Zach Benson wasn’t expecting to be around the Buffalo Sabres for longer than a few weeks.
The 5-foot-9 winger drafted with the 13th pick last June knew that he was going to participate in the Sabres’ rookie camp and Prospects Challenge. His time in NHL training camp was supposed to be short and, at most, he’d appear in a preseason game or two before joining his new junior team in Wenatchee, Washington.
Yet, as the Sabres learned of another coaching change last month, Benson was still with the team and reflecting on what he was able to accomplish in 71 games as a teenager in the NHL.
The 19-year-old finished 11th among all NHL rookies in points (30), ahead of fellow first-round draft picks Leo Carlsson of Anaheim (second overall) and Columbus’ Adam Fantilli (third overall). Benson became the second-youngest Sabres player to appear in a regular-season game, trailing only Pierre Turgeon. The Chilliwack, British Columbia, native’s 11 even-strength goals were the most ever by a Sabres skater in a single season at age 18 or younger, three more than Phil Housley scored in 1982-83.
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Sabres left winger Zach Benson celebrates his 10th goal of the season against the Capitals. He finished with 11.
“I mean, it was a crazy year for me,” Benson said after he finished the season with 11 goals and 30 points in 71 games. “You know, coming to camp, not too sure what’s gonna go on. It was definitely a hectic year and one I’ll never forget. It was pretty awesome to play with this group of guys. It was a dream come true to play my first year in the NHL.”
Year 2 will bring different challenges for Benson. He’ll have a new coach, Lindy Ruff, who will enjoy Benson’s relentless approach on the forecheck and around the opponent’s net. The Sabres have given Benson a comprehensive plan to follow on and off the ice to improve in specific areas that will help him next season. He’ll stay with a relative near Vancouver so he’s in close proximity to the trainers and coaches who will prepare him to try to make a bigger impact against older, experienced NHLers.
The barrier for a prospect to make the Sabres’ roster in the fall likely will be higher than during any of Kevyn Adams’ four years as general manager. Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, Matt Savoie and others will have to impress even more than Benson did last fall to crack a lineup that will try to snap a 13-year playoff drought. And, though proven veterans will be added this summer, the Sabres are going to need Benson to thrive no matter where he’s skating in their lineup on opening night in Czechia.
“He was great,” said Sabres winger Jeff Skinner. “I think what’s exciting is just to see how much he’s going to improve. I think that it’s one of those things as a player, as a teammate, you have a unique perspective, because you get to see him every day in practice. … He’s got some maturity in his game that I think that some guys just don’t have. I think it’s not even an age thing. And I think, offensively, he’s going to continue to improve.
“I think you look at his goals, a lot of them are around the net and he’s going to get bigger, faster, stronger. He’s going to be able to score from further out the faster and stronger he gets. Getting in tight and scoring some of the goals he scored the way he did, I think some of those are kind of just instincts, some of those you can’t really teach and that’s kind of an indication of how good he is and how good he can be because I think that he’s gonna continue to get better.”
Sabres left winger Zach Benson wasn’t afraid to station himself in front of the net during his rookie season.
Only four of the 224 players selected in the 2023 NHL draft appeared in more than one game this season: Benson, Fantilli, Carlsson and No. 1 pick Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks. Each endured different growing pains as they tried to make an impact as teenagers competing against bigger, stronger opponents.
Benson, though, managed to win more puck battles than you’d expect from someone listed at 170 pounds. He showed in the preseason that he understood the subtle art of winning one-on-one puck battles, such as stick positioning and angling on the forecheck.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his season was Benson’s ability to rally after hitting the rookie wall before the All-Star break. He did not have a goal in 19 games between Dec. 16 and Feb. 10 but managed to finish the season with seven points in his final seven games. He was one of only 15 rookies to appear in at least 70 games, and he ranked sixth among all first-year forwards in 5-on-5 points.
Among rookie forwards to appear in at least 50 games, Benson ranked ninth in points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 with 1.76. One area he’ll need to improve this summer is the strength of his left-handed shot. Though Benson did most of his damage around the net, he’ll be more effective once he’s able to beat NHL goalies further from the crease. He and the rest of the Sabres’ forwards will need to be sharper in the defensive zone if they’re going to cut down on the mistakes that caused them to finish with seven fewer standings points than the previous season.
“He’s fearless, man,” said Sabres winger Jordan Greenway. “I remember my first year, I was so nervous. You know, he’s a small kid, he’s 18 years old. He doesn’t back down. He’ll go into the dirty areas. And on top of that, he’s got a skill set that’s great. He can score. He can do a lot of good things. So, the sky is the limit for him.”
Only four Sabres in their age 18 season produced more points than Benson: Turgeon (42), Housley (66) and Rasmus Dahlin (44). Benson also finished third on the team in on-ice 5-on-5 shot-attempt differential, according to Natural Stat Trick, and trailed only Dahlin and Tage Thompson. Casey Mittelstadt and JJ Peterka were the only Sabres with a better on-ice shot-quality share than Benson, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Benson was sixth on the team in expected goals for per 60 minutes, according to Evolving-Hockey, and he showed that he has the instincts to skate next to experienced high-end players like Thompson and Alex Tuch. Benson ranked fourth on the team in individual high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick, but the production will need to increase if he is going to be a fixture in the Sabres’ top six.
Though Benson was a reliable defensive presence next to his most common linemates, Peterka and Dylan Cozens, the trio scored at a rate of only 1.24 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. He’ll also have the opportunity to contribute on the power play, where he did not score a goal as a rookie but showed that he has the instincts to work in the bumper or net-front positions. Benson became an effective penalty-killer late in the season, ranking third among all Buffalo forwards in short-handed ice time over the final 16 games.
There should be more competition for spots in the top six. Adams plans to reshape the personnel at the bottom of the lineup, plus Jack Quinn will be on the first or second line if he’s healthy. Benson proved in Year 1, though, that he has the skill and intangibles to emerge as a draft day steal for the Sabres and a long-term contributor for a team that’s trying to contend for the Stanley Cup each season.
“He’s a professional,” said Dahlin, who housed Benson during the second half of the season. “He’s so competitive with everything he does. The way he handles himself on a day-to-day basis, it’s pretty cool to see. He’s been learning so much this year. And this year, his rookie year has been really good for him. But yeah, his ceiling is very, very high. And I’m excited for his future.”
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