Benak is one of the most electric players I’ve seen at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament. Generally the most dominant player on the ice when he plays, Benak is a highly-skilled playmaker who uses his quickness and control of the pace at an elite level to command plays and beat players. He’s incredibly fast and can really burst, but he’s not constantly going full throttle as he likes to switch gears sporadically to burn defenses. He’s so dangerous off the rush, driving the puck with authority and confidence. His transition game is built on give-and-goes and one-touch outlets, in which he gathers substantial speed and challenges defenders. Benak exhibits slick hands and exploits inside-outside moves incredibly well to get past players. Flashy as he is, he even tried a Michigan in the first game of the tournament. He’s also an exceptional distributor as he always seems to find the right man with his precise outlets. He displays creativity in the way he reaches his teammates, whether it’s an area pass, a board pass, or a saucer, it’s usually always tape-to-tape. An elusive player, he uses breaks and delays to perfection to gain space and make the proper play. As talented as he is offensively, Benak is also a tenacious player, fighting through pucks and helping his team to score with effort. He’s a great defensive player, even for his size. You can see him riding the middle lane, keeping an open and active stick, and supporting his defenders close for breakouts. He’s a rapid and relentless forechecker, displaying superb anticipation and causing many turnovers. The only legitimate concern with Benak is his diminutive frame, which could hold him from a high selection in his draft year. He’s also not known as a scorer, taking too much time to release on occasions and lacking finishing abilities to match his offensive prowess. Still, it was an incredibly dominant showing by Benak. He improved as the game went on and by the second half of the game, he was flying out there and making high-grade plays at all times. I’m unsure about where he projects to get picked in the 2025 draft, but I’m convinced he should at least be a first-round selection, if not a high one.