ZACH BENSON #9
Forward
Acquired: Selected by Buffalo in the first round (13th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Contract Status: Signed through 2025-26 ($950,000 AAV)
Pronunciation: ZAK BEHN-suhn
2025-26 REGULAR-SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
Set new single-season career highs in goals (13), assists (30) and points (43) despite playing the fewest games in a single season in his career (65).
Posted the best plus/minus among all NHL skaters age 20 or younger (plus-27) in 2025-26.
Registered the second-best plus/minus by a Sabres skater age 20 or younger in franchise history, trailing only Danny Gare in 1974-75 (plus-39).
Ranked first among all Sabres forwards in on-ice even-strength goal differential (26). His plus-26 was tied for the best mark by a Sabres forward since the league began tracking the stat in 2009-10.
Ranked second among all NHL skaters, behind only Connor McDavid (10.57), in miles skated per 60 on the penalty kill (10.25).
Finished the season ranked first among all Sabres skaters (min. 15 games played) in shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 (52.0).
Posted a 5-on-5 shot attempts differential of plus-65, the second-best mark among all Sabres forwards, trailing only Josh Doan (plus-68).
Finished the season ranked fourth among all Sabres skaters (min. five games played) in takeaways per 60 (1.45).
Tallied four game-winning goals and became the first Sabres skater age 20 or younger to record four or more game-winning goals since Rasmus Dahlin in 2018-19 (4). His four game-winning goals ranked tied for fourth among all Sabres skaters.
Became the first Sabres forward age 20 or younger to record a plus/minus of even or greater (min. 15 games played) since Tim Connolly (plus-4; 82 games) and Taylor Pyatt (plus-4; 48 games) in 2001-02.
Matched his previous single-game career high in goals on April 8 at NY Rangers (2+0).
Recorded the longest goal streak of his career from March 21 to 25 (three games; 3+2).
Notched a career-high five-game point streak from April 6 to 15 (3+4).
Matched the longest assist streak of his career from Oct. 15 to 20 (three games; 0+6), March 19 to 22 (three games; 2+3) and April 9 to 15 (three games; 1+3).
Registered four points (0+4) on Oct. 15 vs. Ottawa, a single-game career high in assists and points.
2025-26 LONGEST STREAKS:
Goals: 3 games, 3/21/26 at LAK to 3/25/26 vs. BOS (three goals)
Assists: 3 games, (3x). Most recent: 4/9/26 vs. CBJ to 4/15/26 vs. DAL (three assists)
Points: 5 games, 4/6/26 vs. TBL to 4/15/26 vs. DAL (3+4)
2025-26 SINGLE-GAME HIGHS:
Goals: 2, 4/8/26 at NYR
Assists: 4, 10/15/25 vs. OTT
Points: 4, 10/15/25 vs. OTT (0+4)
TOI: 24:22, 4/15/26 vs. DAL