LATEST | British Columbia native signs his first NHL contract
The Buffalo Sabres announced on Friday that they've signed 2023 first-round pick Zach Benson to a three-year, entry-level contract worth $950,000 AAV.
"We felt that this player has the upside that often you don't get at that spot in the draft," Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said. "The way the list was falling, we were starting to get pretty excited this player might be there for us. So, we're excited to welcome Zach, and I guess we like Winnipeg kids."
Benson, a native of Chilliwack, British Columbia, was one name that Canucks fans heard a lot about leading up to the NHL Entry Draft, with several reporters stating that the team had interest in using the 11th overall pick to select him. Ultimately, he went two picks after the Canucks took the podium, as Buffalo took him 13th overall.
The 18-year-old spent the 2022-23 season in the Western Hockey League with the Winnipeg Ice. In 60 games for the Ice, Benson had 98 points (36 goals, 62 assists), 49 penalty minutes and was a plus-68. He followed that up by recording 17 points in 15 playoff games.
Benson is expected to return to the Western Hockey League next season, where he'll suit up for the league's newest team, the Wenatchee Wild, who relocated from Winnipeg earlier this summer.
| POLL |
JUILLET 28 | 394 ANSWERS LATEST | British Columbia native signs his first NHL contract Do you think Benson will play for Canada at the World Juniors? |
| Yes | 224 | 56.9 % |
| No | 74 | 18.8 % |
| Depends how the first few months of his season go | 65 | 16.5 % |
| See Results | 31 | 7.9 % |
| List of polls |
|
8 hours ago | By Owen Fullerton Columbus Blue Jackets Motivated To Acquire Pending UFA Brock Boeser Amid Contract Stalemate |
|
10 hours ago | By Owen Fullerton Carolina Hurricanes Latest Move Could Indicate It's JT Miller's Last Night as a Vancouver Canuck |
|
12 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell NHL Player Safety Drops the Hammer on Canucks Defenseman Tyler Myers with Multiple-Game Suspension |
|
12 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Patrik Allvin Regretful After Acknowledging Emotional Toll of Trade Rumors on Players |
|
13 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin Gives Update on Rick Tocchet's Future as Head Coach |
|
15 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Real Reason For J.T. Miller's Trade With New York Rangers Falling Apart Has Been Revealed |
|
16 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Former Vancouver Canucks Forward Daniel Sprong Makes Interesting Comments After First AHL Game in Five Years |
|
18 hours ago | By Cooper Godin NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman Gives Stirring Update on J.T. Miller's Future With the Vancouver Canucks |
Previously on CanucksDaily
