Which traits are most important when trying to build a championship team? It's a question at the heart of an intriguing conversation surrounding the Buffalo Sabres' Zach Benson and Philadelphia Flyers' Matvei Michkov.
Both players were selected early in the 2023 NHL Draft — Michkov at No. 7 overall and Benson at No. 13 overall — and the wingers have each already made a significant impact at hockey's highest level.
But who'd you rather have while attempting to chase down a Stanley Cup title?
Well, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic released the outlet's annual ranking of the league's top young players on Thursday, and Michkov was initially projected to slot in one level above Benson in the "future All-Star" category until one NHL scout came to the Sabres star's defense.
"Benson should be in the same tier as Michkov," the unnamed scout told Wheeler. "If you canvassed 32 GMs and asked if they'd rather have Benson or Michkov, what percentage would pick Benson? It's actually not close for me."
It'd probably be a pretty competitive vote between the pair of 21-year-old emerging cornerstones.
Benson is the type of player who thrives in a playoff environment, as he displayed in the spring with nine points (five goals and four assists) in 13 games during Buffalo's postseason run. He possesses an endless motor, is a two-way play-driver at 5-on-5 and constantly gets under the opponent's skin.
His offensive potential is limited, though. He's not the type of player who's going to push for an Art Ross Trophy, which is something Michkov is capable of when he reaches his peak.
The Flyers sensation has racked up 114 points (46 goals and 68 assists) in 161 career NHL games despite inconsistent ice time. It'd be interesting to see what type of production he'd deliver with a full season of first-line and No. 1 power-play minutes.
Yet, the reason that hasn't happened is because of some defensive struggles and a propensity to take unnecessary penalties, though he did make some positive D-zone strides in 2025-26.
In short, Benson has the higher floor because of his superior 200-foot impact, but Michkov's game-changing ceiling, which stems from an elite offensive skill set, is impossible to ignore.
Six Sabres crack The Athletic's ranking of the NHL's top young players and prospects
Benson wasn't the only member of the Buffalo organization to make The Athletic's list, which spotlighted the league's 145 best under-23 players.
Here's the complete group:
Tier | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
3B (All-Star) | Daxon Rudolph | Defenseman |
3B (All-Star) | Zach Benson | Forward |
4C (Star) | Jiri Kulich | Forward |
4C (Star) | Konsta Helenius | Forward |
5A (Support) | Radim Mrtka | Defenseman |
5A (Support) | Noah Ostlund | Forward |
It's a pretty fair assessment. If there's one point of contention, it's probably that Helenius deserves to move up one tier into the All-Star category.
The 20-year-old Finnish center is coming off a tremendous 2025-26 season that saw him post 63 points (21 goals and 42 assists) in 63 games for the AHL's Rochester Americans.
Helenius then jumped into the Sabres' playoff lineup when the team needed an offensive spark in its second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens. He delivered, scoring twice in four contests, but the Blue and Gold ultimately came up short in Game 7 against the Habs.
The 2024 first-round pick then jetted to Switzerland, where he scored six points (including the game-winning overtime goal to win the gold medal for Finland) in six tournament games to help Suomi finish atop the podium in the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Helenius looks 100 percent ready for a full-time NHL role in 2026-27, and there's a strong chance he'll start to garner a lot more respect around North America by next summer.
Meanwhile, the biggest question mark on the list is Kulich.
The 2022 first-rounder had started to showcase his offensive potential late in the 2024-25 campaign and, after a modest start to last season (five points in 12 games), he suffered a blood clot that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
Kulich is expected back on the ice for the start of training camp, but it's unclear exactly how quickly he'll get back up to full speed. Getting him back on his previous trajectory would go a long way in helping the Sabres offset the departure of Alex Tuch, at least in terms of point production.
It's possible the versatile forward won't be back to full strength until 2027-28, though.
Regardless, Buffalo features one of the league's most talented groups of young players, which is why long-term optimism about the direction of the franchise is finally on the rise in Western New York.
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