The Buffalo Sabres are off to a solid start this season, but there is a player still on the roster who needs to be removed as soon as possible; Johan Larsson.
Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson is a former second round pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2010 and when he was drafted, he was touted as a gifted offensive player, with potential for a top six two way forward position in the NHL. In his career prior to the NHL, in Sweden’s Brynas IF club he posted 36 points in 49 games. In a league like that, those are impressive point numbers.
In 2010 Larsson was taken 56th overall by the Wild and was thrown into their farm system a year later to get some seasoning. He did well with 37 points in 62 games (15G, 22A), and was regarded as a “B” tier prospect at the time.
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On April 3, 2013 Larsson was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with Matt Hackett, a second round pick in 2014, and a first round pick in 2013 (which was Nikita Zadorov) in exchange for Jason Pominville. With this came some excitement around a player that could help the Buffalo Sabres start rebuilding a young offensive core. Unfortunately that never happened, and Johan Larsson has become one of the most useless players on the team.
Back in the early tank years Larsson was given a good look at some of the top six positions, but in that span of time, he failed to truly live up to the offensive potential that he was touted to have. In his NHL career, Larsson has amassed 65 points (26G, 39A) in 259 games and he sits at a dismal -43 in that span of time. His career high in goals is 10, which he did in the 2015-16 NHL season.
At this point I can imagine some people are saying, “So he turned into a fourth line player, there’s nothing wrong with that”. You’re right, there is nothing wrong with that. The problem I have is not with the player he has become, but rather my issue lies in how poorly he plays the role he currently is in.
Johan Larsson is meant to be a fourth line center with a strong two-way game to shut down opposing players and eat up penalty kill minutes. That is what he is supposed to be. The problem is how poorly he does the jobs he is assigned in the lineup. Fourth line players are supposed to be the energy of the team; the ones to grind away at the opposition, keep them looking over their shoulders, and to chip in offensively here and there. Larsson shies away from checks, is slow to the puck, irresponsible in his own zone, and ultimately unable to keep up with the new format of the team.
It was one thing to be a slow player that fought hard when Head Coach Ted Nolan and Disco Dan Bylsma were coaching the team, but now there is a new style of play being used on the ice for the Buffalo Sabres. It is clear that this team is designed for speed and offensive prowess. Larsson does not fit the mold of a team like that. He needs to be moved, both for his own sake, and Buffalo’s.
Johan Larsson has played one single game this year, and it was a nightmare of a performance. He took a bad penalty which resulted in a big goal for the Colorado Avalanche on their way to a 6-1 win, and he was -2 for the night. The entire time he looked sluggish, unmotivated, and completely out of place amongst the rest of the Sabres roster.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Larsson needs to be done and gone from the NHL, but he does need to be removed from the Buffalo Sabres roster. His playing style, and his foot speed are no longer good enough for the team that steps on the ice now days. He is a waste of a roster space, and he is absolutely expendable, especially when there are other players more hungry and deserving of that roster position (i.e Remi Elie, Alex Nylander).
General Manager Jason Botterill has preached how he is trying to change the culture of this team to a winning one. If he means what he says on that, Larsson cannot be on this team for much longer. Whether it comes via trade or waiver claim, Johan Larsson has to go as soon as possible.
What do you think about Johan Larsson? Do you agree he needs to go? Do you think he’s worth keeping around? Let us know in the comments!