Zach Benson
Zach Benson is a productive left wing who has moved up to the top line next to Tage Thompson, and his current scoring pace is strong, though the line pairing is not settled.
Role
In the Oct. 31 game at Los Angeles, Benson played left wing on a line with Peyton Krebs and Tage Thompson (Hockey News game notes, estimated lines, published about Nov. 1). Frozen Pool's last-game table for Oct. 31 has that trio first at 12:37 of even-strength time, ahead of Doan-Quinn-Ostlund at 11:09. Before the road trip he played on the second line with Noah Ostlund and Jack Quinn. Josh Doan took his place there when coach Lindy Ruff split that trio (Sabre Noise, about Oct. 31). Competition for the top-line wing spot is Konsta Helenius, who skated with Benson and Thompson in a practice about six days ago (Sabre Noise), and Josh Doan, who has also played with Thompson. I could not read a current power-play page. ESPN's line page (indexed about 12 days ago) listed him on PP1 with Ostlund and Quinn, and on PK2. The PP1 listing predates the line change and is unconfirmed. Daily Faceoff's page came back without readable content when I fetched it, so I am not citing it.
Sabre Noise argues his line is the best one wherever he plays. Over the first two games after the move, Benson-Thompson-Krebs had a 88.24% shot-attempt share and 82.55% expected-goals share (Natural Stat Trick, as quoted by Sabre Noise), and he had a goal and two assists against Anaheim. Hockey News game notes show 10 points (2 G, 8 A) in his last eight games and a three-game point streak, and 11 points through 13 games this season. That already nearly matches last season's 13 points in 14 games. Sabre Noise also notes that he and Thompson posted a 60.21% shot-attempt share in last season's playoffs.
The top-line move is fresh and was framed as a way to spread out scoring, not a permanent promotion. Ruff said he needs to "spread out that scoring" (Sabre Noise). The coach has shuffled lines often, and the early lines have been called a blender. Against the Kings on Oct. 31, the Thompson-Krebs-Benson line had a 37.1 shot-attempt share at even strength (Frozen Pool). Most of his points this year are assists: 9 of his 11. He had 2 goals in 13 games, and 2 goals in 14 games last season. CBS/RotoWire noted in his earlier seasons that he was often limited to the middle six. Whether he stays above that is uncertain.
Where analysts split
The open question is whether Benson stays on the Thompson line or goes back with Ostlund and Quinn. That line was the team's most-used line, with 115 minutes through 11 games (Sabre Noise). Sabre Noise argues his results make that move a risk. Ruff's own stated reason for the split is to spread the scoring. Whether Benson keeps his power-play slot after the shuffle has not been confirmed.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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