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

Stuart Skinner

Opinion: Oilers’ Stuart Skinner Showing Some Steadiness Between the Pipes

When it comes to Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, one never knows what they are going to get. On one hand, one might see a version of Skinner, 26, who stands tall, comes up with big saves, does not get out of position, and does not allow soft goals. When this version of Skinner is […]

Read More

3 Takeaways From The Florida Panthers & Carolina Hurricanes Game 5 | 05/28/2025

“Big players make big plays at the biggest moments when you need them too.” That’s what Sam Reinhart had to say about his captain, Sasha Barkov, in his post-game interview. The Cats rallied from a disappointing first period to score three unanswered goals in the second. The eventual game winner scored by Verhaeghe developed from […]

Read More
Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 3, Game 5

Happy belated 9th Birthday, Ben Stelter. Tuesday night’s win was for you. We’re just one win away from a second straight Finals appearance. We always wish Ben were still with us and imagine how joyful he’d be to watch the Edmonton Oilers in these Playoff runs the last couple of years. A really nice gesture […]

Read More