In most other drafts, Benson would be a sure-fire top-three pick, but the depth up front means a team picking...
Connor Bedard, obviously, went first. And then good friends Riley Heidt and Brayden Yager went No. 2 and 3, respectively. The rest of the top 10 was filled with names you’ll come to know shortly.
Benson finished as the top scorer, slightly inflated by a seven-point game in the preliminary round. But he kept the momentum flowing. But no goal was as important as his with 0.4 seconds left in the championship game, to force overtime. Benson’s linemate, Calum Ritchie, scored the winner in overtime in a wild game filled with quality talent.
Benson has added about 40 pounds and five vertical inches since getting taken in the WHL Draft. But one thing has never wavered: his dominant offensive play. Through three years, Benson has 71 goals and 181 points in 142 games. That’s good for ninth among WHLers in that span, and second behind Bedard among 2023 draft eligibles. That means Benson had to beat out quite a few overage players, which is incredible.
. There’s no glaring weakness in Benson’s game. He’s an exceptional playmaker, has a dangerously accurate wrist shot and has the compete level of an energy guy fighting for their career. He’s not big, but it doesn’t seem to affect him. That could change in the NHL, but his puckhandling and hockey IQ are well above the average.
“Benson’s biggest asset is the way he reads plays,” a scout said. “One of the smartest players in the draft class. He’s also so defensively responsible, which isn’t always the case for kids putting up nearly 100 points.”
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