Author of the best first career goal in ages, Zach Benson convinced the Buffalo Sabers to keep him on the roster for the entire season.
The young 18-year-old forward will play his tenth game of the 2023-2024 season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night, meaning the first year of his rookie contract will be activated. Head coach Don Granato has no regrets.
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“He’s been good since day one of camp. Like I said, if he wasn’t good and competent without the puck, his positioning and his play, he wouldn’t have made the team. Then he showed his qualities and his real ability to improve from game to game. I think he has further strengthened his bow because he is an intelligent player,” said Granato in a pre-match press conference.
The 13th pick in the most recent draft has five points in nine games, but none were as good as his first goal in the National League. On Wednesday, Benson maneuvered close to Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper before beating him with a shot between the legs.
“Of course I have a lot of self-confidence,” he said on Friday. You have to have that confidence at that level if you want to succeed. My confidence has never wavered. I’ve been confident since day one. It shows how warm this group was and how quickly you feel at home here.”
“I would say I’m a bit of a hockey nerd, so I like to learn as much as I can about the sport. This is what I do, what I have done and what I will continue to do,” said the British-Columbian, a former Winnipeg Ice junior.
Benson is the fourth player in his class to be guaranteed to play the entire campaign on the Bettman circuit, following Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli, the first three players in the auction.