NHL contract grades: Zach Benson extension is a steal for the Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres have signed 21-year-old forward Zach Benson to a seven-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million. Benson posted a 0.66 points-per-game rate in 2025-26, equating to approximately 54 points per 82 games, establishing himself as one of the top under-23 forwards in the NHL. The signing is considered a team-friendly deal by analysts, coming alongside other notable Sabres offseason moves including the trade of Alex Tuch and a deal involving Bowen Byram.