Should the Buffalo Sabres keep Vinnie Hinostroza?

The Buffalo Sabres signed Vinnie Hinostroza during the 2021 offseason and he’s since provided fair returns.

Unfortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, they won’t have a full sample size on Vinnie Hinostroza since he missed nearly two months with an injury. However, Hinostroza played lights out against the Toronto Maple Leafs, logging two goals plus an assist when Peyton Krebs put Buffalo on the board during the Heritage Classic.

Since returning, Hinostroza has seen time on the second, third, and fourth lines. But given his average amount of ice time since he debuted in 2015-16 with the Chicago Blackhawks, Hinostroza seems to be best suited for the fourth line. And for a Sabres team looking to get younger, they can’t ask for a more productive fourth-liner.

Vinnie Hinostroza would be a great long-term fit for the Buffalo Sabres

There is much wow-factor to Hinostroza’s game. And with just 21 points in 40 games this season, Hinostroza isn’t the kind of player you want on your scoring lines all the time. His defensive game also isn’t the most spectacular.

However, Hinostroza controls the puck well, committing just 17 giveaways in 39 appearances this season before Sunday’s tilt with the Toronto Maple Leafs. For the record, he has never committed more than 34 in a single season, which occurred in 2018-19 with the Arizona Coyotes.

Overall, Hinostroza is an ideal fourth-liner when it comes to puck control and setting things up for the scoring lines. And as he showed at the Heritage Classic, he’s capable of scoring a few goals.

Hinostroza proved it on his one-year prove-it deal. And if he logs just four more points this season, it will be his most since his days with the Coyotes. And at 28, he’s still young enough to be part of this Buffalo Sabres organization for years to come.

Dear general manager Kevyn Adams, sign Hinostroza. He’s proven for years that he can play in the NHL. And his most recent outing against the Maple Leafs further proves that, if needed, he can provide spot duty on the second and third lines.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)