Even though the Buffalo Sabres lost forward Alex Tuch on Wednesday after he was traded to the Washington Capitals, general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen did his part to ensure one of the club’s key pieces is sticking around for the long term.
On Wednesday evening, it was confirmed that the Sabres and forward Zach Benson agreed on a seven-year, $52.5 million extension, carrying a salary cap hit of $7.5 million and keeping him with the club through 20233.
Last month, Kekäläinen sang the praises of Benson and referred to him as a core piece of the club’s future.
“I see him as a true core piece that fills all the boxes,” Kekäläinen said in May via NHL.com. “… 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. What a great playoff he had and, again, I’m so excited about the level that he can get to, still. … Just wait until he becomes the big, strong man that we’re going to be pushing him to get to.”
Selected by the Sabres with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Benson posted a career-best 43-point season, recording 13 goals and 30 assists in the regular season. He then added five goals and four assists across 13 playoff appearances, as the Sabres not only made the postseason for the first time since 2011, but advanced to the second round for the first time since 2007.
Across 211 career games, Benson has totaled 34 goals and 67 assists for 101 points, with nine total playoff points.
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