him time to work on that as well. Overall he needs about another 5-10lbs of pure muscle to really be able to bounce off or fight through some of the checks and I think the lighter WHL schedule versus the NHL would give him the time to do that. Finally, next year there will be 3 or so forward spots open but JJP, Cozens, Quinn, and Krebs will all have another year of NHL time (and Quinn should be healthy) so it gives us some more mix and match options for guys like Savoie or Benson to get a touch of sheltering when needed. That said... Benson is that dog. He is going to continue to make it harder and harder to justify returning him to the WHL.

Our defense looked meh. Rasmus and Muel were fine but everyone else was uneven. In the 3rd, lots of full shifts hemmed in where I thought forwards could have helped more. Good to win in preseason but I wanted a bit more from Tage, Skinner, Rasmus, and even Muel. Still, no worries about the regulars.

No, I know. I was just saying I think he looks good simply as a result of himself. I think Rosen and Kulich would benefit but I think Benson would still produce the same plays elsewhere.

Devon Levi is just likeable. Out there joking with Cooley giving him a shoulder bump.

Think you mean "Daa-vonn" according to Edward's tonight Good, pour salt in that empty net wound.

Rosen in there helping out his fellow countryman

I don't think Benson looks good because of Tage and Skinner but because of himself.

College ufa a couple years ago. Already 25, might be a depth callup.

Tell me more

I tried to tell ppl on draft night, Benson is the best prospect in the pool.

Mittelstadt redeemed himself after a bit of a lazy entry by coming back later in the shift to feed Biro for a goal.

That's not Levi anymore.