Buffalo Sabres: 5 young defensemen taking over NHL

The Buffalo Sabres currently have five defensemen on the roster aged 25 and younger.

The Buffalo Sabres are getting younger in every facet of the game. and they will continue to get younger following the NHL trade deadline. But they can’t get much younger at defense, where five of their defensemen can realistically play for this club for at least the next half-decade.

Each of the five players bring their unique qualities of the game to the table. From the two-way Rasmus Dahlin, the even-keel Henri Jokiharju, and the physically-imposing Mattias Samuelsson.

If you haven’t formally met these five defensemen, now is your opportunity. We will look at each individually and explain what already makes them valuable puzzle pieces to the Buffalo Sabres.

Mattias Samuelsson

No one on the Sabres roster brings a physical presence more than Samuelsson. The 6’4 grinder is no scorer and never will be. But Samuelsson has shown off his physicality with 39 hits in 21 games since the Sabres recalled him. Supplement that with 30 blocks, and the Sabres have found a blue-chip grinder who can anchor the second pairing.

It would be great to see Samuelsson improve his game to the point he logs more takeaways. But at just 22, he has a lot of time to hone his strengths and improve weaknesses. And given the way his game has improved from last season (20 NHL appearances) to this season, expect even more growth heading into 2022-23.

Look for Samuelsson to open next season as a main fixture on the second pairing with Casey Fitzgerald. And expect him to maintain the physical presence he has so far brought to the KeyBank Center.

Henri Jokiharju

Jokiharju is perhaps the team’s most underrated defenseman despite his status on the Sabres first pairing. He lacks aggression, with just 35 hits and 30 blocks in 37 games. Jokiharju can also stand to fare better in the takeaway department, logging just 17 in his last 83 appearances.

However, he possesses outstanding puck control, committing just 37 giveaways in the past two seasons. Since he arrived in Buffalo, Jokiharju’s average ice time has steadily increased to the point he can regularly turn in 21 minutes per game. He’s also logging a career-high in shooting percentage at 6.5%.

He needs to work on his aggression, and it’s unlikely he will stick onto the first pairing in the not-so-distant future with guys like Casey Fitzgerald making an impact. But at worst, Jokiharju would make an excellent puzzle piece to the third if not the second pairing.

Jacob Bryson

Of the five defensemen, Bryson remains the biggest work-in-progress. With nine points in 50 outings, Bryson’s game is, like Samuelsson’s, strictly defense. Like Jokiharju, he takes care of the puck, logging just 18 giveaways in 50 games.

Bryson has also shown he can log an extended amount of ice time between his 88 career games, recording over 19 minutes in each of the last two seasons. He’s not the most physical defenseman, logging just 41 hits. However, his 54 blocks imply he’s willing to sacrifice the body.

Overall, Bryson’s statistics are eerily similar to last season’s, implying the 24-year-old has already reached his ceiling. If that’s the case, Bryson will find a permanent spot on the third pairing.

But he’s also too valuable to get rid of. Expect the Sabres to keep and hope he grows his game in the future. If there is one more aspect to Bryson’s game that’s easy to like, it’s his tendency to stay out of the penalty box. In his 88 career games, he has served just 22 penalty minutes.

Casey Fitzgerald

No one has impressed the Sabres more than Fitzgerald. The smallish defenseman is the team’s least experienced, having made just 21 appearances. In those 21 games, Fitzgerald has mainly paired with Mattias Samuelsson, and they have become a physical duo, with Fitzgerald amassing 46 hits.

Despite his inexperience, Fitzgerald has also committed just 11 turnovers, showing he too is good with the puck. Fitzgerald has yet to contribute on the scoring front, logging just four assists. But really, who cares?

The guy is an ideal enforcer. In 21 games, he’s been involved in four fights. And his most recent one involving Keegan Kolesar of the Vegas Golden Knights shows Fitzgerald’s not afraid of anyone. He’s built an identity for himself better than most of the team’s defensemen, and opponents are taking notice.