LATEST | British Columbia native signs his first NHL contract

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Cooper Godin
July 28, 2023 (1:05 PM)

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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.

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