College reunion for Benning and Manson
It’s a small world after all, and we’re not just talking about the song and kids’ ride at Disneyland a few miles down the road from the Honda Center, which the Ducks call home.
Edmonton Oilers’ rookie Matt Benning and Ducks’ Josh Manson were teammates at Northeastern University in Boston, Benning coming from his St. Albert home and Dave Manson’s boy from Prince Albert. Two right-shot D, as well. Brian Benning, Matt’s dad, and Dave Manson were also Oilers teammates in ’92-93. Both defencemen, of course.
“Josh and I were roommates on the road for a year at school. We got together last night (Monday),” said Benning, who played his eighth NHL game against the Ducks Tuesday night while Manson suited up for his 116th — two kids who certainly bucked the draft odds, both picked in the sixth round.
Manson went 160th in 2011, Benning going 175th in 2012.
“We both left school after our third year and I talked to Josh a few times about that, whether I was making the right decision,” said Benning, who was drafted by Boston but signed with the Oilers as a free agent this summer while Manson signed with the Ducks, the team that drafted him.
Benning was a freshman while Manson was a junior in their one year together at Northeastern in 2013-2014. Manson had the C on his jersey.
“Josh was drafted as a forward actually (Salmon Arm in the BCJHL), then when he got to Northeastern he became a defenceman. He shut everybody down in our division, (Johnny) Gaudreau and (Kevin) Hayes, those kind of guys,” said Benning.
Neither player spent a lot of time in the minors before hitting the NHL. Manson played just 45 AHL games in Norfolk, Benning just two in Bakersfield before getting regular work with Andrej Sekera.
Manson, who played all of last season with the recently signed Hampus Lindholm on what might be the Ducks’ top pair but is with Cam Fowler now, will be going through an anxious season because he could be available in the expansion draft to Las Vegas.
If the Ducks only protect three D and seven forwards, they’ll be Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, both signed to long-term deals, and veteran Kevin Bieksa, who has a no-move clause and thus has to be protected. Even if they go four-and-four (forwards and D), then Fowler is in the picture, too, unless they trade him. Manson would be very attractive to the Vegas Whatevers.
Manson, 25, is what every team’s looking for. Right-shooting, big (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and pretty mobile. Benning is smaller (6 foot, 205) but moves the puck better than Manson.
“I always knew Matt had the tools and it’s nice (the NHL) happened so fast for him,” said Manson.
“I was the captain when Matt got there. He got the power play time. I didn’t get much time there.”
“He’s always had the tools offensively, but coming to the NHL, learning the defensive part is so important.
“You have to put up an awful lot of points to offset things (if you’re a defensive liability),” said Manson.
“My game’s coming along. I was searching for consistency last year. I’m trying to take it to the next level.”