The 2023 first-rounder's excellent camp is doing more than just opening eyes
The Buffalo Sabres were ecstatic that Zach Benson fell to them at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville in June, but the expectation was that after training camp, the offensively gifted winger would be heading back to the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild. With less than two weeks to go before the start of the 2023-24 regular season, there is a good chance that the 18-year-old may have earned some extra time in Buffalo.
The 13th overall pick has been placed in spots suited to his abilities, playing with junior linemate Matthew Savoie at their prospect tournament last month, and throughout most of camp with top-line center Tage Thompson and winger Jeff Skinner. Through four preseason games, Benson leads the club with four points (2 goals, 2 assists).
On Saturday, the Sabres fell behind Columbus 3-0, with Benson’s line on the ice for all three markers, but in a third-period comeback, the youngster assisted on Skinner’s tying power-play goal and scored the game-winner on the man advantage with 5:46 remaining.
"You don't want to get dashed up ever, but I thought we did a good job as a line to put it in the past. We knew we weren't at our best. I thought after that, we started pushing and playing in the (offensive) zone and we started wearing them down and eventually (that) led to power plays." Benson said. "Your dream and goal is to play in the NHL and my job right now is just to keep pushing, keep trying my best and my main thing is just keep getting better every day."
The road to making the NHL appeared unrealistic for Benson, even after posting an impressive 98-point campaign with the Winnipeg Ice last season. The Sabres had one forward spot open with the injury to winger Jack Quinn going into camp. The open competition was crowded with Savoie, first-rounders Isak Rosen, Jiri Kulich, and Rochester Americans leading scorer Lukas Rousek all having the advantage of being older or possessing more pro experience, but injuries and disappointing camps have opened the door for Benson.
"(Benson) can strip pucks and steal pucks as good as anybody in the short time watching him. That was his (modus operandi) prior to the draft." Sabres head coach Don Granato said on Saturday. "He's shown to be very, very smart and elusive. I think he's one of those guys if he's 5'11" or 6', he's easier to grab but he could sneak in between coverage areas and he takes advantage of the size he is extremely well."
Roster considerations will factor into whether Benson will get a longer look into the season. Kulich, Rosen, and Rousek are all waiver-exempt and can go down to Rochester freely, but 25-year-old Brandon Biro is having an excellent camp and would have to clear waivers to go down, risking the possibility of him getting claimed.
Savoie cannot play in the American Hockey League but has not practiced since injuring his shoulder in the last game of the prospect tournament on September 18, which could mean him starting the season on injured reserve, and Benson playing up to nine games before going back to junior.