DownUndaCanuck Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 Steal of the draft or potentially a bust, there's no in between. I can see him end up being a Point-like 90pt player. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 3 hours ago, Warhippy said: I will be watching this kid in his career. I made some pretty bold statements about who he was and what he would mean to this team vs how we had nobody to insulate him or help him elevate his game to the player everyone claimed he could be and as such would be a bad pick for us and a top or or bust kind of guy. I love being proven wrong so let's hope this kid can do something with the shot he's been given. Buffalo has the players this kid would need to help elevate his game and insulate him in to being what people claim he'll turn in to. But time will tell. Wish @SabreFan1 was still here (if I got the tag right) because I loved having him around to talk about our brother team in expansion Same, it's a shame he was run off by some folks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 2 hours ago, rekker said: Or Jordan Schroeder. You mean future WCE v2 Jordan Schroeder? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herberts Vasiljevs Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 3 hours ago, Warhippy said: I will be watching this kid in his career. I made some pretty bold statements about who he was and what he would mean to this team vs how we had nobody to insulate him or help him elevate his game to the player everyone claimed he could be and as such would be a bad pick for us and a top or or bust kind of guy. I love being proven wrong so let's hope this kid can do something with the shot he's been given. Buffalo has the players this kid would need to help elevate his game and insulate him in to being what people claim he'll turn in to. But time will tell. Wish @SabreFan1 was still here (if I got the tag right) because I loved having him around to talk about our brother team in expansion SabreFan was a beauty. I miss him around here. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 We're pretty good up front..glad we went with Willander. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
250Integra Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 1 hour ago, Coconuts said: You mean future WCE v2 Jordan Schroeder? When.. Cody Hodgson = Jonathan Toews Jordan Schroeder = Patrick Kane 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 1 minute ago, 250Integra said: When.. Cody Hodgson = Jonathan Toews Jordan Schroeder = Patrick Kane Kassian or Jensen = Bertuzzi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gawdzukes Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 4 hours ago, Devron said: He did yes. He’s an interesting player. We’ll see how it goes. I just know from past experience not to get super high on a player like that Yeah that's what I was getting at. It's one thing to come in and control the whole ice against the same level peers as you're used to. It's a whole different ballgame when Gudas is stepping into at the blueline or along the boards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 5 hours ago, Caboose said: Can see this kid making PA+Rutherford, plus all the others that passed on him, look really stupid. He's gonna be some talent. I can’t shake that gut feeling that we’re going to regret not drafting him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rekker Posted July 28, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) 56 minutes ago, MJDDawg said: I can’t shake that gut feeling that we’re going to regret not drafting him. Not me. Not a reflection on Benson, I just get a good vibe from Willander. Love how he switched to D only a few years ago and is trending upwards. His skating and vision are there, size. There's easily as much to get excited about as Benson. In the end if Benson is a top six forward and Willander is a top four righty, both regulars in the NHL, I'd take the righty D everytime. Edited July 28, 2023 by rekker 3 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 8 minutes ago, rekker said: Not me. Not a reflection on Benson, I just get a good vibe from Willander. Love how he switched to D only a few years ago and is trending upwards. His skating and vision are there, size. There's easily as much to get excited about as Benson. In the end if Benson is a top six forward and Willander is a top four righty, both regulars in the NHL, I'd take the righty D everytime. That's kind of it. If we get a solid top 4 RHD the likes of which Willander can become. Even if he hits his floor and is a 40 point middle of the road defenseman that is actually responsible, that's vastly more valuable and important to this team than a middle 6 player. benson would need to be an all star scoring threat or bergeron type pivot for us to seriously regret taking Willander if they both hit their stride. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 I am gonna be really annoyed if/when this kid starts putting up points for Buffalo. A team that drafted Owen Power and Dahlin so they're in a better position to insulate Benson. He wasn't gonna be a fit here. We drafted an undersized winger last year. We already have our Benson. In a sense. Lekkerimaki is a pure sniper and Benson is more of a playmaker, but you get what I mean. I honestly think if he was American or Swedish nobody would care. And honestly, yes I also was a little blinded by the fact he was a BC boy. I love having them. But at the end of the day, Willander is practically a BC boy too, said he was a Canucks fan growing up. And he fills a much more dire need. I wish Benson all the luck, cause I don't have any ill will towards our expansion draft brothers and honestly at this point with Benson, Krebs and Cozens, I am pretty sure Buffalo is my 2nd fav team. Both teams got the player that fits their direction/need. We don't need to watch his career and cry if he becomes special. I think Willander and Benson will be great. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHL'er Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 Feels relevant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcam Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 7 hours ago, Caboose said: Can see this kid making PA+Rutherford, plus all the others that passed on him, look really stupid. He's gonna be some talent. Glad Alvin Picked Willander 18 -6'2 -RD - great skating - plays both ends upside is very good #2 D MAN--How hard is it to find RD men unless you draft and develop? RD = Hronek - 1st and 2nd Centre men also very hard to find unless you develop?Example Miller C/W - Cost 1st and 2nd Wingers unless there elite there easy to trade for... So happy with Willander and he is already in NA not staying in Sweden like so many players do for 2 years.. 2023 draft - was hoping for -1. Danilson 6'1 C went #9 --- 2.Dvorsky C-6'2 went #10 --3. Willander 6'2 RD 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionized27 Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 2 hours ago, rekker said: Not me. Not a reflection on Benson, I just get a good vibe from Willander. Love how he switched to D only a few years ago and is trending upwards. His skating and vision are there, size. There's easily as much to get excited about as Benson. In the end if Benson is a top six forward and Willander is a top four righty, both regulars in the NHL, I'd take the righty D everytime. If Willander turns into a great partner to Hughes in a "Brent Burns/Paul Martin" type pairing in the future, I'll be stoked. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcam Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 9 minutes ago, Lionized27 said: If Willander turns into a great partner to Hughes in a "Brent Burns/Paul Martin" type pairing in the future, I'll be stoked. Willander 18 -6'2-- will be a very solid #2 RD man - 24--26 MINS.. Has edge to his game, plays complete 200 foot game with elite skating.. Along with, Pettersson-19 - 6'3 LD--#3 D MAN IN 2 YRS 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkSave Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 If he pans out, could be an interesting add to a Sabres team that is built on size, speed and skill. Having a lil guy zip around on their squad in a few years could be fun. Like others have mentioned we already have smallish forwards in Beau, Garland, Hogz. We needed D and Willander could be an absolute stud for us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckwings Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 Too early to judge, but even if Benson becomes a legit top 6 pt-per-game player, I still think Willander is the right pick if he becomes our top pair D. Points is an easy way to evaluate a player, but it shouldn't be all what we use to compare players especially when it's a forward vs defenseman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanfor42 Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 Last 2 years Benson had 161 pts in 118 reg season WHL games and 40 pts in 30 playoff games. Local kid. He will be ready to play in the NHL in a year. Willander won't be ready for the NHL full time for 3 years. Benson scale is Schroeder to top 6 point per game NHL'er. Willander scale is Juolevi to Hughes partner. Who is more likely to finish the highest on their scale? Hard to say. Hoglander is tradeable and so is Garland in 2 years. Having too many small wingers is not an issue. If Benson pans out the other guys can be moved. Benson could positively affect the team for two years before Willander even shows up. Lots to consider here... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R3aL Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 10 hours ago, Warhippy said: I will be watching this kid in his career. I made some pretty bold statements about who he was and what he would mean to this team vs how we had nobody to insulate him or help him elevate his game to the player everyone claimed he could be and as such would be a bad pick for us and a top or or bust kind of guy. I love being proven wrong so let's hope this kid can do something with the shot he's been given. Buffalo has the players this kid would need to help elevate his game and insulate him in to being what people claim he'll turn in to. But time will tell. Wish @SabreFan1 was still here (if I got the tag right) because I loved having him around to talk about our brother team in expansion I do think: Benson-Miller-Mikehyev could have been great. but I understand and love the Willander pick and I was on the weary side of ranking benson at the top kids talented though and local so I wish him success Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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