Beau Bennett
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Birthday:
1991-11-27 |
Position:
RW |
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Eligible for draft:
2010 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
2010 |
Height:
6-2 |
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Acquired:
1st round (19th overall), 2010 |
Weight:
207 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- C
History
2008-09: Beau Bennett played for the Los Angeles Junior Kings.
2009-10: Played for the Penicton Vees of the BCHL. In 56 games for the Vees, Bennett scored 41 goals and added 79 assists for 120 points, which placed him atop the BCHL scoring statistics. 25 of his goals came on the power play. In 15 playoff games, Bennett scored 5 goals and added 9 assists for 14 points. Was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 19th overall.
2010-11: In his freshman season with DU Bennett started the season slowly, going pointless in his first six games. He eventually found a groove and produced at roughly a point-per-game clip before sustaining an awkward looking knee injury on December 3rd. Bennett would return six weeks later and pick up where he left off, finishing the season with 9 goals and 16 assists through 37 games, all while seeing only limited powerplay time.
2011-12 Upon completion of his sophomore year with the Denver Pioneers, Bennett signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Penguins.
2011-12: Bennett experienced a severe wrist injury in October, limiting him to only 10 games on the season. In those 10 games he did manage 13 points, but was unable to play through the pain and in December, underwent surgery to repair the damage. On April 13th, Bennett signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Penguins.
2011-12: Bennett experienced a severe wrist injury in October, limiting him to only 10 games in his sophomore season at Denver. In those 10 games he did manage 13 points, but he was unable to play through the pain and in December, underwent surgery to repair the damage. On April 13th, Bennett signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Penguins, foregoing his final two years of college hockey.
Talent Analysis
Bennett is an offensively creative winger who is most effective when the puck is on his stick. He has the ability to carry the puck up ice, run the powerplay from the half-boards, play the point, and possesses a hard and accurate repertoire of shots. He is also quite adept at creating open ice.
"[Bennett] is a guy who you maybe look to get opportunities to see what he can do in offensive roles," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said of the winger. "Not necessarily a guy who's going to race up and down the ice with his speed, but just his hands, his ability to create space, (and) ability to get his shot off is fairly evident in seeing him. You envision that in him as a pro player."
Since he was drafted in 2010, Bennett has added 40 pounds and an inch in height, putting him well into the average realm of height and weight for NHL forwards. He has also dramatically improved his skating over the past two seasons and now possesses a relatively explosive first step.
For now Bennett needs to continue refining the defensive side of his game as well as continue to get stronger.
Future
Though there is a chance he could start the 2012-13 season flanking Penguins center Sidney Crosby, it is more likely Bennett will play the majority if not all of the season in the AHL.
