Illegal Curve Hockey

Categories: WHLWinnipeg Ice

Former Winnipeg Ice forward Zach Benson inks his three-year ELC with the Sabres

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

After being drafted 13th overall at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville by the Sabres, Alberta product and former Winnipeg Ice sniper Zach Benson has himself a three-year entry level contract which Buffalo announced this morning.

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

He had an incredible season for the Ice in 2022-23 putting up 36 goals and 62 assists for 98 points in 60 games. That was good enough for third overall in WHL scoring.

The financial terms weren’t released by the team but the folks at PuckPedia have said it will be as follows:

NHL Salary 855K
Signing Bonus 95K
Minors 82.5K
“A” Perf Bonus 650K

Cap Hit 950, AAV 1.6M

Benson will likely be heading back to the WHL but instead of Winnipeg, he’ll be heading to Wenatchee in Washington State which is where the Ice relocated for next season.

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.