Canada’s training camp opens in Toronto on December 10
The Buffalo Sabres decided to keep rookie winger Zach Benson past the 10-game mark last week, which kicked in the first year of his entry-level contract, but the club has yet to decide whether the 18-year-old will be loaned to Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Championships next month.
Benson has been playing on the Sabres second line with Dylan Cozens and J-J Peterka has five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 12 games and is averaging over 14 minutes in ice time.
Sabres GM Kevyn Adams indicated on Wednesday that he spoke with Hockey Canada’s VP of Hockey Operations Scott Salmond earlier in the week, who was inquiring on whether Benson would be loaned for the WJC in Gothenburg, Sweden.
"I don't want to close any doors right now, I want to monitor the situation, because as you guys know, in this league week to week things can change," Adams said. "We're going to do what's right for the Buffalo Sabres and Zach Benson first, and if we thought that there was something made sense to put him in that position. I'm a big believer in playing for your country, I'm a big believer in World Championships, Olympics World Juniors, but I'm a big believer in doing what's right for the Buffalo Sabres first, so we'll see where we are in the next week or 10 days."
Canada’s training camp opens on December 10 in Toronto.
LATEST THN BUFFALO STORIES