| Matthew Beniers | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 168 | Michigan | 2020 | Boston, MA | 2002 | 2020-2021: A |
Beniers Flips Commitment From Harvard to Michigan, August 2020: “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.
USHL Draft Recap, May 2020: Hard to give Chicago a value pick in this draft given how late they drafted but we’ll go with Beniers, one of the top 2002 forwards in the age group who played on NTDP this past season. He’s going to Harvard this fall but to lock up his rights should anything happen not a bad idea with a late round pick in Phase II for a team that doesn’t need a lot of immediate contributors. Very low risk for a player who likely will not play in the USHL but extremely high reward if for some reason he does.
Scouting Report, June 2020 (Ian Moran): (1) Brain – Matthew processes the game situations very quickly. He notices when his opposition is caught in the middle of a long shift and will do what ever he can keep them pinned in their own end to create scoring opportunities or draw penalties. He understands angles and uses the boards for accurate passes as well as touch plays to relieve pressure. He instinctively knows who is right or left handed and forces his opponents to their back hand or into mistakes. He has a knack for picking off passes and creating turnovers. High IQ player. (2) Vision & Poise – There is a reason why he was called up to play with Jack Hughes last year. His vision, poise and creativity will be at the top of his draft class in 2021. (3) Feet – Excellent skater who is only going to get faster and stronger as he matures. He has quick first step and his edge work allows him to make power turns at top speed without slowing down. (4) Compete & Effort – Matthew works as hard on the backcheck as he does trying to score goals. (5) Contact or Physicality – Early in the season we noticed that Matthew was getting bounced around. We feel that this was probably because he was trying to do too much and was playing outside of himself because that is not the case right now. He is strong on the puck and winning net front battles to score goals. (6) Release – Very quick, through screens and while his feet are moving. He can settle poor passes on his backhand just as well as he can on his forehand. He does not need time or space to fire accurate snap shots. He consistently creates scoring chances by firing bullets from low percentage shooting areas. His release catches the goalie off guard and he has the ability to out-wait a goalie, while still being able to pick his spot. (7) One Timer Ability – He can shoot any type of pass in any situation. His one timer is hard and accurate, but not deadly. We feel that by the time June of 2021 rolls around Matthew will be considered a “shooter”. (8) Body Language – Emotional passionate player who wants to win and shows it. (9) Special Teams Potential – He will play on an NHL team’s first power play unit and has the brains to be a high level penalty killer. (10) Intangibles – Matthew came into the season with very high expectations. We feel that at the beginning of the year he was trying to do too much, but that is not the case now. He is playing with confidence and is playing a controlled patient game that has quick strike potential. It is hard to believe that he is a 2021 draft because there are times when he is a dominate force right now and we see that only happening more often through the rest of this year and into his freshman year at Harvard. We feel that he will be a top 10 selection in 2021 and quite possibly contend for number 1.
Single Game Evaluation vs University of Wisconsin, January 2020: Neutral Zone watched The U.S. National U18 Team take on the University of Wisconsin in a New Year’s Day matinee. Please click on the link to see how well Matty performed as well as his NTDP teammates.
U.S. National U18 Team NHL Draft Grade Update, November 2019: This year’s U.S. National U18 Team might not have the Super Star potential of the dynamic 2001 team, but from top to bottom we believe that the 2002 group has a strong core of players who will carve out National Hockey League careers for themselves. As always, the grades are fluid and reflect September, October and November viewings. Please click on the link to see how well Matty performed as well as his NTDP teammates.
NTDP Evaluation Camp Report, March 2018: Beniers is a special prospect who had a very strong start to the camp. 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 who will have his pick of colleges to attend. Uncommitted
NTDP Evaluation Camp: Day #1 Notes, March 2018: Forwards: Matthew Beniers had two goals and an assist. While we had him as our #8 best US born forward going into camp, he was second only to Stranges upfront. Hunter McKown, our #34 ranked forward in the US was much better than that here and made a great first impression on Day 1 as a legitimate contender for the team.
Prep Report Two, February 2018: Matt is a dynamic playmaker. Athletic winger that has a strong, balanced stride. He gets up to speed in a few steps and doesn’t waste movements. He uses his speed to beat defenders wide and push the pace offensively. He handles the puck well at speed and makes plays off the rush. His one-ice vision is elite he sees plays before they happen. On several occasions he was able to back defenders off with his speed and find a trailer to create a scoring chance. He shoots to score and has a quick, accurate release. He is slippery in the offensive zone and uses his balanced edges to spin away from pressure. Has become stronger and it shows in traffic and on his shot. High upside player that should only get better with experience. NTDP candidate.
MA Selects All-Star Games U16, October 2017: Matt is at his best when he finds open ice and can use his speed to beat defenders wide. He was tied-up for stretches here and never really got going. He has a fluid, powerful stride and doesn’t waste many movements getting up to top speed. He handles the puck well and makes defenders miss in space. Had a few flashes on zone entries. Will be interesting to follow as he assimilates into the prep game at Milton. Grade: B
Tier 1 Labor Day Classic U16, September 2017: Athletic and fast. We have seen Matt play quite a bit this summer and he is fun to watch. Showed he can get pucks skate to blade in stride, played hard scored a goal on a rebound. He slides with contact so it seems he never takes a direct hit. He can maintain speed and possession. Looked a bit taller. He has elite speed but he has some room to improve on his first step. That will happen as his core strengthens. He has real upside and is a terrific athlete.
Junior Chowder Cup 2002 Division, August 2017: The late 2002 made plays all over the ice and showed tremendous confidence with the puck. Had a beautiful short side shelf goal after winning a battle along the mid-board. Matty has a quick release and has the ability to be a goal scorer. He was the tourney’s leading scorer and showed no ill effects of just having returned from Buffalo, where he played great as well. One of the very best 2002s in the country right now.
MA Final 40 2002s, May 2017: (3 Different Neutral Scouts) We saw him out in AZ at USA Nationals and had him rated as an A-. It was much of the same here. He is very fast and seems to find pucks in good spots. He is athletic, smart and skilled. His game is more about transition than play in tight spaces. He is excellent on the rush. As he adds weight, he should get even faster (he was one of the fastest players here) and diversify his game below the dots. He is one of the best 2002s in the country right now. Grade: B+ His skating stride is fluid, long and lean – which enables him to stretch out further than you can in fewer strides. Once he is able to generate more push with those legs, he will gain even more speed. His offensive instincts are pretty much on point where ever he is on the ice. He likes to change up his shot angle to give the goalie different looks at the puck when it’s coming in. He is fun to watch. Grade: B+ Left shot forward that can really move. Fluid skater with a strong stride. Has some skill and isn’t afraid to attack defenders one-on-one. Biggest asset at this time is skating and speed. Will be interesting to watch as he fills out and adds strength to his frame. Grade: B+
Mass Festival ’00, ’01, ’02 Notables, May 2017: Beniers was the top dog within the 02 class. There are some players you watch who have the total package of skill, speed and confidence: Beniers has all three. Looks to have grown since last year and checks in at 5’10 according to the eye test. Still a bit lanky in his body frame, but he is stronger on the puck now than he’s ever been. Really leans on his stick and lets his momentum aid his possession. Uses his longer legs to gain more separation in breakaway situations and has super smooth hands to tuck the puck in if he gets free. His acceleration is a positive but what’s more impressive is the clock in his head. He knows how much space and time he has and uses every bit of it to his advantage. Able to change direction quickly with very little wasted motion: strong on his edges. You have to think that coaches at the next level will be take long looks as he gets older. Grade: A-
U14 USA Tier 1 Nationals, April 2017: The late 2002 was excellent in the desert. He played fast, pushed the pace with the puck and forced turnovers without it. He is athletic, finished checks and played in every situation. He has a nice frame and as he adds weight and strength, will be even more difficult to handle.