3 most surprising Sabres players in 2023-24

Zach Benson played his way onto the big club and impressed

Zach Benson may be the biggest surprise for the Blue and Gold after Ukko-Pekka Luukonen, having spent the entire year in Buffalo after it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that he would return to the WHL. 

We all knew Benson would thrive at the Prospects Challenge and in the preseason, and it led to many of us believing he deserved another nine games. But to adjust to the big league enough to stick around for the entire season wasn’t happening, until it did, and Benson has since become one of the team’s most entertaining forwards in April. 

He has just 10 goals and 29 points in 69 contests, but between March 12th and April 12th, Benson has 11 points and four goals in 15 games, and his defense has been incredible since he first made the cut. 

Benson also spent time on special teams this year, logging over 70 power play and over 50 short-handed minutes. His Corsi For Percentage was a healthy 53.1 at 5-on-5, and he was on the ice for as many goals as the Sabres allowed at even strength. 

He broke significant barriers this season, especially as an undersized player, and you can expect a breakout year in 2024-25 from a production standpoint. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)