NHL scouting executive: Sam Bennett is no. 1

By Cory Buck | Jun 24, 2014

May 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fans play street hockey in the L.A. Live plaza before game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The NHL draft begins on Friday and there is more debate this year than any in recent memory over who should be selected no. 1 overall. While the team that selects first may still be up in the air, there have been a few names that have popped up near the top. If you listen to Dan Marr of the NHL Central Scouting Bureau though, the choice is clear. Sam Bennett is worthy of the top selection in the 2014 draft.

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In a radio interview with WGR 550 in Buffalo, Marr discussed why he put Bennett above defenseman Aaron Ekblad and fellow forwards Sam Reinhart and Leo Draisaitl, among others, in the mix for the top overall selection. Full audio of the interview is available at the link.

"“He’s got the skills that allow him to be a difference maker, a game changer. His offensive hockey sense, it always stands out because he’s always a scoring threat. He’s got a finishing touch. We feel he’ll be able to influence a game like Jonathan Toews where he’ll elevate his game and rise to the occasion.”"

That’s a lofty comparison Marr touts, but that’s the caliber of player you get even in a down year when you pick in the top three of the NHL draft. Bennett has elite speed and offensive skill. If the mental aspect of his game is being compared to Toews, then he certainly sounds like the complete package.

While many of the trade rumors have been focused on teams wanting to get at Aaron Ekblad, don’t forget about Sam Bennett, who could surprise many as the first teenager called to the podium on Friday night.