If you have been watching the Buffalo Sabres at all during their playoff run, Zach Benson has been a menace.
Skating on the third line, the 21-year-old has recorded seven points (five goals, four assists) in 12 playoff games.
Back in Game 5, Benson scored a power-play goal at 4:31 of the third period, which served as the game-winner in a 3-2 victory to even the series against the Montreal Canadiens at 2-2:
In Game 6, after recording the secondary assist on Rasmus Dahlin’s opening tally just 32 seconds into the game, Benson helped the Sabres erase a 3-1 deficit, tying the game at 3-3 just one minute into the second period in what became an 8-3 victory to force a Game 7:
Points are fantastic, but what has really stood out about Benson’s game has been his dog-on-a-bone mentality, a fearlessness despite standing at 5’10, 177 lbs.
Players — people in general — get judged by their size far too often. Benson’s lack of size is why he fell a bit in his draft year.
The Sabres drafted Benson 13th overall in 2023, and Benson turned Buffalo’s “questionable” pick into a statement.
A tad over 400 miles downstate, the New York Islanders have a similar player who is ready to break through at the NHL level.
His name is Victor Eklund.