Even at 19, Zach Benson can give Sabres the 'mature game' needed up front
Benson is among the group of players who can increase production to help make up for the 24 goals lost by the buyout of Jeff Skinner.
Veteran Jason Zucker was acquired in a trade. Jiri Kulich was the talk of the prospect tournament. But let’s not be hasty to discount Zach Benson from the Buffalo Sabres’ collection of top-six forwards.
Sure, Benson is only 19 years old and entering his second NHL season. But Benson had 11 goals and 30 points as an 18-year-old that the Sabres never expected to make their team, and is entrenched in this year’s lineup somewhere. In a scrimmage Friday in KeyBank Center, he was on a line with Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn − just where he ended last season.
Sabres left wing Zach Benson, in blue uniform, tries to get a shot around goalie Felix Sandstrom during a scrimmage at KeyBank Center on Friday. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Benson is among the group of players who can increase production to help make up for the 24 goals lost by the buyout of Jeff Skinner. And don’t worry that Benson is only 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds. Thus far in camp, he has been a bundle of energy and one of the most noticeable players on the ice.
“He seems like a special player. His motor is really good. His hockey IQ is really good,” said head coach Lindy Ruff. “He’s got a lot of puck savvy. He’s got everything. I see why they kept him.”
“This summer, I really focused on just getting more strong, more explosive,” Benson said. “I can kind of feel that even in practices going into corners. You’re just here working, trying to earn ice time and that’s one way to do it.”
Ruff isn’t numbers-focused. His forward needs to be disciplined, forecheck hard and backcheck with purpose. Benson does those things well beyond his years.
“His hounding and hunting the puck getting into the (offensive) zone is as good as anybody’s,” Ruff said. “He’s one of those kids who ‘gets’ the game. He knows there’s a certain way for him to play to be effective and he’s really good at it.”
Ruff said his experience is that young players who have scored goals at every level find ways to do it here, too, and Benson fits that mold.
“He realizes this is a harder game against stronger people and bigger bodies but he’s still figured out a way to get around the net,” Ruff said.
Benson is grateful for the chance former coach Don Granato gave him last year to play in the NHL and said he’s equally excited to play with a veteran coach such as Ruff.
“The practices are high-tempo, lots of compete, battling for net-front,” Benson said. “It’s been awesome. I thought the guys have really battled so far.”
Benson, of course, is too young to remember Ruff’s glory days in Buffalo. But when the old coach became the new coach in April, Benson had an idea what was coming and that’s been borne out since he returned for camp.
“He’s an icon here. I’ll be walking around the street and the first question people ask for me is ‘How’s Lindy?’ Something always about Lindy,” Benson joked. “He’s super-popular. My junior coach (former Sabres player and Ruff assistant James Patrick) has some stories about him.
“’Jeep’ (Patrick) said to just keep playing my game, that Lindy will really want me to keep competing, get to the front of the net. That’s the style he wants, dirty goals and guys who lay it all out there every night.”
Sabres forward Zach Benson, left, skates with teammate Owen Power, who controls the puck Thursday at KeyBank Center. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Benson said Ruff demands “a mature game” from his forwards. He’s ready to produce that even though he’s still a teenager.
“It’s the NHL and you’ve got make smart plays ... and make plays to your strengths,” Benson said. “If it comes down to chipping a puck out or making a risky play, most of the time you just want to chip that puck out. But you’ve also got to let your skill take over when you get on the offensive side of the blue line.”
