The Buffalo Sabres have not signed forward Zach Benson to a seven-year contract extension. As of October 2024, reports circulating regarding such an agreement are inaccurate. Benson, who was selected 13th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, remains under his initial three-year entry-level contract, which runs through the 2025-26 season.
Current Status of Zach Benson’s Contract
According to official records maintained by CapFriendly and the Buffalo Sabres’ roster data, Zach Benson is currently playing under his standard entry-level deal. This contract carries an annual average value (AAV) of $950,000. Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, players entering the league on entry-level contracts are generally ineligible for long-term extensions until they enter the final year of their current deal. Since Benson is only entering his second professional season, he is not yet eligible for a seven-year extension.
Why the Confusion Exists
The recent surge in search interest regarding a “seven-year deal” for Benson appears to be a misidentification of other roster moves within the NHL. While the Buffalo Sabres have been active in managing their salary cap and extending core players, no credible source—including official team press releases or major hockey insiders like Elliotte Friedman or Pierre LeBrun—has reported an extension for the 19-year-old winger. Fans may be conflating Benson’s status with the long-term commitments the team has made to other young core pieces or misinterpreting speculative trade rumors found on social media platforms.
The Sabres’ Roster Strategy
General Manager Kevyn Adams has prioritized building the Sabres’ core through the draft, and while long-term security is a goal for the franchise, the timing for Benson’s next deal is governed by league rules. Benson made an immediate impact during the 2023-24 season, recording 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 71 games. Because he burned the first year of his entry-level contract by playing more than nine games, his path to restricted free agency (RFA) status is fixed by the league’s standard timeline.
Key Facts About Benson’s Eligibility
- Current Contract: Three-year entry-level deal expiring after the 2025-26 season.
- Eligibility: Per NHL rules, players typically must be entering the final year of their entry-level contract to sign an extension.
- Source Verification: Official team statements and the NHL Central Registry confirm no such extension has been filed or announced.
As the Sabres continue their season, all eyes remain on the development of their young forward group. Any official contract updates will be released directly through the team’s official communication channels.