Beniers' next step to 2021 Draft coming with U.S. at World Championship

The 2021 NHL Draft is scheduled to be held July 23-24. Every two weeks, NHL.com will take a closer look at some of the draft-eligible players to watch.

Matthew Beniers, a top forward prospect for the 2021 NHL Draft, soon will have something in common with his one-time roommate, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes.
Beniers, a freshman at the University of Michigan this season, will play for the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, which starts Friday in Riga, Latvia. The U.S. will play its first game against Finland on Saturday.
Hughes played for the United States at the 2019 World Championship, prior to the Devils selecting him with the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft.
The chance to play at the Worlds caps a season that ended earlier than Beniers wanted; Michigan received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament but was unable to participate because of COVID-19 protocols.
Beniers (6-foot-1, 175 pounds), an A-rated player on NHL Central Scouting's players to watch list, tied for fourth among first-year NCAA players with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games, and the 18-year-old led first-time 2021 draft-eligible NCAA players in goals, goals per game (0.42) and shots on goal per game (2.38).
He's No. 7 on
NHL.com's list of the Top 32 prospects
for the 2021 NHL Draft.
Beniers felt he became a better shooter and decision-maker this season.
"I improved just getting my shot and release off better since that was kind of a big focus throughout this whole year," he said. "I made a lot of good strides there. College hockey is a higher-speed game than it was in any past years I've been playing, so I think just kind of getting used to playing in that, making quicker decisions, because obviously you have to do that at every level.
"You're going to have to adapt to the speed of the game and make quicker decisions wherever you are moving forward, so I think that was another big step."
Hughes and Beniers were teammates with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team in 2018-19, and Hughes said he was impressed when he was able to see Beniers play this season.
"I actually roomed with Matty when he got called up to the Under-18 team (as a 16-year-old)," Hughes said. "He's a great kid and obviously a great player. He had a good year at the University of Michigan. I watched a few games. He's just got to keep going, keep playing well, because success will find him."
Beniers also won 45.3 percent of his face-offs, and Michigan coach Mel Pearson said that was an area Beniers got better at as the season went on.
"Matt improved the most on face-offs and moving the puck," Pearson said. "He likes to have the puck because he has a high motor, it's always running. He shot more and is confident with the puck."
Beniers was one of three 2021 draft-eligible players from Michigan named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, along with left wing Kent Johnson (6-1, 167) and defenseman Owen Power (6-6, 213).
"He just played such a complete game," Michigan senior alternate captain Mike Pastujov said of Beniers. "He was a true freshman but played a 200-foot game, could kill penalties and play power play. He has such a well-rounded game for his age, understands the game really well, is a good teammate and I loved playing with him. He's a really good player."
The World Championship will be Beniers' second time playing for his country this season. He helped the United States win the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring three points (one goal, two assists) in seven games. He was the youngest player on the roster but his average ice time of 17:05 per game was third among U.S. forwards.
"World Juniors was definitely the best hockey moment I've experienced in my life," Beniers said. "It was awesome to play with such great players on my team and an awesome experience to play against such good players, especially on Russia and Canada. Hopefully I'll be able to play with those guys in the future.
"You're at a point in your hockey career where you're playing against a lot of good guys that you'll probably see at the next level, so it's fun to play against them."

TOP PROSPECTS ON THE RADAR (listed alphabetically):

Aleksi Heimosalmi (5-11, 170), D, Assat Jr. (FIN): The 18-year-old was named the best defenseman at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship after scoring eight points (two goals, six assists) in seven games with fourth-place Finland. A B-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's Players to Watch list for April, the right-handed shot scored 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) and had a plus-7 rating in 35 games in Finland's junior league.
"He was one of the most improved prospects in the Finnish junior league during the season," said Goran Stubb, Central Scouting's director of European scouting. "He's smart, makes good decisions in all three zones and has really improved his overall game during the season ... it showed it at U-18 World Championship."
Fabian Lysell (5-10, 172), RW, Lulea (SWE): Lysell is an A-rated skater with good speed and creativity. The 18-year-old scored three points (two goals, one assist) while averaging 7:22 of ice time in 26 games in the Swedish Hockey League, and helped Sweden finish third at the U-18 World Championship with a team-leading nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games.
"He's a mobile skater with quick moves and good speed," Stubb said. "He creates scoring chances with smart passes and surprising moves. He's not tall but strong, stocky, wins 1-on-1 battles."
Samu Tuomaala (5-10, 174), RW, Karpat Jr. (FIN-JR): The 18-year-old A-rated skater scored 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 35 games in Finland's junior league, and led Finland with 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven games at the U-18 World Championship.
"He's a wing with really good speed, quickness, puck control and a fine shot," Stubb said. "He has very good offensive tools, can shoot and pass well and is an energy player who works hard."
Danila Klimovich (6-1, 202), RW, Minsk Zubry (BLR-2): The B-rated skater was a surprise for sixth-place Belarus at the U-18s, scoring six goals in five games. The 18-year-old scored 52 points (28 goals, 24 assists) in 37 games for Minsk Zubry in Vysshaya Liga, the second-highest professional league in Belarus.
"He showed at the U-18 World Championship that he is a sniper with a good selection of shots," Stubb said. "He's got smooth hands and a quick release, is a good skater with speed, balance and surprising moves. He's physically strong, and even if he has great offensive instincts he also takes care of his defensive duties."
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