U.S. NTDP forward Matthew Beniers announced this week that he has flipped his commitment from Harvard to Michigan for the upcoming season.
A native of Hingham, Mass., Beniers was slated to head to the Crimson this fall. Harvard has seen an exodus in recent weeks with several players signing pro contracts and another top recruit, Trevor Kuntar, switching his commitment from Harvard to Boston College.
“Beniers is a special prospect who had a very strong start to the camp,” our scouts said. “He’s a gifted skater who is both fluid, fast, balanced and agile. He can make opponents miss with his feet alone and is typically the first forechecker to the puck and the first guy back on the backcheck.
“His puck carrying ability is impressive, especially his ability to make quick puck moves at full speed in open ice. He scored a few goals in tight here showing his swift stickhandling and puck touch; but he’s also got a quick release and skates with his head up.
“Outside of his skating, his best attribute very well be his vision and hockey sense. He reads the ice while at full speed; he knows where to be and is able to find teammates and hit them with passes that very few prospects would even see the lane. He can be both a finisher and playmaker at the next level as his skating ability and hockey IQ will allow him to go a long way in this game. A top echelon forward in this group.”
Beniers collected a total of 25 goals and 29 assists (54 points) in 60 games last season for the NTDP. He’s considered one of the top prospects available for the 2021 NHL Draft.