The Buffalo Sabres announced that forward Zach Benson will remain with the club for his 10th NHL game on Friday, kicking off the first year of his NHL entry-level contract.
Had Benson been sent down to the WHL, the first year of his deal would have been pushed to next year instead, buying the team an extra year before having to sign him to an extension. Drafted 13th overall by the Sabres in 2023, Benson scored his first NHL goal on Wednesday with a between-the-legs move. It was his third point in three games after returning from injury after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. He missed another two games in October, which is why his total game count has been kept so low early on.
Benson has five points in nine games this year, averaging 13:46 in ice time a game. All of his points have come at even strength thus far.
Benson has two more years of eligibility with the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild, but his prolonged stay with the Sabres could make that unlikely. His Wild teammate, Matthew Savoie, was recently loaned back to the WHL by the Sabres after making his debut a few weeks back. Benson had 98 points last year, good for second among first-year draft-eligible CHLers behind Connor Bedard.
The move to keep Benson around longer could make for an interesting situation for Team Canada’s World Junior Championship squad. It could be that Benson’s season has been interrupted enough and that sending him to the WHL would only further that with little to gain. There’s no sense in rushing Benson and forcing him into the lineup if he’s going through struggles, and helping Canada challenge for world junior gold could go a long way.
Training camp for that runs in Oakville, Ontario from Dec. 10-13, with the tournament taking place in Sweden from Dec. 26 – Jan. 5.
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