The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Zach Benson to a seven-year contract extension worth $7.5 million per season, the team announced Wednesday.
Benson was slated to hit restricted free agency this summer. The 21-year-old notched 43 points in 65 contests last season and put together a strong playoffs as the Sabres reached Game 7 of Round 2.
Although Benson is undersized, he's coming off a career year production-wise and backs up his game with strong underlying numbers. Buffalo controlled 54.79% of expected goals with Benson on the ice at five-on-five, while his plus-27 rating led all Sabres forwards in 2025-26.
Buffalo traded veteran Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, which could lead to an increased offensive role for Benson, who averaged 15:50 per game last season.
The Sabres drafted Benson 13th overall in 2023.
