The Buffalo Sabres have a decision to make soon on Zach Benson’s future for this season.
The forward might have helped his cause by scoring his first NHL goal on Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals. And the way he scored it was impressive.
Benson, 18, took a pass and skated toward the front of the Capitals net. But instead of trying a backhand, he pulled the puck and his stick between his skates, then roofed a shot into the net. The move fooled veteran goalie Darcy Kuemper and gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead at 16:04 of the first period.
‘I’m just trying to do the move that I think is going to work, and I just kind of let my instincts take over,’ Benson, who stays late after practices to try such moves, told reporters after the Capitals’ 4-3 overtime win.
The 13th overall pick of the 2023 draft played his ninth game on Wednesday night and had four assists through his first eight games.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, if he plays a 10th game, the Sabres would use up the first year of his three-year, entry-level contract. If they send him back to his Winnipeg Ice junior hockey team, the Sabres could slide the start of his contract to next year.
“I’m just trying to be consistent and play my game every game and help this team win hockey games,’ Benson said. ‘That’s really my mindset, whatever I can do to help this team win.”
Sabres coach Don Granato called Benson’s score ‘a very nice goal.’
Asked by reporters if the rookie would get a 10th game, Granato said, ‘That’s a great question, and it’s not one for right now.’