Other possibilities for Seattle at No. 2 are forward Dylan Guenther of Edmonton of the Western Hockey League and defenseman Luke Hughes of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team, who is expected to be a freshman at Michigan.
Beniers could sign an entry-level contract and play in the NHL next season after his college season is complete. He said he has interviewed with Seattle, an expansion team that will begin play next season.
"It's a big step," Beniers said of starting his professional career. "I'm only 18. I'd love to be in college, kind of have a college life, especially after last year, we didn't really get the full college experience, getting fans at games, didn't get to go to a classroom, going into the classrooms.
"If you're going to leave, you're going to have to live on your own or with a roommate and kind of become a pro, become an adult, so if I'm ready to make that jump and I'm ready as a hockey player, then it might be the right thing, but if it's not, then I think it's the right thing to go back (to Michigan)."
Rounds 2-7 of the draft are July 24 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, SN NOW).
NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale contributed to this report
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