3 – Zach Benson
Zach Benson did almost everything right this past weekend, and while he made a few errors, they weren’t incredibly detracting. It seemed like no matter where the puck went, Benson was in on the play, either looking to break things up defensively, or to make something happen when he or his team had possession.
And while the Penguins blanked the Sabres on Monday, you can still argue Benson was the best player on the ice. He was constantly outmaneuvering opponents, he protected the puck well, and he also set himself up near the net to try and snag a quick score.
Like Savoie and Metsa, Benson is also an undersized player, but what also jumped out at the Prospects Challenge was his ability to constantly play bigger than his size. Expect Benson to just light up the WHL this season, and if there is room in the lineup next year, he will at least get his chance, even if he will be competing against more than a few prospects.
Source: Observations: Matt Savoie’s injury might hurt prospect’s bid to make Sabres’ roster by Lance Lysowski