With the thirteenth decide of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres have chosen Zach Benson from the Winnipeg Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL)
About Zach Benson
Zach Benson is among the prime gamers in the complete 2023 NHL Draft Class. An elite passer with a excessive motor, Benson is a participant who excels at creating offensive alternatives for his group. His imaginative and prescient and skill to be proactive on each side of the ice make him an intriguing prospect.
Benson has a knack for creating house and discovering open passing lanes with consistency. To say that he assaults the high-danger areas of the ice can be correct, but additionally probably an understatement given his monitor file. Robust edgework, puckhandling and defensive efforts make him a high-ceiling participant who initiatives to slot in properly on the professional degree.
THW Prospect Profile Excerpt
“Zach Benson is among the most underrated forwards on this draft class. He was second in Western Hockey League scoring amongst draft-eligible gamers behind some man named Connor Bedard. In 60 video games performed he totalled 36 targets and 62 assists for 98 factors. In any of the three earlier draft courses, he would have been a candidate for first total.
“Benson has a motor with out an off swap in sight. He’s engaged within the defensive zone, transferring to wherever the puck is. He’s intense and aggressive, which ought to make him a lovely participant to carry into any group. His depth and drive gas his means to win nearly each puck battle that he is part of. Zach Benson, Winnipeg ICE
“Benson is an elite passer with unbelievable imaginative and prescient. He can seamlessly thread the needle along with his crisp 10-foot passes. He can see performs three to 4 steps earlier than they occur. He is among the smartest gamers on this draft class. He makes use of that intelligence on each side of the puck. He creates possibilities that result in scoring alternatives.
“Benson has the ground of a Zach Hyman and the ceiling of a Mitch Marner. Relying on how the group deciding on him decides to develop and deploy him, both of these outcomes is equally attainable. His edgework is paying homage to Marner; very agile and in a position to escape strain by weaving somewhat than runaway pace.”
How This Impacts the Sabres’ Plans
The Sabres had been in a position to choose a participant many had ranked as a top-10 and even top-5 expertise with the thirteenth total decide. Benson has the flexibility to step into the Sabres lineup, at any time when that bounce might happen, and be as expert a participant because the group has to work with. That is saying one thing, too, contemplating the high-end expert gamers they’ve collected in recent times.
Benson may also begin his profession with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder after falling exterior of the top-10 of the 2023 Draft. Nonetheless, in a yr full of a lot expertise on the prime finish of the Draft Class, it’s not totally stunning to see a participant along with his upside slide down the board a bit bit. For the Sabres, this was a homerun decide so far as worth is worried, and Benson could possibly be a big-time addition to the group within the close to future.