Brad Marchand Praises Zach Benson's Style and Long Career
brad marchand sees a lot of himself in Zach Benson, and he said the Buffalo Sabres winger is going to have a long career. The Florida Panthers winger called Benson a very impressive young player after watching the 21-year-old’s playoff work, where the Sabres have leaned on him heavily.
Marchand on Benson
“Yes he does [play a similar style], for sure,” Marchand said to Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com when asked about Benson. He added, “I love his game. He's not timid at all, goes to the dirty areas, he's very competitive, skilled little player and loves to stir it up. He's showing right now he's a gamer too! Very impressive with how young he is as well.”
That assessment carries weight because Marchand is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a Boston Bruins legend now skating for the Florida Panthers. Benson is getting that kind of attention while the Sabres try to stay level in a series tied at two wins apiece.
Benson's playoff line
Benson has produced seven points in 10 playoff appearances, with four goals and three assists. The numbers back up Marchand’s comparison: Buffalo’s No. 13 overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft has combined scoring touch with a plus-27 regular-season rating across 65 games in 2025-26.
He was already one of Buffalo’s most productive players before the postseason started, finishing the regular season with 13 goals and 30 assists. The playoff sample is still short, but the output has been steady enough for a veteran like Marchand to single him out.
KeyBank Center awaits
The Sabres and the Canadiens are tied at two wins apiece, and Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday night at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo. Benson enters that game with the added validation of a star opponent saying the style he plays can carry him deep into his career.
