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NHL
Zach Benson
Zach Benson
Buffalo Sabres, Left Wing
Age: 20y-9m-24d (May 12, 2005)
Exp: 1 Years
Country: CA
Drafted: Round 1 (#13 overall), 2023
Agent(s): Ross Gurney (R.W.G. Sport Management)
2025-26 Cap Hit
$950,000
2025-26 Cash
$950,000
Career Earnings
$2,850,000
2023-2025 Rookie (CURRENT)
Zach Benson signed a 3 year, $4,800,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres, including $285,000 signing bonus, $4,800,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,600,000. In 2025-26, Benson will earn a base salary of $855,000 and a signing bonus of $95,000, while carrying a cap hit of $950,000.
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $4,800,000
Average Salary:
$1,600,000
Signing Bonus:
$285,000
Free Agent:
2026 / RFA
| Year | Age | Cap HitAnnual | Cap % League Cap | Cash Annual | Cash Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 |
|
18 | $950,000 | 1.14% | $950,000 | $950,000 |
| 2024-25 |
|
19 | $950,000 | 1.08% | $950,000 | $1,900,000 |
| 2025-26 |
|
20 | $950,000 | 0.99% | $950,000 | $2,850,000 |
| 2026-27 |
|
21 |
RFA |
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Signing Proration | Incentives Likely | Cap Hit | Cap % League | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 |
|
18 | $855,000 | $95,000 | $650,000 | $950,000 | 1.14% |
| 2024-25 |
|
19 | $855,000 | $95,000 | $650,000 | $950,000 | 1.08% |
| 2025-26 |
|
20 | $855,000 | $95,000 | $650,000 | $950,000 | 0.99% |
| 2026-27 |
|
21 |
RFA |
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative | Cash Remaining | AYC Cumulative | AYC Remaining | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 |
|
18 | $855,000 | $95,000 | $950,000 | $950,000 | - | $950,000 | $950,000 |
| 2024-25 |
|
19 | $855,000 | $95,000 | $950,000 | $1,900,000 | - | $950,000 | $950,000 |
| 2025-26 |
|
20 | $855,000 | $95,000 | $950,000 | $2,850,000 | - | $950,000 | $950,000 |
Source:
NHL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.
Seasons
1 Years
Career Earnings thru 2025
$2,850,000
Earnings w/ Different Teams
1 team
Earnings Per Year
| Year | Age | Team(s) | Status | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18 |
|
Active
|
$950,000 |
$950,000 |
|
| 2024 | 19 |
|
Active
|
$950,000 |
$1,900,000 |
|
| 2025 | 20 |
|
Active
|
$950,000 |
$2,850,000 |
|
| Total |
$2,850,000 |
$2,850,000 |
||||
| Total |
$2,850,000 |
Earnings Per Team
| Years | Team | Base | Signing | Incentives | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |
|
$2,565,000 | $285,000 | - | $2,850,000 |
| Year | Team(s) | Age | Base | Signing | Incentives | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |
|
18 |
$855,000
|
$95,000 |
$950,000 |
$950,000 |
|
| 2024 |
|
19 |
$855,000
|
$95,000 |
$950,000 |
$1,900,000 |
|
| 2025 |
|
20 |
$855,000
|
$95,000 |
$950,000 |
$2,850,000 |
|
| Total |
$2,565,000 |
$285,000 |
$2,850,000 |
$2,850,000 |
|||
| Total |
$2,565,000 |
$285,000 |
$2,850,000 |
Earnings Per Team
| Years | Team | Base | Signing | Incentives | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |
|
$2,565,000 | $285,000 | - | $2,850,000 |
Injuries
| Year | Dates | Games Missed | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 |
BUF |
Feb 25, 2026 - Feb 28, 2026 | 0 | Upper Body |
| 2025-26 |
BUF |
Oct 31, 2025 - Nov 23, 2025 | 0 | Undisclosed |
| 2024-25 |
BUF |
Oct 28, 2024 - Nov 05, 2024 | 0 | Lower Body |
| 2023-24 |
BUF |
Nov 03, 2023 - Nov 17, 2023 | 0 | Lower Body |
| Year | Team | GP | G | MIN | A | PTS | +/- | SOG | S% | PPG | PPA | SHG | SHA | Blk | Hit | PIM | FO Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | BUF | 44 | 7 | 716 | 20 | 0 | 16 | 75 | .093 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 24 | 22 | 5 |
| 2024 | BUF | 75 | 10 | 1,111 | 18 | 0 | -2 | 120 | .083 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 35 | 60 | 4 |
| 2023 | BUF | 71 | 11 | 1,030 | 19 | 30 | -3 | 98 | .112 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 30 | 36 | 5 |
