Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – At the age of 18, Zach Benson has made the Buffalo Sabres' opening night roster.
The team’s 2023 first-round pick wasn’t expected to be in Buffalo come the start of the season, but he did more than just get seven points in six preseason games, according to Sabres head coach Don Granato.
"He had to deal with pressure," said Granato following Tuesday's practice. "In Game 1, the buzz was, 'He looked good with Thompson and Skinner,' and it’s, 'Will he succumb to more hype and pressure?' He didn’t. He was even better the next game.
"After that, there’s more pressure mounting, because everybody is talking about him and he handles that pressure. Through the whole camp, it never had an effect on him. That was very important to me."
It’s amazing to watch Benson, because at 18, he plays a 200-foot game. Granato says he has to play that way if he wants to play here.
"He would not be in the position he’s in on our roster," he said. "He can be prolific as anybody offensively, but if he didn’t have it with defensive instincts and positionally pretty sound, he wouldn’t be on the roster right now. That’s usually why players have to go to the American League. They have to learn how to play without the puck."
Granato says Benson being in position on defense helps him get to offense faster.
Benson keeps on a pretty even keel, even when talking about making the opening night roster.
"Things are still day-by-day, but it’s pretty cool to be named to an opening night roster," said Benson following Tuesday's practice. "Now I look to keep going and playing good hockey, and try to get better."
Benson got the news from general manager Kevyn Adams on Saturday that he had made the roster to start the season. He, of course, was, "Pretty pumped."
Former Sabres defenseman and Benson’s former junior coach James Patrick was the first person he told, because he happened to phone him right after he found out.
Benson never feels this is too big for him.
"You have to have high confidence in this league. You’ve got to be able to trust your ability to make plays, because if you don’t have confidence, you won’t make the right play, and ultimately that leads to mistakes. So my confidence is pretty high right now," Benson said.
Benson admits he might take a second or two on Thursday to soak things in, but he’s there to win a hockey game, and feels he must be dialed in.
Casey Mittelstadt tweaked something in Monday’s practice and missed Tuesday's session in Downtown Buffalo. Granato says it’s minor, and he expects Mittelstadt in practice on Wednesday.
Tyson Jost slipped into his spot during Tuesday's practice with Benson and Jordan Greenway.
