The Buffalo Sabres made a big bet on their future Wednesday night, signing forward Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5 million extension. The contract carries a $7.5 million annual cap hit and keeps Benson in Buffalo through 2033.
It came just hours after the Sabres traded veteran forward Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals, a move that cleared cap space and signaled a changing of the guard. General manager Jarmo Kekäläinen didn’t waste any time locking up the guy he clearly sees as a franchise cornerstone.
Kekäläinen Called Benson a ‘Core Piece’
Back in May, Kekäläinen went out of his way to praise the 21-year-old forward. He told NHL.com that Benson “fills all the boxes” and called him a true core piece of the organization’s future.
“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,” Kekäläinen said. “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.”
The Sabres picked Benson 13th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. He rewarded their faith with a career-best 43-point regular season this year, scoring 13 goals and adding 30 assists. Then came the playoffs, where Buffalo ended an 11-year postseason drought. Benson showed up big, with five goals and four assists in 13 games as the Sabres advanced to the second round for the first time since 2007.
What This Means for Buffalo
Over 211 career games, Benson has 34 goals and 67 assists for 101 points. The numbers are solid but not spectacular yet. What Kekäläinen and the Sabres are banking on is the jump that usually comes when a young skilled forward fills out physically and gains experience.
This is a significant commitment for a guy who hasn’t even turned 22 yet. But the Sabres needed to make a statement after trading Tuch, and Benson is the guy they’re building around now. The cap hit is reasonable if he continues developing. If he plateaus, it could become a problem down the road. For now though, Buffalo fans have a reason to feel good about the direction up front.
Benson’s extension kicks in next season and runs through 2033. By then, the Sabres will either have built something sustainable around him or they’ll be starting over again. Right now, they’re betting he’s the guy to lead the way.
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