OT Matthew Beniers

[xis]

Off topic I know but this guy is going to be a good player. Maybe not a full on All-Star but the kid reminds of the modern day Mike Richards. He plays with an edge and has a good motor to go with it.

I say modern day Mike Richards because he's not likely to drop the gloves like Richards did but he's got a lot of character.
He'll be eligible for the draft next season and I see him flying under the radar a bit. I'll be watching his progress.

 

[Kings4OT]

Not very off topic for a hockey forum haha.

Richards was great in many ways, thats a lot to grow into

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Not very off topic for a hockey forum haha.

Richards was great in many ways, thats a lot to grow into

TGIF fockers. Hope everyone had a good week and is starting off the weekend right. I get to jump on Zoom at 8pm for my daughter's Girls Scouts 2021 kickoff meeting. Yeah baby, that's how Pucky rolls these days on a Friday night. That or a college class like I did last semester.

=)~~

Richards wasn't overly skilled in any specific way but he was a winner. That dude willed so many teams to win, it's pretty impressive - OHL championship, Olympic Gold and a Stanley Cup, only one he was missing was a gold at the World's. He's still the only player in NHL history to be part of two teams down 3-0 and come back to win the series (2010 ECSFs Philadelphia vs Boston and 2014 WCQFs LA vs SJ) and the only player to do that and go on to win the Cup. Carter was part of that 2010 Flyers team but was injured and didn't play or else he would be on that list to. My point: winning followed this guy around.

It pretty crappy how his career ended overall, just kind of faded into the night after a ho hum stint with the Capitals in 2016 and the whole oxy thing but in that middle frame of his career he was an imposing player for being a little guy. You can't teach the things he did, natural born leader and I loved his accountability towards his team and teammates. If you weren't pulling your load he let you know it, zero fucks given.

Carter was the final piece of the puzzle to win that first Cup but Richards was the guy who brought the winning attitude and credibility to LA. I don't think the Kings win without him in 2012 at all.

 

[xis]

Looks like I may get my wish.

7. (4) Matthew Beniers (6-1, 175), C, Michigan (NCAA) -- The 18-year-old helped the United States win the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship as the youngest player on the roster. As the second-line center he scored three points (one goal, two assists) and averaged 17:05 of ice time in seven games. Beniers scored 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games with Michigan.

Currently ranked 7th in the draft. I really have a hunch this kid is going to be good. I know the kings don't need another center in the pipeline but Beniers has the bite to his game the team is lacking.

 

[Kings4OT]

Personally if berniers is good and there for the pick, take him. Drafting what la needs now only hurts em especially if lesser talent. If you end up with a suprising amount of good prospect that all look to pan out....then trade one or 2 to fill your gaps. Over the years ive drastically changed my stance on drafting for need over best player. So many dont turn out so why not go after players you think have the best shot to be something

 

[xis]

Agreed. I feel like he's going to go as high as 5th to the Blue Jackets or 6th to the Red Wings.

If that's the case then the only other player I would really want is Simon Edvinsson but he'll likely go much higher. After that maybe Brandt Clarke or Dylan Guenther. Power will most likely go 1st overall and Huges would be off the the board by then as well.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Good year to trade the pick IMO in a package.

 

[xis]

I don't disagree

 

[davnlaguna]

I know nothing except what I read. This year is a crap shoot. Picks 3-10 could go in any order. Buffalo may be having a fire sale. Other teams may need cap space. Kings have picks, prospects and cap space. They hopefully don’t blow this chance to get trades and/or UFAs to move this team towards being a contender

 

[histkng23]

IMO, I think considering the position that the Kings are in draft this year (#8), if a player like Hughes, or Beniers isn't available, and they can't find a willing trading partner to move, I think they should consider picking the goaltender prospect, Jesper Wallstedt.

2024 NHL Mock Draft | NHL Projected Lines

Full round 2024 NHL mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings.

www.lines.com

I know they have Peterson as the defacto #1 right now, and of course the D in front he & Quick need to be seriously upgraded, but having an "elite" goaltending prospect in their stable could help tremendously.

They have a glut of forward prospects currently, and a few D prospects (although none appear to be a #1 or #2), but most of their goaltending prospects are going to take a lot of time to develop, so adding a highly rated one would really help.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

IMO, I think considering the position that the Kings are in draft this year (#8), if a player like Hughes, or Beniers isn't available, and they can't find a willing trading partner to move, I think they should consider picking the goaltender prospect, Jesper Wallstedt.

2024 NHL Mock Draft | NHL Projected Lines

Full round 2024 NHL mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings.

www.lines.com

I know they have Peterson as the defacto #1 right now, and of course the D in front he & Quick need to be seriously upgraded, but having an "elite" goaltending prospect in their stable could help tremendously.

They have a glut of forward prospects currently, and a few D prospects (although none appear to be a #1 or #2), but most of their goaltending prospects are going to take a lot of time to develop, so adding a highly rated one would really help.

Completely agree. They are in a real strange spot for the pick, plus this year is really sketchy because teams did not get to evaluate prospects as much as in a normal year.

It's a weak draft overall so I'm on board with a lot of options for the pick, even trading it to move down if the right offer comes along to speed up the rebuild. I think the team and fans have earned that, getting some legitimate upgrades for being patient.

Peterson is the starter going forward, but I did notice his play slipped down the stretch. Defense was OK, not great, but I'm talking giving up weak goals and softies, stuff we didn't see from him at any time during his time in LA so far. I think being a professional and getting real playing time finally wore him out, and he will have to get used to playing probably 50-60 games a year moving forward. Growing pains, but just an observation. I don't think they'll ride him for 60-65 games like they did Quick, he's a different type of goalie.

The Kings have not picked a goalie in the first round since Bernier in 2006 (11th) and prior to that 7-11 in 1994 (7th). I agree they don't have a high end goalie prospect in the pipeline so it could be a good year to add to that.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

IMO, I think considering the position that the Kings are in draft this year (#8), if a player like Hughes, or Beniers isn't available, and they can't find a willing trading partner to move, I think they should consider picking the goaltender prospect, Jesper Wallstedt.

2024 NHL Mock Draft | NHL Projected Lines

Full round 2024 NHL mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings.

www.lines.com

I know they have Peterson as the defacto #1 right now, and of course the D in front he & Quick need to be seriously upgraded, but having an "elite" goaltending prospect in their stable could help tremendously.

They have a glut of forward prospects currently, and a few D prospects (although none appear to be a #1 or #2), but most of their goaltending prospects are going to take a lot of time to develop, so adding a highly rated one would really help.

Yeah I am pretty on board with the goaltending prospect angle too. Or trade the pick in a package. Not trading the pick for the sake of trading it, but definitely feel there is way less hype for this draft.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

TGIF fockers. Hope everyone had a good week and is starting off the weekend right. I get to jump on Zoom at 8pm for my daughter's Girls Scouts 2021 kickoff meeting. Yeah baby, that's how Pucky rolls these days on a Friday night. That or a college class like I did last semester.

=)~~

Richards wasn't overly skilled in any specific way but he was a winner. That dude willed so many teams to win, it's pretty impressive - OHL championship, Olympic Gold and a Stanley Cup, only one he was missing was a gold at the World's. He's still the only player in NHL history to be part of two teams down 3-0 and come back to win the series (2010 ECSFs Philadelphia vs Boston and 2014 WCQFs LA vs SJ) and the only player to do that and go on to win the Cup. Carter was part of that 2010 Flyers team but was injured and didn't play or else he would be on that list to. My point: winning followed this guy around.

It pretty crappy how his career ended overall, just kind of faded into the night after a ho hum stint with the Capitals in 2016 and the whole oxy thing but in that middle frame of his career he was an imposing player for being a little guy. You can't teach the things he did, natural born leader and I loved his accountability towards his team and teammates. If you weren't pulling your load he let you know it, zero fucks given.

Carter was the final piece of the puzzle to win that first Cup but Richards was the guy who brought the winning attitude and credibility to LA. I don't think the Kings win without him in 2012 at all.

I think Richards is the one who changed the culture when he came in. Brown and Kopitar et al. had all their values lifted when he came in, which just can never be understated. I remember Kings playing Vancouver and Burrows was trying to start some stuff with his little antics. Richards just laid him out with net empty and really just let Vancouver know the Kings would be matching their energy. Then he picked up a little snow off the ice with the end of his blade and was asking the Canuck players if they wanted to snort some. My memory fades a little but I think they had been taunting him about his partying with Carter and stuff, so he asked if they wanted some just to be funny.

I was actually curious what happened to Richards, so went and looked him up a few years ago. He has an Instagram where he just fishes and does stuff with his dog(s) (I think one just passed but couldn't tell). You would never know this dude was beast in the NHL looking at his profile, but he seems like a pretty content dude. Be cool if LA brought him in as a coach/scout, or even like a Bernie Nichols specialist deal. Maybe his PK pointers. Just some capacity. Overall, I feel like the franchises that do well and that players are drawn to are the ones who take care of their players throughout the whole process. You see all these former Kings as broadcasters or scouts etc. and I don't think that stuff is lost on the overall player community. I think LA has done really well there.

 

[xis]

I still think this kid is going to be damn good. He's really starting to take on a leadership roll this season also.

Matty Beniers Stats And News

Get all the latest stats, news, videos, and more on Matty Beniers.

www.nhl.com

He went much higher than I expected even, #2 to the Krak. That 2021 draft might end up being a good one.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

His +/- leads me to believe that he’s not very responsible in his own zone.

 

[Fox4Kings]

His +/- leads me to believe that he’s not very responsible in his own zone.

He's a great 2-way center, but he is making rookie mistakes right now. It will get corrected. He is a rookie and playing on the top line and playing high pressure and high responsibility minutes. He will be to the Kraken what Kopitar has been to the Kings all these years.

 

[Fox4Kings]

His +/- leads me to believe that he’s not very responsible in his own zone.

His stats in the 4 games since your post: 2G, 7A, +6

I think you lit a fire under him!

 

[PuckinUgly57]

His stats in the 4 games since your post: 2G, 7A, +6

I think you lit a fire under him!

Sounds like the usual Pucky move - that crap has blown up on me so badly the last few seasons it's not even funny. Last season it was Arvidsson and then he went on an ungodly tear, this year it's The Legend who I had long labeled a bust.

And who can ever forget our 2010 or 2011 FHL, Data Cloud traded me Cheechoo for Toskala who had been shitting the bed for me and Cheechoo for him, Toskala then went on to have a stellar rest of the season while I dropped Cheechoo a few weeks later because he was pretty much done as an NHL player.

I got freaking hosed bad.