Zach Benson is one of those players who you just keep hoping is going to enjoy a breakout run, but it hasn’t happened in two seasons. Numbers-wise, Benson stagnated, and you can even honestly say his 2024-25 season was one of regression.
He still showed some grit, which may win him a few fans, but the lack of improvement from a player many thought would go higher than 13th overall shows us he may be an underachiever at the NHL level. Now, to his defense, he stuck it out for a full season in 2023-24 and 2024-25, so that tells me he holds value.
Grade: C - Part of me wanted to give Benson a D-plus, but his ability to stick around the big club for two straight seasons is telling. No, I may not see what head coaches Don Granato and Lindy Ruff saw and currently see in him, respectively, but there’s a reason he’s stuck around in the NHL.
Zach Benson’s 2024-25 season was still a disappointment
Through 75 games, Benson ended with just 28 points, 10 goals, and an 8.3 shooting percentage. He also accrued a minus-2 rating and 60 minutes in the penalty box. Yeah, he played well enough to stay in Buffalo, but right now, I’m in the “if Kevyn Adams can find someone better, he needs to” camp.
It would be another thing entirely if Benson ended the year as a 40-point player, and one who put up between 15 and 20 goals. No, that’s still not great, but it would’ve indicated improvement, perhaps setting the stage for a 50-60-point 2025-26 season. Instead, if Benson stays with the Sabres for all of next season, I’d be thrilled if he reached that 40-point threshold.
This has to be frustrating for Sabres fans, who’ve seen so many first-round picks either go elsewhere or fail to pan out. Dylan Cozens is your latest example, and it looks like he found a home in Ottawa. Meanwhile, Isak Rosen looks like organizational depth at this point, Jack Quinn’s been underwhelming, Matt Savoie is no longer in the pipeline, and Noah Ostlund is still a mystery.
Will Zach Benson finally start seeing improvement in 2025-26?
Honestly, part of me wants to say, “I don’t know,” but that’d be a boring answer. Another part says, “He’s got nowhere to go but up.” Or, at least you’d think that’d be the case. But as I said, if Kevyn Adams snags a forward at some point this offseason, Benson could be the first one on his way out.
Jordan Greenway, for example, can hop onto the fourth line and be an effective player, and Jiri Kulich looks like the better scorer. Yeah, finally a first-round pick who might just pan out. Still, there’s little faith right now that Benson will be as advertised.
If you want a projection, I’m rolling with a 15-goal, 20-assist season that’s likely going to be laden with penalty minutes, gritty but not the most physical play, and missed opportunities. Maybe I’m wrong and, for Benson’s sake, I hope I am.