TYLER BENSON: GOOD EARLY ARROWS
By Lowetide
7 years agoThe Edmonton Oilers have not been successful with second-round picks in recent history (last big fly: Jeff Petry, 2006) and that has to change. We are early days with the latest second rounder—Tyler Benson—but the arrows so far are good to great.
EARLY DAYS
Benson has played in 6 WHL games this year, posting 5-4-9 totals and impacting the game in all areas:
- Evens: 6, 3-2-5
- Power Play: 6, 2-2-4
- Total: 6, 5-4-9
Benson is an interesting case, in that he was a first round talent who fell due to injury. On draft day, there was a wide range of opinion among draft analysts:
- Bob McKenzie: No. 39
- Craig Button: No. 44
- Corey Pronman: No. 18
- Black Book: No. 34
- McKeens: No. 43
- ISS: No. 55
Edmonton plucked Benson at No. 32, and for a reminder here is the verbal from the man who ranked him highest among 2016 draft eligibles:
- Corey Pronman: Benson has great instincts,
constantly finding seams to get the puck to his teammates or on net. “He
never wows you,” said one scout, “but he’s always around the puck,
making a good play.” Benson is a quality defensive forward with great
work ethic in battles and solid overall positional play. He doesn’t shy
away from throwing a hit, and is strong on the puck.
Benson is healthy (seriously) now and having success, and even though it is early in the season, let’s compare Benson after 9 games to other WHL players drafted by Edmonton in recent seasons:
- Tyler Benson 6, 5-4-9 (2016-17)
- Leon Draisaitl 6, 3-6-9 (2014-15)
- Curtis Hamilton 6, 2-6-8 (2010-11)
- Tyler Pitlick 6, 2-3-5 (2010-11)
- Mitch Moroz 6, 0-3-3 (2012-13)
Early days. That said, the era of using the second round to draft stay-at-home defenders and forwards who are offensively shy may be over, and in this way Edmonton’s procurement model should be more successful. Tyler Benson has good early arrows, an encouraging sign.
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