Michael Benning

November 2024 – Many predicted that this would be a breakout AHL campaign for Mike Benning following the departure of elite AHL defenseman Lucas Carlsson. Through the first 10 games of the year, Benning has stepped up to the plate being tied for third in AHL defenseman scoring with two goals, eight assists, and 10 points. What is exciting about Benning’s jump in production is that he is still playing second fiddle to an AHL all-star, this time Trevor Carrick. It is expected that Benning’s and Carrick’s production will regress to the mean but Carrick likely will feel the effects of the regression much more. Size is still the largest hurdle for Benning to reach the NHL as there are not many sub-six-foot defenders in the NHL, let alone sub-5-10 defenders. The Panthers’ identity is rooted in their physicality, arguably the weakest aspect of Benning’s game, so it will be even more difficult for him to crack their roster. He still has undeniable NHL upside as an offensive defenseman but will need to continue to impress at the AHL level before getting his shot. James Connelly

August 2024 – Benning had a bit of an adjustment period last year with the Checkers. After dominating at the University of Denver, Benning had less opportunity in the AHL to quarterback the second powerplay unit and play second-pairing minutes. This led to a significant drop-off in production, but the numbers tell a worse story than Benning’s play. When AHL All-Star Lucas Carlsson went down with an injury, the Checkers coaching staff trusted Benning to step up, and he did, scoring 10 points in the 20 games without Carlsson ahead of him. He is set up to be the main man for the Checkers on the blue line next year and will likely improve significantly on his numbers. He has the tools to be one of the better offensive defensemen at the NHL level but will need to continue to develop his defensive game in the AHL. Benning could be the kind of player to play on the second or third defensive pair but plays on the first power play unit. Watch out for a big year from Benning in Charlotte. James Connelly

January 2024 – Benning, 22, has been playing second fiddle to veteran Lucas Carlsson this year after making the jump from college to the AHL. That has meant less PP time and muted offensive totals (11 in 33) compared to his days of being the top dog at the U of Denver. A heavy, accurate shot is his most formidable weapon, but he distributes intelligently and is adept at dangling and deceiving opposing players on the blue line. Strength and two-way play were always going to be challenges for a smaller (5-9), offensively inclined defender, so a couple years with the Checkers will do him well. But he remains the Panthers’ top D prospect and should see sporadic call-ups as he gains confidence. Ben Gehrels

August 2023 – Benning is a deceptive puck handler who dances the blue line on the power play and launches hard, accurate shots from the point. In his second year with Denver, the 2021-22 NCAA champs, he maintained the near point-per-game pace he managed as a freshman despite the fact that the team lost several top veteran scorers. Benning was once again a strong play-driver who led Denver in scoring from the back end. Given that he recently signed a three-year Entry Level Contract with Florida, there is a good chance we see him with the Checkers this year. Do not be surprised if he takes over their top power play and excels right off the hop. Still a relative secret in fantasy outside of Panthers fans, Benning looks poised to shoot up rankings in the near future. Ben Gehrels

December 2022 – Benning is in the midst of his second point-per-game campaign as a Junior at the University of Denver and is currently sitting only two points back of the nationwide point lead among defencemen. Denver lost a number of top scorers over the offseason, including NCAA scoring leader Bobby Brink (PHI) but Benning continues to drive his team’s offence from the back end. He is a highly mobile defender who distributes well and loves to launch bombs from the top of the circle–such as the slapshot that clinched the 2021-22 Championship for Denver. No other defensive prospect in Florida’s pipeline possesses higher offensive upside than Benning, provided he can transition his skillset to the next level. Ben Gehrels

March 2022 – Benning is having an incredibly successful sophomore season as a key part of a dominant U of Denver squad. He was named Player of the Week in his NCAA Division in late February 2022, and currently sits second league-wide for goal scoring by a defenceman (14) behind New Jersey Devils prospect Luke Hughes. Benning’s star potential remains low for the moment because he is a product of the AJHL (prior to college), which has fewer comparables than more common junior leagues. However, he likely has the most upside from a fantasy perspective of any defenceman in Florida’s pipeline right now—picture a Vince Dunn or Nick Leddy type who can score 35+ points with about two shots per game and time on PP2. Ben Gehrels

October 2020 – Benning was drafted 95th overall by the Panthers. Benning is expected to spend at least two years in college before turning pro.  Jokke Nevalainen

August 2019 – Following in the steps of Cale Makar, Benning is playing his draft year in the AJHL and will likely improve on the point-per-game pace that he set last year. The dynamic blueliner is the modern-day defender that every team craves. He skates well, moves the puck up the ice and his game is quite good in transition. He is shifty through the neutral zone and does a good job of evading defenders as he walks the blue line. He does a good job of distributing the puck from the point. He opens up passing lanes by skating the blueline and makes quick decisions when filtering the puck down towards the front of the net. He is slight at just 5’9″ and 170lbs but the Sherwood Park Crusader will likely be among the best defencemen on the AJHL circuit. With a strong draft year, Benning could be a massive riser throughout the year. Ranked anywhere between 50 and 100 on early-season publications, Benning has the potential to break into the first round by seasons end. Tony Ferrari