For the Buffalo Sabres: Player development is key to the future

Feb 10, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) looks to make a pass during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) looks to make a pass during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres proved they’re going nowhere following a heartbreaking loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

The Buffalo Sabres looked so uninspired during their sixteen seconds of overtime, they let Jakub Voracek skate nearly the entire length of the ice to score the game-winner. At this point, head coach Don Granato and general manager Kevyn Adams need to admit, “we can’t win with the seasoned veterans, so why even keep doing this?”

The Sabres have lost 12 games this season when leading after the second period, with nine of those losses occurring in overtime. They are also averaging just over 8,500 fans per game in 2021-22, under half the 17,100 average in 2019-20.

Buffalo Sabres need to scrap win-loss importance and focus on player development

If they want to keep a fed up fanbase interested, they need to inject young talent and prospects onto the ice more now than ever before. Adams and Granato don’t know if J.J. Peterka, Brandon Biro, or Oskari Laaksonen can become reliable contributors.

But they know forwards like Victor Olofsson will get them nowhere. They don’t know if Jack Quinn can become a longtime staple. But they know Mark Jankowski and John Hayden have long since reached their ceilings.

They won’t know much about any of their youngest players, especially those in the AHL unless they log more ice time. But they’ve seen enough of the present to realize there’s no point in keeping the team’s older, more experienced players on the ice.

The time has come for the Sabres to move their veterans like Colin Miller, Craig Anderson, Mark Pysyk and others who won’t be around when this team finally starts winning games. No, the Sabres won’t win much for the rest of the season with the kids playing.

They’re probably no better than a 70-80-point team in 2022-23 with so much inexperience on the ice. But they’re far better off taking a season-and-a-half to let the losses pile up so by the time 2023-24 rolls around, the younger talent and current prospects will have plenty of experience to at least contend for the playoffs.

But to get there, Granato and Adams need to say goodbye to veterans who would better serve other teams. Especially pending unrestricted free agents. So why wait? Start this thing now and reap the benefits by the time October 2023 rolls around.