BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen couldn’t hide his smile when asked about Zach Benson.The Sabres winger just turned 21, but he’s already become someone Kekäläinen views as a core piece of Buffalo’s roster. Benson, who jumped into the NHL at 18, put up 43 points in 65 games in his third full season. He was also plus-27. But it’s what he did in the Stanley Cup playoffs that elevated his status. Benson had nine points in 13 postseason games and was plus-6. Here’s a snapshot of the impact Benson had for the Sabres at even strength, while keeping in mind he was also promoted to the first power-play unit in the second round.
Zach Benson's playoffs at even strength StatResultExpected goal share 60%Shots for/against93-59Scoring chances for/against96-69High-danger chances for/against52-33
Benson did all of that despite having the most defensive-zone starts among Buffalo’s top-nine forwards. He’s now a restricted free agent, and Kekäläinen made it clear that his next contract is a priority.“I’m excited,” Kekäläinen said. “That’s a great situation. That’s why we locked up Josh Doan early because we saw the character, the competitiveness and the potential for a leadership role long into the future. You want to lock guys like that up; that’s the same thing with Benson. I see him as a true core piece that fills all the boxes. Maybe not the height, but everything else … The way he plays, I mean, he’s just a relentless dog on a bone. I can’t say enough good things about Zach Benson. He’s got skill, he’s got hockey sense, he’s got instincts, he’s relentless, he’s a competitor.”Benson’s contract situation will be interesting. Because he entered the league so young, he’s signing his second contract at 21, before he’s even come close to realizing his potential. That means he’s signing the contract based on production, that is, in theory, a fraction of the production he could hit in future seasons. On top of that, the NHL’s salary cap, which is jumping to $104 million in 2026-27, is expected to increase to $113.5 million in 2027-28 and $123 million in 2028-29. Benson’s future earning potential could be massive if he kicks the can down the road on signing a long-term extension.But there is also the value of money in hand. It’s in the Sabres’ best interest to sign Benson for as long as possible before he shows even more. He’s already the team’s best agitator, its most consistent defensive forward and one of its best forecheckers. He’s now starting to show the playmaking skill to go with it, too.
