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Fans’ take on how the Buffalo Sabres should improve

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 11, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) looks to make a pass as Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) defends during the third period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Let the Kids Play

One popular fan theory is that the Sabres are keeping Luukkonen in the AHL so they can spend the rest of the season tanking. And it’s highly logical, since the Sabres can better their chances of winning the NHL Draft Lottery to snag the first overall pick.

Luukkonen, despite a 2-5 record this season, has performed better than Anderson and Tokarski. In December, he went four straight games with a save percentage of 92 or better. In short, the Sabres need him in Buffalo so he can develop. And they also need to develop young talent starting after the trade deadline at the latest.

We don’t know if J.J. Peterka can potentially help out this team five years from today. But we know Cody Eakin will take this team nowhere. We also don’t know if Brandon Biro will become a viable contributor. But we know Mittelstadt’s underperformed.

We don’t know much about how well any of the kids down in the AHL will contribute. But we’ve seen enough of the present to realize, amidst a six-game losing streak, that what’s going on right now needs to change. And really, if the Sabres go this route and play the kids, odds are they’re not going to win many games down the stretch anyway.

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Get Luukkonen up here. Get Peterka up here. Play Jack Quinn if he’s able to return this season. Biro, Ruotsalainen, and others. See what you got in the kids and give them NHL experience.

(All statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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