Zach Benson was probably the most polarizing prospect of the 2023 NHL Draft. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 159 pounds at the time of the draft, his frame was a frequent topic of discussion among the media, with many assuming it would negatively affect his draft position. And it did. A consensus top-10 (maybe top-5, depending on who you ask) talent in the class fell into the lap of the Buffalo Sabres at pick 13, a pick they certainly aren’t regretting now, three years later.
Benson has always been an offensive producer. In his draft year, he scored 36 goals and 98 points for the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice, finishing third in league scoring. The concerns have never come from Benson’s offensive abilities, which were always among the best in his class, but rather his physical frame, which many believe would hinder his impact at the NHL level. Skilled players getting knocked for their physical size isn’t an uncommon theme come draft season. Look no further than the draft class prior to Benson’s, when USNDTP standout Lane Hutson fell to the end of the second round, largely due to concerns about his size. It’s a trait that gets overblown by scouting departments and media members every draft season. In today’s NHL, it doesn’t matter if you’re “small”; what matters is if you “play small”, and in Zach Benson’s case, he plays like he’s got the biggest body on the ice.
This playoffs, specifically the second round series against the Canadiens, was a true breakout for Benson. He had a solid regular season, scoring 13 goals and 43 in 65 games while playing just under 16 minutes a night, but he still felt underappreciated league-wide. But that shouldn’t be the case anymore. I mentioned how Benson isn’t someone who “plays small” when he’s on the ice, and this Sabres playoff run illustrated that perfectly. His production was solid, scoring 5 goals and 9 points in 13 games, while seeing his average ice-time jump up a full minute compared to the regular season. But that wasn’t the most impressive part of Benson’s playoff run; instead, it was how natural and comfortable he looked playing playoff-style hockey. You’d have to look pretty hard to find someone who works harder than Zach Benson; in fact, it might be impossible. Even with his smaller frame, Benson is physical, hard on the forecheck, and doesn’t mind mixing things up after whistles. The playoff production is a result of his willingness to take hits and go to dirty areas to make plays. So what if you’re a smaller player? If you play the game hard and with determination, you can be an impact player at any level.
According to Natural Stattricks, the Sabres outscored the Canadiens 6-2 with Benson on the ice at five-on-five, and he ran a 62.42 expected goals for percentage for the series. The Sabres generated more shots and scoring chances with Benson on the ice as well, and it didn’t go unnoticed. Benson saw over 20 minutes of icetime in each of the final three games against Montreal, peaking with 24:07 in Monday’s game 7 overtime thriller. He was the best and most consistently dangerous Sabre throughout the series, and it seems the hockey world is finally waking up to his incredible potential.
In 2023, the Buffalo Sabres took a chance on the skilled, undersized winger out of the WHL. And it’s a decision they’re going to enjoy for a very long time.
