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

hizzoner

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Jun 19, 2006
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It was a nothing year, and he will be a UFA earlier, and we burned a year of entry-level deals -- all because they were too cheap to sign someone on a one-year deal as a gap measure for Quinn. Buffalo is one of the worst-run teams in the league. We may still find success but the amateur hour moves are endless.
He deserved to be on the team and worked his ass off. Sure it would have been nice to have him get stronger with play over seas or AHL (not possible) but going back to junior would not have been the right thing to do.
 
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Ace

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Oct 29, 2015
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It was a nothing year, and he will be a UFA earlier, and we burned a year of entry-level deals -- all because they were too cheap to sign someone on a one-year deal as a gap measure for Quinn. Buffalo is one of the worst-run teams in the league. We may still find success but the amateur hour moves are endless.
He didn’t outplay one person, friend. They would have needed, conservatively, seven new forwards for Benson to have not been rightfully in the lineup every night. I’m sorry he was 18. I can see you are having a difficult time with that. He was also, at worst, the fifth best forward on the Sabres this season.
 

MOGlLNY

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Jan 5, 2008
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It was a nothing year, and he will be a UFA earlier, and we burned a year of entry-level deals -- all because they were too cheap to sign someone on a one-year deal as a gap measure for Quinn. Buffalo is one of the worst-run teams in the league. We may still find success but the amateur hour moves are endless.
GMs stopped caring about burning a year of eligibility years ago. Gets them to a long term contract quicker and cheaper.
 

HogtownSabresfan

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Jan 13, 2010
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He didn’t outplay one person, friend. They would have needed, conservatively, seven new forwards for Benson to have not been rightfully in the lineup every night. I’m sorry he was 18. I can see you are having a difficult time with that. He was also, at worst, the fifth best forward on the Sabres this season.

It's not about whether he should have been in the lineup but what was the point of it. Call me when he is a UFA at 25. Or when his first RFA deal needs to be signed. Just poor player management. All are driven by incompetent other choices. Why was he better than what we had? I dunno, you spent $7 M on feel good contracts for Okposo/Jost/Girgensons. You wouldn't cut lose Oloffson or take part of his cap hit to bring someone else in. Congrats to the kid but pathetic Sabres are so mismanaged during their 4th rebuild or whatever this one is.
 

Panthaz89

Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Panthers fan
Dec 24, 2016
13,857
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It's not about whether he should have been in the lineup but what was the point of it. Call me when he is a UFA at 25. Or when his first RFA deal needs to be signed. Just poor player management. All are driven by incompetent other choices. Why was he better than what we had? I dunno, you spent $7 M on feel good contracts for Okposo/Jost/Girgensons. You wouldn't cut lose Oloffson or take part of his cap hit to bring someone else in. Congrats to the kid but pathetic Sabres are so mismanaged during their 4th rebuild or whatever this one is.
It's not mismanagement when he's better than most bottom 6ers in the league....and wtf would we be waiting for the time to make the playoffs is now. No team is purposely delaying their signings.....
 
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Dingo44

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Jul 21, 2015
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In Wheeler's Top 100 Drafted NHL Prospects he counts Benson as one - #20 "Tier 3"


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Benson’s a driver in every sense. He’s a multi-dimensional forward who has quick acceleration (I never understood how some called his skating average), can handle the puck at speed and change tempos in control, can shape play by opening up his hips to go heel to heel, thrives in traffic, is a triple shot-deke-pass threat, plays one step ahead of the game in possession, supports the play effectively, problem-solves incredibly well, works hard off the puck to keep his energy up (he plays heavier and scrappier than he looks, too), and sets the pace (whether by picking it up or slowing it down to use his creativity) and effort level for his line.

He’s the kind of player who fills the stat sheet and elevates his linemates in subtle ways, while providing shockingly impressive two-way play for a smallish (about 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds) winger. Increasingly, I’ve been impressed by his agility in and out of breaks and cuts (his skating is an underrated asset for him and particularly impressive through his edges and crossovers, though he can get going the length of the ice, too). He’ll make plays to the inside from the perimeter on one shift and then go right to the guts of the ice to make something happen in a congested area the next. When you package all of that skill with a dogged work ethic that keeps him around pucks all the time, you’ve got a tremendous player. If he were a little bigger, he’d be a scout’s dream. I think he’s going to be a top-of-the-lineup player regardless. And while I know the scoring wasn’t there in his rookie season, his shooting percentage should bounce back in time and his style will lend itself to getting around the net and finishing his fair share of plays (on top of the playmaking game).

There were a lot of nights three seasons ago, on a Winnipeg Ice team that boasted half a dozen of the better forwards and two of the top defensemen in the WHL, where Benson was the best player on the ice (which included him leading the Ice in playoff scoring with 23 points in 15 games) as a 16-year-old. By his draft year, there was no doubt: Though an injury kept him out of the first round of the playoffs, Benson was the best forward on one of the CHL’s most talented teams at forward. At year’s end, I ranked him sixth on my final list for the 2023 draft and the Sabres took him 13th. When he made the Sabres out of camp, I wasn’t honestly surprised. Though returning to the WHL and playing for Canada at the world juniors was probably the expected outcome, his game has always endeared itself to coaches.
 

Tatanka

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Jul 25, 2016
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"I'd just like to see consistency on that." when talking about the goalie interference. "I'm not going to not go there."

Also it took me a minute to get that "Twos" was him talking about Quinn. So used to the -ie nicknames, something new threw me! :biglaugh:
That kid is captain material in a few years.
 

Misko

Registered User
Sep 30, 2020
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Benson has been good for 4pts, including 3 goals, in his 4 games since coming back healthy. Only time will tell but with Thompson out of the lineup he didn't seem out of place getting heavier minutes yesterday.

The future for Benson is very bright, he's already easily one of our best players and his return from injury has coincided with Cozens improving his play as well, showing his value as a line driver as well.
 

dire wolf

immaculate vibes
May 9, 2006
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Out in LA


Also it took me a minute to get that "Twos" was him talking about Quinn. So used to the -ie nicknames, something new threw me! :biglaugh:
There was an Instagram reel or something where the players were explaining their nicknames. Quinn goes by "Twos" (or Quinner). Somebody probably has a link.

Back on topic - I love the way Benson plays in the dirty areas. He really is a beast for his size and age -- but with skill and IQ. Pretty unique combo.
 

tsujimoto74

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May 28, 2012
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Works his bag off and constantly disrupts pucks. It's a sight to behold. Still can't believe he fell.

Same. I friggin love this kid. Everything about the way he plays is *chef’s kiss*. It’s gotten to the point where I’ll see him on the boards fighting with 2 opposing players for the puck and expect him to come away with possession.
 

Fjordy

私たちはそうでした - 私たちはそうではありません。
Jun 20, 2018
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I read somewhere that Benson lives with Dahlin.
 

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