Sabres Take Zach Benson With 13th Overall Pick.

The 2023 NHL Draft took place in Nashville, TN, Tuesday night. In the midst of a period of re-righting the ship, the Buffalo Sabres used their only pick in the first round to draft forward Zach Benson of the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice. Benson is a 5’10” 159 pound offensive threat who can slot in on the wing or in the middle. A native of Chilliwack, B.C., the 18-year-old skater played in 60 games last season for the Winnipeg Ice, putting up 36 goals and 62 assists in a 98-point season.

Touted as one of the most offensively talented players available in this year’s draft, Benson plays with style that is larger than he is. Around the league, comparisons have been between Benson’s game and players such as Jonathan Marchessault, Johnny Gaudreau, and Brayden Point. Playing alongside fellow Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie, Benson led the Winnipeg Ice in scoring and finished third place in scoring in the WHL. Benson brings a skillset that includes slick puckhandling and an excellent hockey IQ to the line-up, making him a player who has the capability to read plays and find opportunities. In addition to his offensive prowess, he also possesses a sound defensive play style by staying active in the defensive end and finding ways to move the puck out of the zone. His work ethic and compete level come highly praised and should be a welcome fit in Buffalo. Overall, Benson is an excellent pick with the up-side of being a high-end top-six forward.


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Andrew Willis

Andrew Willis is a freelance hockey reporter covering the ECHL's Jacksonville Icemen for Inside The Rink and the Vancouver Canucks for The Canuck Way. His work has been featured on Hockey of Tomorrow and The Daily Faceoff, and can be found on Twitter/X @FromTheDrewLine.

Leave a Reply

ECHL North Division Finals – Game 3 Recap: Trois-Rivieres Lions vs Norfolk Admirals

On Thursday night, the North Division Finals shifted to Norfolk, Virginia. The two teams split the first two games in TR. Norfolk would make a change in net as they went with Domenic DiVicentiis. The 21-year-old goaltender also started Game 3 of the North Division Semifinals, making 29 saves in a win. In game 2 […]

Read More
Mikko Rantanen skating for the Dallas Stars

Opinion: Stars’ Mikko Rantanen Returns to Form At the Right Time

It was clear that Mikko Rantanen was not exactly about being traded by the Colorado Avalanche, the only NHL club he had ever known. It was in Colorado where he spent close to 11 seasons, won a Stanley Cup in 2022, had 681 points (287 goals and 394 assists), and made lifelong friends. That is […]

Read More

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 2, Game 2

It takes four wins to advance, but the Edmonton Oilers historically lose almost every Game 1. In their last 15 rounds, including Tuesday night, they’ve won only four series openers. Even in 2006, they only won one Game 1. If you include that Playoff run, just for laughs, the record is 5 Game 1 wins […]

Read More