Prospect Info: Zach Benson, LW/C, Wenatchee (WHL), Signed ELC- 2023, 13th Overall

[zuikan]

My thought was, as long as Savoie was healthy of course, that they might sprinkle both into the lineup but not in the same game. This could keep them both fresh and not sitting around long while both guys get ice time and ideally help each other off the ice.

That's the reasonable way but the fun way is putting both Savoie & Benson around MItts and push Greenway up to try and help Cozens & Peterka. The fourth line I'd prefer Krebs centering Jost & rotate Girgs/Okposo. See how that shakes out for awhile, at least.

 

[Gras]

That's the reasonable way but the fun way is putting both Savoie & Benson around MItts and push Greenway up to try and help Cozens & Peterka. The fourth line I'd prefer Krebs centering Jost & rotate Girgs/Okposo. See how that shakes out for awhile, at least.

No roster spot to do that until they figure out the 3 goalies

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

No roster spot to do that until they figure out the 3 goalies

If they can get Savoie the conditioning stint in Rochester, that should be loads of time to figure out who the crappiest tender is

 

[Dingo44]

 

[Jim Bob]

Surprise NHL breakouts? Zach Benson, Brock Faber and top 10 under-the-radar rookies

With such a stacked NHL rookie class, there's plenty of exciting young talent not quite getting their due.

theathletic.com

Zach Benson, LW, Buffalo Sabres​

Age: 18

Draft status: No. 13 pick in 2023

Stats: 5 GP, 0G-0A-2P, 13:20 ATOI

How he’s looked: Benson is pint-sized (listed at 5-foot-9 and 163 pounds) but his ascension to the NHL just four months after being drafted is a reminder that elite hockey IQ and competitiveness can trump that.

The 18-year-old winger has played in a third-line role and had a dream start through his first three games. Benson’s sublime playmaking immediately shined. Here’s an assist against the Islanders where he gained the zone, attracted multiple defenders like a magnet and then dished it off from high traffic which created an abundance of time and space for his linemates to score.

Benson isn’t just a pure-skill player. He was an unbelievable forechecker in junior and head coach Don Granato sang praises of Benson’s battle level and sturdy defensive play.

Watch how he uses his stick in the defensive zone to disrupt loose pucks twice and then outmuscles Artemi Panarin to force the puck out of the zone in the clip below. It’s a strong defensive sequence for any player, let alone an 18-year-old rookie.

Benson’s run into a bit of turbulence lately, though.

He had a bad game against the Flames, which included a turnover that led to a goal against. He got banged up with an injury, missed two games and then only skated 9:49 in his return on Tuesday night where he looked quiet.

Benson’s looked like he belongs for the most part though, which will make it tough for Buffalo to decide whether to keep him or loan him back to junior by the expiry of his nine-game NHL trial before the first year of his ELC gets burned.

 

[Reddawg]

It's always fun reading about how our young player is "pint sized" but the new hot-shit god-tier prospect who is nearly identically sized is playing the height and weight game just fine:

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

It's always fun reading about how our young player is "pint sized" but the new hot-shit god-tier prospect who is nearly identically sized is playing the height and weight game just fine:

View attachment 758142

That 15 pounds actually seems pretty significant, no? That’s almost 10% more weight on the same height.

 

[Zman5778]

It's always fun reading about how our young player is "pint sized" but the new hot-shit god-tier prospect who is nearly identically sized is playing the height and weight game just fine:

View attachment 758142

That 15 pounds could make a LOT of difference, especially if that's muscle mass.

 

[Mattilaus]

Agree with the two above comments. If you heard a player put on 15lbs of muscle over the summer we'd all be talking about how much work that is and how the player must have been a gym rat all summer. 15lbs is a lot, especially for players of smaller stature. I could hear that a player as big as Power put on 15lbs and I would be amazed.

 

[sabres4ever]

 

[allsilverdreams]

Time for him to go back and get stronger before he plays again in the NHL .
It was ok in the preseason when teams hardly hit.
But he looks like a young Mitts when he first entered the league.

 

[Ace]

I would never question the character of the Sabres medical staff...but...I did question his previous injury when they neither called anyone up nor saw him miss a skate. Telling me that he reaggrivated whatever it was and now the timing works out for him to sit for a couple/few weeks without questions…and will end up skating and practicing with the team some of that anyway…and then go to Rochester for two weeks before the WJC…well...

Im going to identify his lower body injury as a severe case of convenientitus.

 

[WeDislikeEich]

I would never question the character of the Sabres medical staff...but...I did question his previous injury when they neither called anyone up nor saw him miss a skate. Telling me that he reaggrivated whatever it was and now the timing works out for him to sit for a couple/few weeks without questions…and will end up skating and practicing with the team some of that anyway…and then go to Rochester for two weeks before the WJC…well...

Im going to identify his lower body injury as a severe case of convenientitus.

Sounds like kind of a smart move by the Sabres (if true, and it does sound very plausible).

 

[Ace]

Sounds like kind of a smart move by the Sabres (if true, and it does sound very plausible).

“Hey kid…do you want to go back to the WHL?”

”…no”

”then start limping.”

 

[MarkusKetterer]

“Hey kid…do you want to go back to the WHL?”

”…no”

”then start limping.”

 

[Chainshot]

I would never question the character of the Sabres medical staff...but...I did question his previous injury when they neither called anyone up nor saw him miss a skate. Telling me that he reaggrivated whatever it was and now the timing works out for him to sit for a couple/few weeks without questions…and will end up skating and practicing with the team some of that anyway…and then go to Rochester for two weeks before the WJC…well...

Im going to identify his lower body injury as a severe case of convenientitus.

Except of course for the practices he wasn't on the ice for. Those?

 

[Jacob582]

The team is not making up injuries. But I do think it is a nagging injury that normally most NHL players would end up playing through. They just have an incentive (and cap flexibility) to want him to stick around longer.

 

[Puppa2Miller]

The team is not making up injuries. But I do think it is a nagging injury that normally most NHL players would end up playing through. They just have an incentive (and cap flexibility) to want him to stick around longer.

What is the incentive? The kid is better off playing games somewhere - even in the WHL

Sit for a game or two, sure. But, when he is off the ice on a week-to-week basis there is no good coming from that from a Sabres perspective

 

[Bendium]

Sounds like the Sabres are exactly on course to use injuries and the AHL 14 day reconditioning assignment to get Benson and Savoie as many pro games as possible before the worlds juniors, without burning a year on eithers ELC. Maybe they get away with another reconditioning assignment after worlds before being sent back to juniors for the remainder of the season, followed by AHL playoffs. Best they can do with the CHL limitations. Makes zero sense to burn any ECL on these two player, who might be close to mentally ready, but not physically ready for the NHL.

 

[Matt Ress]

Sounds like the Sabres are exactly on course to use injuries and the AHL 14 day reconditioning assignment to get Benson and Savoie as many pro games as possible before the worlds juniors, without burning a year on eithers ELC. Maybe they get away with another reconditioning assignment after worlds before being sent back to juniors for the remainder of the season, followed by AHL playoffs. Best they can do with the CHL limitations. Makes zero sense to burn any ECL on these two player, who might be close to mentally ready, but not physically ready for the NHL.

Can they do more than 1 conditioning stint in the AHL?

 

[HaNotsri]

What is the incentive? The kid is better off playing games somewhere - even in the WHL

Sit for a game or two, sure. But, when he is off the ice on a week-to-week basis there is no good coming from that from a Sabres perspective

I think they'll gain more from 9 games in the NHL+some AHL games + practicing with better players than themselves + building strength than spending a couple of months extra in the juniors.
They will know what to work ln before the come back in time for the post season with Rochester and a calder cup win.

 

[Bendium]

Can they do more than 1 conditioning stint in the AHL?

No idea. I did not see anything in the rule concerning prereq's, other than the NHL must approve it and the commissioner can/will investigate misusses of the rule. I read an article talking about it being used several times a year on backup goalies that don't play alot. Or 13th forwards/7th dmen who go extended time without playing.

There is also a difference between a normal conditioning stint and LTIR reconditioning.

Could the Sabres put Benson and Savoie on LTIR for 24 days during the world juniors and then send them on reconditioning when they get back before activating off LTIR?

I did so me digging but not completely sure here. Need a rules monger.

 

[Jim Bob]

No idea. I did not see anything in the rule concerning prereq's, other than the NHL must approve it and the commissioner can/will investigate misusses of the rule. I read an article talking about it being used several times a year on backup goalies that don't play alot. Or 13th forwards/7th dmen who go extended time without playing.

There is also a difference between a normal conditioning stint and LTIR reconditioning.

Could the Sabres put Benson and Savoie on LTIR for 24 days during the world juniors and then send them on reconditioning when they get back before activating off LTIR?

I did so me digging but not completely sure here. Need a rules monger.

They have to loan players to their WJC team. While on loan, they cannot be on LTIR, I believe.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Waterfowlist]

I wonder if he will get 4 minutes before being sent back down?