Any Buffalo Sabres fans that didn't love Zach Benson before the 2026 NHL Playoffs were surely won over by his terrific performance during the team's run to the second round of the postseason.
Benson, who recorded a career-high 43 points in 65 games during the regular season, added five goals and four assists across 13 playoff appearances before Buffalo was eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens on a Game 7 overtime goal.
Now it's time for the 2023 first-round pick to get paid as he enters restricted free agency.
AFP Analytics estimated a pair of alternatives for the Sabres. They pegged a short-term bridge contract at two years, $8.4 million ($4.2 million AAV) or a long-term extension at seven years, $48.83 million ($6.98 million AAV).
Buffalo general manager Jarmo Kekalainen should do everything in his power to get Benson signed for the long haul because there's a strong chance to price tag would only rise from here. He was the club's best player for a vast majority of the postseason run.
The projected number is right in line with what the Sabres paid fellow winger Josh Doan ($6.95 million AAV) on a seven-year extension in January. In this case, it feels a bit light, though.
Benson had a higher prospect pedigree than Doan, is three years younger and has a slightly longer track record of NHL success.
As a result, something closer to a seven-year, $52.5 million extension ($7.5 million AAV) feels like it may be in order for the 5-foot-10 Canadian workhorse.
Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen didn't hide his admiration for Zach Benson ahead of contract talks
A lot of times NHL general managers will hold their cards close to their vest when it comes to discussions with impending free agents, both of the UFA and RFA variety. They don't want to give a player's agent too much ammo for contract negotiations.
That wasn't the case with Kekalainen when it came to Benson.
The Buffalo GM made it clear he views the former WHL standout with the Winnipeg Ice as a crucial building block for the future of the franchise.
"I'm excited," Kekalainen told reporters at his season-ending press conference. "That's a great situation. That's why we locked up Josh Doan early, because we saw the character, the competitiveness, and the potential for a leadership role long into the future. You want to lock guys like that up, that's the same thing with Benson. I see him as a true core piece that fills all the boxes."
It's hard to argue with the assessment. The relentless winger has showcased a high-end compete level, tremendous playmaking ability, on-ice awareness well beyond his years and an uncanny ability to get under the skin of opponents. He's a special talent.
As for Benson's perspective, he stated during his final press conference of the campaign that he hadn't put much time into thinking about his RFA status.
"That's something I haven't even thought about," Benson said. "That's something I'll have to talk to my agent about in the next couple of weeks and go from there. I was just so focused on playing, obviously."
He's not eligible to become an unrestricted free agent until 2030, so there would be some risk associated with trying to sign a series of shorter-term extensions, which is why young players are usually more open to signing for extended periods early in their careers.
In addition, Benson can sign a seven-year deal and still hypothetically hit the NHL open market in his late 20s, which would give him a chance to cash in twice during his career. That's the benefit of reaching the NHL level immediately after the draft.
So, there's a strong case for a long-term deal making the most sense for both sides, and that's great news for the Sabres front office.
It wouldn't be a surprise if a Benson seven-year extension is the first major player-related move of the offseason for Kekalainen and Co.
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