Sabres select Benson with 13th-overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft

Forward played with Sabres prospect Matt Savoie last season

20230628 Benson Mediawall Overlay

© Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images

By Katelyn Kardaman
@katelynkardaman Sabres.com

The Buffalo Sabres have selected forward Zach Benson with the 13th-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound native of Chilliwack, British Columbia recorded 98 points (36+62) in 60 regular-season games for the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL. He added seven goals and 10 assists in 15 playoff games, playing alongside Sabres prospect Matt Savoie.

In the last 10 WHL seasons, Nolan Patrick and Connor Bedard are the only two under-18 players to have more points than Benson had in 2022-23.

As the No. 6-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, Benson served as an alternate captain for Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, tallying seven points (2+5) in five games.

Buffalo is slated to select 39th and 45th with its next two picks in the second round.

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