Shutdown Pair

Tag: Zach Benson

  • Your First Offseason

    Your First Offseason

    The Stanley Cup Finals are going on right now. It’s Vegas and Carolina, so I have a less-than-zero interest level. I thought instead, I would take you through your first offseason, what to look for, what the fun events will be.

    First off, Lindy lost the Jack Adams trophy to Jon Cooper? Whatever. Everyone in the league knows who should’ve won, so it doesn’t bother me much.

    Anyway, the Sabres site has an article with key dates. The first thing is actually happening right now, right here in Buffalo: The 2026 NHL Draft Combine. It’s not quite the spectacle of the NFL one, but once in a while you’ll hear something unhinged from one of the prospects during the media availability (tomorrow and Saturday mostly).

    The Draft is also being held here, on June 26-27. It’ll be a quiet couple of days for Buffalo barring a blockbuster deal, as the Sabres have a 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th rounder. The 2 and the 3 were traded for Norris and Carrick.

    To me, the most interesting date is June 29: the deadline to send a “qualifying offer” to any restricted free agents. RFAs are players who don’t yet qualify to be unrestricted free agents (you are unrestricted if you are over the age of 27 or have played at least 7 years). Some notable RFAs for Buffalo are Zach Benson, Peyton Krebs, and Michael Kesselring.

    Here’s how it goes – any player that the Sabres want to still have the rights to gets a qualifying offer. Puckpedia has the full details but basically it’s a 1 year deal at either the same salary, or a slightly higher one. As long as the team does that, the player stays a restricted free agent and property of the Buffalo Sabres. They can choose to sign the QO and go another year, negotiate a different contract for a longer term (most common option), or they can field offers from other teams. BUT, the Sabres have the option to match any of those offers and keep the player, or receive draft pick compensation if they choose to let the player go.

    That’s where Jarmo Kekäläinen earns his pay this offseason. An RFA contract is tricky – you are weighing the term of the contract versus the money. If there’s a player you absolutely love, you try to sign them as long as possible, sometimes overpaying them, to get extra years on the contract locked in. The player may want to sign a shorter deal on the chance that they’ll REALLY get paid as a UFA. Zach Benson is an intriguing case – he started playing regularly right at 18, so he could be an RFA as young as 25.

    With Tuch as one of the most prominent UFA names out there, I don’t see how they keep him without some moves. Buffalo has a ton of players that want roster spots (Finnish hero Helenius, Noah Östlund, Jiri Kulich) and Tuch might just be in the way. There’s only so much cap space to go around and Buffalo already has $20mil going to 3 centers.

    That brings us to July 1, the first day of free agency! Normally a day to be excited if you’ve got that up and coming team like Buffalo…but with less than 12 mil in cap space and a bunch of needed signings, Jarmo would really need to get on the hotline with some spicy trades to make a splash. He didn’t shy away from making moves in Cbus so it’s worth keeping an eye on your phone on 7/1.

    I hope that gave you the scoop on what to look for in the 2026 offseason for Buffalo. Let me know what you think happens with Benson in the comments (or on Bluesky!)

  • Game Seven

    Game Seven

    I’m still sweating, and I watched it sitting in my chair at home.

    They did this in the second finally

    — TheTickMS (@thetickms.bsky.social) 2026-05-17T02:02:19.842Z

    And it continued on in the third, for a EIGHT TO THREE WIN. It started like pretty much every other game this series, with a quick goal by Buffalo (Rasmus Dahlin with a nifty drive the net after being fed by new first-liner Benson)…followed by three Canadiens goals including a shorty.

    However, old man Zucker got one back late in the first after Alex Lyon got chased (the three Montreal goals were scored on gettable shots), and the entire second period was played in the Habs end. Zach Benson tied the game, picking up a loose puck that slipped through the five hole of Dobeš. Konsta Helenius scored to make it 5-3 Buffalo after some hard work by Zucker (and a sharp pass).

    The scoring continued in the third, with Tage Thompson feeding Jack Quinn for a one-timer snipe that chased the Montreal goalie. Tage followed that with an empty-netter, and Zach Metsa (who was great in his first-ever playoff game) got the eighth goal on a late power play when the team was just trying to run out the clock.

    The rough stuff started after that, with Montreal having no answers for the Sabres in regular play. Arber Xhekaj, Alexandre Carrier, Jake Evans, and Kirby Dach all got misconducts (Xhekaj has been pissed at Greenway since game 2 warmups) while Benson, Krebs, and Norris got to hit the showers early on the Buffalo side.

    Game seven is Monday night. One game to keep a remarkable run going.

    Zach Benson hyping up the boys for the third

    — TheTickMS (@thetickms.bsky.social) 2026-05-17T02:09:38.695Z
  • A Tale of Two Teams

    A Tale of Two Teams

    Watching the game last night (and to an extent every game in this series) it felt like I was seeing two different Buffalo team. The one that started periods was dominant. They skated circles around the Canadiens, scoring goals and hemming them into their own end for multiple shifts. Then the Bad Sabres emerged, making dumb passes, skipping decent shot chances for a fancy pass, and otherwise making stupid decisions.

    I’m not sure what’s wrong with the first line. Alex Tuch has caught whatever Tage and Quinn have and all three were useless most of the night. Quinn in particular seems to be squeezing the stick, getting the puck multiple times in the slot and just, not shooting. Thompson took a stupid penalty away from the play which led to a Montreal power play goal 10 seconds later.

    Bright spots continue to be the Benson/Doan/Norris line, with Doan scoring on a deflection in front. Zucker had the first goal, and young Konsta Helenius continued is excellent play from last game with the Sabres third and final goal.

    Buffalo travels to Montreal tomorrow. I believe that with a few tweaks, they can push it to game seven. I’m planning to go to the watch part at KBC, I hope to see you all there!

  • Double Trouble

    Double Trouble

    The game started exactly how you’d want – Tage Thompson getting a goal, tapping in a shot/pass from Dahlin. That was the last time Buffalo looked decent (other than some saves from Lyon) until the third period as the Canadiens scored 4 unanswered en route to a 6-2 win. Dahlin had the other Sabres goal to briefly make things interesting at the end of the second on into the third.

    Beyond Tage and Dahlin showing up for work, there weren’t a ton of bright spots out there. Benson was still a pest and created some great chances, Dahlin’s goal was on the power play, which looked like an actual functioning unit for a stretch of the third.

    I’m curious to see what changes are made, if any. I don’t think Lyon was a problem, he made some monster saves despite the goals but I would understand if a shakeup happens. Logan Stanley was in full oaf mode (derogatory):

    For the love of GOD Stanley do not get behind the Canadiens net!!!

    — TheTickMS (@thetickms.bsky.social) 2026-05-11T01:27:13.065Z

    If there is one guy who shouldn’t be in deep in the offensive zone, it’s the giant lumbering defenseman who skates about as fast as I walk. Carrick was back, Zucker seemed to be limited – I haven’t seen anything from Lindy as I write this, but he took shifts through the whole game, just not many), Quinn was still rough, so there’s room for shuffling.

    It’s okay to be worried, but most playoff series aren’t cakewalks. Montreal beat Tampa Bay to get here, they’ve got their guys too. I’ll let Dubs finish it off:

    This is still fun as balls, don’t let yourself be convinced it’s not. Let the players worry about the loss, crack another beer and get ready to drown yourself in work tomorrow and Tuesday so the clock moves faster.

    — Matty Dubs (@theycallmedubs.bsky.social) 2026-05-11T02:07:06.062Z

    See you Tuesday.

  • Sabres Lay an Egg

    Sabres Lay an Egg

    The Buffalo Sabres lines (other than the 3rd one) looked absolutely lost as they dropped game two 5-1. Tage in particular seems barely functional as a human being, let alone a 40 goal scorer. Zach Benson was the lone bright spot and goal scorer for the good guys, working his ass off behind the net and then moving to the front for a tap in after.

    Benson mean mugging Dobes

    Benson about to say something ridiculous

    Tage Thompson was an absolute nightmare tonight. He fell multiple times, leading directly to goals. He passed when he should’ve shot, and never seemed to be in the right spot. I said during the game on Bluesky that if that had been Vanek back in the old days, Lindy would’ve put his ass on the 4th line. The old timer may be hoping he’ll play his way out of it but I don’t think the Sabres survive to the conference finals if Tage plays like that.

    Sorry they wasted your goal, Benny. Sunday, 7pm, these dipshits better be ready to do what they did in Boston.

  • Uh Oh, Montreal!

    Uh Oh, Montreal!

    The 40 goal scorer hasn’t netted one since game 1 against Boston. The team managed only *16* shots, getting outshot by 12 for the game. The Sabres lost two thirds of their faceoffs, and gave the puck away 15 times to Montreal’s 7.

    And yet, watching the game, I never once thought that Buffalo would lose. They scored an early goal after Lane Hutson tripped and gave the puck away, and honestly, they never looked back. Benson fed Doan for that first goal, and then Benson found McLeod on the power play (after Doan did excellent work in front of the net to gain possession) for the second tally. Montreal got one late in the first to make it interesting on a great pass across the crease on the man advantage to Nick Suzuki, but the second period went much the same as the first. Jordan Greenway scored, followed by Byram. Greenway in particular was all over the ice, hitting dudes and making plays.

    Buffalo didn’t have their best, especially from the top two lines, but it didn’t matter. The Canadiens can clean up their game tomorrow night, and they’ll have to if they don’t want to be down two games to none when they get home.3

    He pissed you off all game, and he’ll fucking do it again.

  • Sabres Head To Round 2

    Sabres Head To Round 2

    The big, bad Bruins needed help but didn’t get it, falling to the Sabres in Game 6 4-1. The Buffalo goals were scored by Samuelsson, and Benson, and an empty-netter by Josh Norris to seal it. Alex Lyon played his ass off in net, saving 25 of 26, many of them excellent chances.

    For all of their vaunted toughness and strength, there were long stretches of games in this series where Boston was simply outplayed. It wasn’t quite as bad as the 4 goal first the other night, but the Bruins were overmatched all through the opening period. They rallied a bit in the second, getting a goal from Pastrnak on a 2-on-1 with Pavel Zacha that Lyon had no chance on. But Doan raced into the Boston zone early in the third and carried two Bruins players with him, sacrificing his body by smashing into the end boards to pass the puck to a streaking Benson for the gut shot. From that point on, the Sabres played smothering defense, with Boston barely able to get past the blue line.

    Buffalo Sabres player Alex Tuch shouting excitedly

    The Sabres await the winner of Tampa/Montreal (heading to Game 7) to find their next opponent. For me, from here on out they’re playing with house money. They proved they weren’t just a fluke, breaking two major droughts (making the playoffs, winning a series). That doesn’t mean the work is done. Let Lindy send you on your way:

  • The Vibes are GOOD

    The Vibes are GOOD

    Okay, so last night’s game ended GREAT (5-0!) despite getting heavily outshot in the first two periods. Colten Ellis stood on his head, his back, his elbow, and every other part for his first career shutout while the Sabres offense woke up for 4 goals in the third period.

    But honestly? WHO CARES IT WAS SO MUCH FUCKING FUN! The crowd was rocking, singing along with songs, chanting at the terrible officiating (some things never change), and booing Columbus whenever possible.

    It wasn’t perfect as I felt like Buffalo wasn’t being physical, and had a little bit of their previous passing problem, but they figured it out in the third. Peyton Krebs opened the scoring in the first, and the lights-out play by Ellis kept that as the winner. Josh Doan scored twice, including an amazing individual effort where he stole the puck right off the stick of Charlie Coyle and fired it home. Jack Quinn scores the next one on a 4 on 2 breakaway, and Doan gets his second moments later on a beauty of a feed by Hobbit/Vampire Zach Benson (seriously, look at any picture of him). Dahlin finished things off with a 200 foot empty net goal.

    Buffalo now sits at 106 points, tops in the Eastern Conference. They play in Chicago Monday, and the final *regular season* game of the season if Wednesday at home against the Dallas Stars. What a ride the past few months have been.

  • Handling Disappointment

    Handling Disappointment

    So, your favorite team lost. And just after you really got into them (or back in). How rude! It can be hugely frustrating to watch the Sabres make a bunch of mistakes and lose, so how do you put up with it for 80+ games? As someone who in part stepped away from fandom spaces because I couldn’t handle how mad it made me, I have some tips.

    1. Find the good – In even the worst-played game, some fun stuff happens. For example, UPL had some great saves. Maybe the sight of Zach Benson annoying the shit out of some Bruin twice his size makes you chuckle.
    2. Figure out why your coach loves a guy – “Man, why is this guy playing over X?” We’ve all had that thought about some player on our teams. See if you can figure out what Lindy sees in him. Maybe he wants a bigger guy to hit/absorb hits. Or he needs someone he can trust to get out of the zone (heaven knows the Sabres could’ve used better passing last night).
    3. Learn something new – Have you ever really watched line changes? Or faceoffs? What “job” does a certain player have on the power play or the kill? It can be interesting to pay attention to one specific area you don’t often think about.

    Years ago, watching a terrible loss or a lackluster effort would’ve driven me mad. I’ve managed to work on that part of myself, and have learned to enjoy the good parts of sports and shake my head and laugh. After all…

    Also, if you need a feel-good moment, here’s video of Sabres fans welcoming Rasmus Dahlin’s fiancée back to Buffalo. Carolina Matovac nearly died while on vacation last summer in France, and ended up having to get a heart transplant. She was finally able to return here this week.

    ESPN has the full story, but please note that it’s pretty harrowing, and does involve the loss of their unborn child.

    Buffalo returns to action tomorrow night against the Detroit Red Wings.