PuckSleuth
6Cap hit
$7.5M
7.2% of $104M cap
Term
7 yrs
Through 2032-33, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
−$1.472M
vs. $6.028M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
1
1 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
18:34
PP 4:27 · PK 0:31
xGF%
70.7
5v5, +16.8 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.12
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-1
Blocks 1 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ CBJ · L 6-3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 18:34 | 4:27 | 0:31 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | -1 | +0.12 |
| May 18 vs MTL · OTL 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24:07 | 0:52 | 0:00 | — | 92 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.58 |
| May 16 @ MTL · W 8-3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 20:04 | 3:53 | 0:41 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | +3 | +0.66 |
| May 14 vs MTL · L 6-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 21:04 | 2:59 | 0:00 | — | 56 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.24 |
| May 12 @ MTL · W 3-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14:21 | 3:15 | 0:05 | 0-1 | 20 | 2 | 0 | +1 | +0.58 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 825 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
80th percentile
82nd percentile
83rd percentile
75th percentile
87th percentile
78th percentile
96th percentile
76th percentile
63rd percentile
72nd percentile
13th percentile
41st percentile
94th percentile
39th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play stylePlaymaking setup winger
Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26
Benson is a pass-first creator who consistently sets up chances for teammates with excellent puck management and vision. His physical game lags behind peers, and he doesn't generate volume on his own shot, limiting his scoring ceiling.
- Shooting volume
- 38
- Playmaking
- 88
- Zone entries(est.)
- 64
- Forechecking
- 24
- Physicality
- 20
- Defensive impact
- 66
- Puck management
- 84
- Speed
- 43
Where he shoots from
Slot 64% · Mid-range 25% · Perimeter 11%(161 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Playmaking at 88th percentile makes him a consistent assist producer
- Puck management at 84th percentile keeps plays alive and moving forward
- Defensive impact at 66th percentile shows solid two-way effort
Watch-outs
- Physicality at 20th percentile means he loses puck battles in tight spaces
- Shooting volume at 38th percentile limits his direct scoring impact
- Forechecking at 24th percentile suggests limited ability to win pucks back quickly
Similar style: Jordan Eberle (SEA), Claude Giroux (OTT)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 65 GP · goals above average
Season total +1.8 goals, or +0.03 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +1.0
- Even strength defense
- +0.1
- Power play
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.8
- Finishing
- -3.8
- Playmaking
- +2.5
- Penalties
- +1.1
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Buffalo Sabres | 71 | 11 | 19 | 30 | -3 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 98 | 11.2 | 14:31 | 29.4 | -0.08 |
| 2024-25 | Buffalo Sabres | 75 | 10 | 18 | 28 | -2 | 60 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 8.3 | 14:49 | 19.0 | -0.05 |
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 65 | 13 | 30 | 43 | +27 | 42 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 116 | 11.2 | 15:53 | 46.7 | +0.03 |
| 2026-27 | Buffalo Sabres | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 19:04 | 33.3 | +0.12 |
| Career | 4 seasons | 213 | 34 | 68 | 102 | +22 | 140 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 336 | 10.1 | 15:05 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: @ CBJ, Oct 1
Line 1 with Jack Quinn and Noah Ostlund (11:13 together at 5-on-5) · PP1
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Jack Quinn and his line gave the Buffalo Sabres something special to build around
sabrenoise.com · Oct 2
- Zach Benson praises unsung Sabres teammate: 'Shows the dog he has in him'
sabrenoise.com · Oct 2
- Benson | Postgame at CBJ
nhl.com · Oct 2
- Sabres Cannonballed by Columbus, Fall 6-3
diebytheblade.com · Oct 2
- Expected Buffalo Post Game Show - Preseason Game 2
spreaker.com · Sep 23
- Zach Benson reacts to Jarmo Kekalainen's remarks about Sabres' breakout season
sabrenoise.com · Sep 18
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.29 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.1 mph
- 40th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 74
- Hardest shot
- 80.9 mph
- 25th pct
- Distance
- 170.4 mi
- OZ time
- 43.1%
- 64th pct
- DZ time
- 39.0%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 21, forwards typically produce 96% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 27, when the typical level is 96%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
7 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | BUF | $7.5M | 7.2% |
| 2027-28 | BUF | $7.5M | 6.6% |
| 2028-29 | BUF | $7.5M | — |
| 2029-30 | BUF | $7.5M | — |
| 2030-31 | BUF | $7.5M | — |
| 2031-32 | BUF | $7.5M | — |
| 2032-33 | BUF | $7.5M | — |
UFA after 2032-33. $52.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).