This is just preseason hockey, and these first two games haven’t featured a ton of NHLers in the opposing lineups. It’s easy to get caught up in the buzz of the newest prospect, especially one as talented as Benson. And Granato could have poured cold water on the Benson hype, but he’s been eager to share in the excitement. Asked how a young player like that might stick around, Granato pointed to some of the abilities Benson has already shown.
“How would you stick around?” Granato said. “You look at young players and size and strength is an automatic. You can’t put a guy in the NHL no matter how talented he is if he can’t keep up with the size and strength of players in the NHL. He stripped and stole some pucks and forced some plays against guys that are 30 or 40 pounds heavier than him (against Washington). He pushed them back, forced them into bad ice and eventually there were turnovers. That was impressive. … That was something I never would have guessed a player would have done that quick.”
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“You have to have opportunity,” Skinner said. “I came into a situation where there was a spot. I got to be brought along at a pace that was appropriate for where I was. I think every guy has their own path and figures it out at a different pace. Some guys, their game translates to the professional style a little better than others. It’s hard to pinpoint one or two things. For him, he’s demonstrated all of the tools to sort of step up to that next level. It’s kind of a process through camp. The intensity is going to get higher and higher. Like everyone, he just has to keep matching that intensity.”
The Sabres may not have the same opportunity for Benson that the Hurricanes had for Skinner back then, but there are spots available in the lineup. With Jack Quinn out for the first few months of the season, the Sabres have an open spot on the roster for a forward. There’s plenty of competition, including first-round picks Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen. Matt Savoie, Benson’s junior teammate, would have been a prime candidate but his shoulder injury has kept him off the ice at the start of camp. Benson can play nine games in the NHL without burning a year of his entry-level deal, and he’s making a strong case to get that audition.
Torrronto
Benson, Kulich and Rosen can get 9 games each in Quinn’s absence. 27 games should be right around when Jack is ready to step back into the lineup.
Moontayle
Was at the game last night. Dude’s a puck hound, almost always seemed to be in a good position to disrupt whatever the opposing team was doing. His pass to Skinner for that first goal was good. He’s definitely making a case to start the season the roster.
CaresAboutYou
Two separate ways to debate this, one is development (where is the best place for him to continue to improve his game) and the other is performance (who gives the Sabres the best chance to win hockey games on any given night)
I’ve seen some people mixing the two when talking about this.
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This is just preseason hockey, and these first two games haven’t featured a ton of NHLers in the opposing lineups. It’s easy to get caught up in the buzz of the newest prospect, especially one as talented as Benson. And Granato could have poured cold water on the Benson hype, but he’s been eager to share in the excitement. Asked how a young player like that might stick around, Granato pointed to some of the abilities Benson has already shown.
“How would you stick around?” Granato said. “You look at young players and size and strength is an automatic. You can’t put a guy in the NHL no matter how talented he is if he can’t keep up with the size and strength of players in the NHL. He stripped and stole some pucks and forced some plays against guys that are 30 or 40 pounds heavier than him (against Washington). He pushed them back, forced them into bad ice and eventually there were turnovers. That was impressive. … That was something I never would have guessed a player would have done that quick.”
—
“You have to have opportunity,” Skinner said. “I came into a situation where there was a spot. I got to be brought along at a pace that was appropriate for where I was. I think every guy has their own path and figures it out at a different pace. Some guys, their game translates to the professional style a little better than others. It’s hard to pinpoint one or two things. For him, he’s demonstrated all of the tools to sort of step up to that next level. It’s kind of a process through camp. The intensity is going to get higher and higher. Like everyone, he just has to keep matching that intensity.”
The Sabres may not have the same opportunity for Benson that the Hurricanes had for Skinner back then, but there are spots available in the lineup. With Jack Quinn out for the first few months of the season, the Sabres have an open spot on the roster for a forward. There’s plenty of competition, including first-round picks Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen. Matt Savoie, Benson’s junior teammate, would have been a prime candidate but his shoulder injury has kept him off the ice at the start of camp. Benson can play nine games in the NHL without burning a year of his entry-level deal, and he’s making a strong case to get that audition.
Benson, Kulich and Rosen can get 9 games each in Quinn’s absence. 27 games should be right around when Jack is ready to step back into the lineup.
Was at the game last night. Dude’s a puck hound, almost always seemed to be in a good position to disrupt whatever the opposing team was doing. His pass to Skinner for that first goal was good. He’s definitely making a case to start the season the roster.
Two separate ways to debate this, one is development (where is the best place for him to continue to improve his game) and the other is performance (who gives the Sabres the best chance to win hockey games on any given night)
I’ve seen some people mixing the two when talking about this.