Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson has parlayed a breakout stretch in the Stanley Cup Playoffs into a seven-year, $52.5 million contract.
Benson, 21, inked the deal Wednesday, a week before he could’ve become a restricted free agent.
His $7.5 million salary cap hit ranks fourth on the Sabres, trailing only captain Rasmus Dahlin ($11 million), defenseman Owen Power ($8.35 million) and center Josh Norris ($7.95 million).
The 5-foot-10, 177-pound Benson enjoyed a terrific postseason, compiling a team-high five goals, nine points and an NHL-high 64 penalty minutes in 13 games. His tenacious style rankled opponents and quickly earned him a reputation around the league as a rat.
Clearly, the Sabres view Benson, the 13th overall pick in 2023, as a core piece and expect him to keep developing. He scored six of his career-high 13 goals last season in the final 13 contests before his torrid playoff run. He also registered a career-high 43 points in 65 games.
Overall, he has recorded 34 goals and 101 points in 211 career NHL outings.