Few Buffalo athletes better understand the importance of filling a role than former Bills special teams ace Steve Tasker, who will hopefully one day take his rightful spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tasker recently appeared on Sabres Live, mostly to discuss the Seattle Seahawks' win over the New England Patriots in Sunday's Super Bowl, but the Bills legend noted he's also been paying close attention to the Sabres' recent rise up the NHL standings.
The seven-time Pro Bowl selection pointed out how Buffalo's results dipped right before the league's current break for the 2026 Winter Olympics after Zach Benson suffered an upper-body injury.
"Benson is out, he went in hard to the boards and got his shoulder, and then you look and they're not that good without him," Tasker said. "It's not like I'm looking for Benson every time he's in the lineup like he's going to make the difference. But stuff like that happens in these team sports. A certain guy goes out and the vibe changes around the locker room, and then it has ripple effects."
The Bills Wall of Fame member added the remainder of the regular season will be a test in a variety of ways for a young Sabres roster, especially when facing Eastern Conference opponents.
"I think these next 20, 25 games, whatever is left, it's about finding out what you gotta do to beat that team in a series," Tasker said. "What do we gotta do to beat these guys. If we face these guys in first round, second round, whatever, how are we going to do it four out of seven?"
As it stands, Buffalo owns the top wild-card position in the East with a 32-19-6 record. The Blue and Gold return to action Feb. 25 against the New Jersey Devils.
Buffalo Sabres' Zach Benson is emerging as one of the NHL's most important role players
Benson is never going to lead the league in scoring and he usually isn't going to dazzle you with his play when the puck is on his stick. That's not his game.
The 5-foot-10 winger instead sets the tone with a tireless motor, relentless forecheck and an ability to create scoring chances with his passing vision. He's created countless goals this season with his work along the boards and behind the net.
Although his impact sometimes doesn't some up in the box score, it certainly does in the standings. Check it out:
- Sabres' record with Benson: 28-10-4 (.714 points percentage)
- Sabres record without Benson: 4-9-2 (.333 points percentage)
Yes, there are a lot of variables in play in regards to those type of stats. As Tasker alluded, you can't pin the entirety of club's success on a player who's scored 26 points (seven goals and 19 assists) in 42 appearances. He isn't winning or losing the games by himself.
That said, there's no doubt Buffalo is a far more complete team when Benson is on the ice. He's willing to do the dirty work in all three zones, and his compete level in front of the opponent's net is something the Blue and Gold otherwise lack aside from Josh Doan.
While every team needs superstars like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin to seriously compete, hardworking players like Benson, Doan and Mattias Samuelsson are just as vital to success.
The good news for the Sabres is that Benson is expected back after the Olympic break, which should provide a sizable boost, and it's possible Josh Norris also rejoins the forward group. It's exactly the type of spark Buffalo could use heading into the stretch run.
Ultimately, the Blue and Gold have a golden opportunity to end a 14-year playoff drought, the longest such streak in NHL history, but they're going to need all hands on deck (and potentially a trade addition or two) to make it happen in the crowded East.
If the Sabres do accomplish that goal, Benson will have played a crucial role in making it happen.