Buffalo Sabres Signing: Johan Larsson Signs One Year Deal

Johan Larsson has signed a one year deal with the Buffalo Sabres this past week, and it is undoubtedly a trial bridge contract similar to the one Mikhail Grigorenko signed with the Colorada Avalanche. This one year deal is not a guarantee that Larsson makes the team, but is a guarantee that he stays up if he does make it.

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Larsson showed last year that he is a more than capable NHL center. Maybe not the top level center that he was imitating for the last portion of the season (in lieu of Zemgus Girgensons‘ injury), but Larsson is capable of being a responsible two way bottom six center with some scoring upside.

What stands out about Johan Larsson is his ability to make the right decision with the puck and his back checking efficiency. He is able to get up and down the ice smoothly and in time to make the right play on the puck. That showed by his even plus-minus last season despite being on the Sabres for almost half of the season.

His ability and his numbers obviously got Tim Murray’s attention and it got him another try at the big club, but this time for an entire season potentially.

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At the start of the year, I admit that I was the first to say that Larsson wasn’t going to amount to much during the year because he wasn’t ready for it yet, but he proved me and I’m sure many other critics wrong by pushing through for a solid season.

Not many players have the ability to control the pace of the game while on the ice. Players like Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Pavel Datsyuk have the ability to control the tempo of the game, and honestly, Larsson has this ability as well. Definitely not to the extent that those other three players do, but he is able to pace the game well enough to make his own chances count and make the opponent’s chances lessened. As a two way center, Larsson will need to improve on this skill if he hopes to make an impact next season.

We all know what the gameplay is for next year, and that is to win a lot more hockey games. With newly acquired talents like Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly, the Sabres are a very center deep team, which is a real issue for Larsson. With O’Reilly cemented to be the top line center, with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart nearly shoo ins for making the team, and with Zemgus Girgensons still around, there is not enough room for all of these centers.

That may mean that Larsson gets moved to the wing next year. If that is the case, I think he will excel. He will not have as much pressure on him to make the perfect play and he will be able to make it more smoothly and easily.

Do I see big things from Johan Larsson? No, but I do see positive and helpful things from his presence on the Buffalo Sabres.

Next: Player Year In Review: Zemgus Girgensons

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