Beniers looked sharp
April 13th, 2022 at 10:20 AM ^
Quinn Hughes scored an OT winner, too.
Just thrilled for these guys. Seeing Michigan hockey alums thrive in the NHL is awesome. I’d say “without exception” and that’s basically true but with Compher and Cogliano on the Avalanche roster I will say that some positive achievements will produce mixed feelings.
”But Steve,” you may say, “that whole thing was 20 years ago.” To which I say: So?
Anyway, if Michigan players are so successful in the NHL that a few of them wind up playing on the rosters of the NHL teams for which I hold nothing but contempt, well, I think that says something good about our hockey program, and I can deal with that.
April 13th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^
I was watching NHL highlights last week and they showed a Luke Glendening goal. I perked up and said "hey, I know that name!". He played from 2008-2012 at Michigan, so he's been a pro for a decade. Not bad!
April 13th, 2022 at 10:48 AM ^
Has to be a record. "2008-20012"
April 13th, 2022 at 10:55 AM ^
Ha! Thanks for catching that.
April 13th, 2022 at 11:05 AM ^
Tom Brady says, "Hold my beer!"
April 13th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
What's crazier is Glendening walked on at Michigan and wasn't expected to amount to much. The fact that he's been in the league for a decade is amazing.
April 13th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
There have been some "expected" NHL success stories. Guys like Morrison and Connor looked very promising in college and came through in the pros.
There have also been some "wait, what?" stories. Glendenning is a great example. My personal favorite, since I watched a large number of his games in person, was David Moss. He was pretty far down the list of promising pros on that roster... and he outlasted everyone he played with except, I believe, Mike Cammalleri and Al Montoya.
April 13th, 2022 at 10:43 PM ^
As a student season ticket holder during his entire career, David Moss always seemed like an underrated talent.
Played with SO MANY guys who I thought would make an impact in the NHL, not least of which were Nystrom and Tambellini.
I always thought Milan Gajic was going to surprise down the line as well, and you can go on and on from that era with Ryznar, TJ, Ebbett, Kaliniecki, Kolarik, M. Hunwick... etc.
April 13th, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
His offense really improved this season. I thought he was consistently Michigan's best 200ft forward, and it seemed to translate to the Olympics. There's been a lot of talk that he's a 2C at best in the NHL and a low ceiling / high floor type draft pick. With his skating ability and work ethic I think he will surprise some people.
I think it’s going to depend on what you’re looking for in your center. Beniers projects as a phenomenal two-way forward that is going to do a lot of things that help win games but won’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. He’ll be an analytics dream.
But if your idea of a first line center is someone who is pushing 100 points a year throughout his career, I can see how some would have reservations there.
April 13th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
I clipped his first point for y'all
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxLjoefh5ZXiUTxCFXMR5B7l84Y8L-g4cY
April 13th, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^
thanks for the link, that's great.
hoping to see Kent Johnson Saturday vs the Kings, got my tickets yesterday.
April 13th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
thank you. showed up in HD on my computer, fun to watch. great no-look pass. go blue!
April 13th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
Power looked pretty sharp vs the Leafs too. I thought he might be drinking from a firehose in game 1 and get himself in bad position but I thought he fit right in
Seeing how Power performed last year in the World Championships made me fairly confident he would fit in easily on an NHL roster. Power doesn’t “wow” you on the screen like Luke Hughes does, but he’s just good at pretty much everything and has the size to match up against NHLers
I’m not sure Power will ever win or be a true contender for the Norris (although I also wouldn’t be completely shocked by it), but his combination of size, skating, and comfort with the puck aren’t normal. He was a #1 overall pick for a reason. And while a lot of the new age defensemen play a game that’s more noticeable, like the Hughes/Makar/etc., Power makes so many subtle little plays that will probably work out even better at the NHL level compared to college. He’s just really crafty and good at finding the open man and at his size you don’t see it everyday.
No one else is winning the Norris when Mo Seider takes it 10 years in a row while hoisting 10 straight Stanley Cups
April 13th, 2022 at 10:58 PM ^
So pumped to see him in Seattle.
Visiting my daughter this weekend in Seattle. She took me to the Kraken Devils game last night, which turned out to be Matty's first home game for the Kraken. He was very warmly received, played great, and as the game went on the crowd was cheering for him more and more. He scored a go ahead goal putting Seattle up 3-2. The game went to OT and they game him the second penalty shot, which he beat the goalie on, but hit the post. The Kraken won anyway as New Jersey missed all three OT penalty shots. We had a blast, and it was more fun for us to be able to see Matty Beniers play so well his first home game.
Happy Easter to all MgoBloggers !