The Zach Benson U23 ranking came in at 124th, and one of the worst excuses I have ever heard in my life came with it. Yesterday we discussed the most insane article The Athletic has ever allowed to be published, Corey Pronman’s u23 NHL rankings. A bulk of the discourse revolved around Zach Benson. Benson was curiously ranked in the 120s of a u23 list, not an NHL players list, and it drew a significant amount of ire from hockey twitter. Well, Pronman then went on a podcast and was specifically asked about Benson’s ranking by his colleagues. Pronman had one of the more insane excuses I have ever heard in my life. Corey decided to back his argument by stating that Benson played against two “shitty” playoff teams in the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens which should dismiss the point that Benson was a player driver who put up 9 points in 12 playoff games. Shitty playoff teams or not, and I don’t think Montreal is shitty, Benson put up more NHL playoff points than a player ranked 50 spots ahead of him scored in a Czech pro league last season.
I am really just thankful that Wheeler decided to pushback. It’s one thing to guess wrong on a prospect before they are drafted, but once they become an NHL mainstay, devaluing their contributions is ridiculous. Also, Pronman seems like a genuine smug asshole. It’s hard at this point to suggest anything but this dork made the list purely to generate clicks. It became even more obvious whenever he decided to host an AMA on Reddit this afternoon…
Now, Corey pretty much only responded to genuine questions during the AMA which is totally his right. However, he knew what he was doing and really should have attempted to fight back at the haters if he truly stands by his take. He even answered several questions which Benson was mentioned and completely avoided diving into the Benson ranking. Just such cowardly stuff from an obvious hot take he chose to publish to the internet.
Why the Zach Benson U23 ranking defense falls apart
Speaking of his take, it all comes down to Benson’s size and speed. I think pre-draft those are definitely two attributes that you can use as knocks for a prospect. However, once they have made the league those points become mute. They become even less valuable as tools whenever the player makes it, sticks around, and produces which are all things Zach Benson has done. He also knocks Benson for being a winger, which again is understandable, but not everyone can play center and if you’re a play driving winger who really cares?
It’s hard to compile a list of every prospect in the NHL. Unlike the NBA and NFL most of the athletes drafted into the NHL aren’t playing on national TV every week, and a large portion of them come from other countries. So, I completely understand when someone misses on a prospect in a pre-draft ranking. No individual has enough time to watch enough tape on every prospect to make completely valid projections. Yet, once they make it to the NHL, or even the AHL, it becomes a whole hell of a lot easier to assess their play. Pronman just tried to make a list deeming himself smarter than the rest of the general public choosing drafted players playing oversees over NHL up and comers. He constantly went back the size and speed thing to deem all of his opinions worthy. He did the same when he de-valued Tij Iginla.
Also, it’s fair to say that just because someone is in the NHL doesn’t immediately make them better than someone who’s not. I love Ben Kindel and I think he’s going to be a very good NHL player for a long time. However, I don’t expect Ben Kindel to be better than Gavin McKenna. Yet, I think it’s fair if someone is in their D+1 or D+2 seasons overseas, or the AHL, and barely producing that you can assume they won’t be legit NHL players.
I usually don’t dive much into prospects myself. It would take up too much of my time. Usually I read a bunch of mock drafts and find players in the Penguins range (1st round only) and then I begin to look them up. During Benson’s draft, the Penguins had the pick directly after Buffalo. I remember texting my friends specifically saying once Benson was available after 10th that I hope the Penguins took him. He was one of the few players I had circled as fits for Pittsburgh during that draft. Unfortunately, the Penguins ended up with Braden Yager and I was encouraged by this pick because I loved his shot and skating. As we fast forward three years it looks like Yager won’t be an NHL regular while Benson should be a long time 50 point scorer in the NHL. Benson is doing all of this despite being the worse skater and smaller than the player the Penguins took during the same draft. Sometimes size and speed isn’t the end all be all when it comes to prospects.
