5 Amerks slated to become full-time Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, funneled a lot of talent to the organization this season
The Buffalo Sabres are a young hockey team that will only get younger come this offseason if not by the trade deadline. And with a plethora of seasoned veterans in the final years of their contracts, it’s smart to discuss a few big-name Amerks who could easily ascend to the NHL level in 2022-23 if not shortly thereafter.
We saw plenty of Amerks make the jump this season, including Mattias Samuelsson, Casey Fitzgerald, and Peyton Krebs (to an extent). With the Sabres looking to shed veterans for youth, who will get the nod next?
The following slides include three forwards, one defenseman, and one goaltender most likely to make the leap. Some names you know. Others may surprise you. But there is one common denominator: Each player, at the time of this writing, is aged 23 and younger.
Jack Quinn
Quinn burst onto the scene for two NHL games before an injury derailed his development. Still, he put up a goal and an assist. Before and after his cameo with the Sabres, Quinn also played lights out with the Amerks.
In 28 games, Quinn logged 42 points including 21 goals and 21 assists. Given his performances in Rochester, it makes sense to see him return to the Sabres before the end of the season for another cameo. But if he remains in Rochester, look for him to find a spot on the second line in 2022-23.
Expect him to line up at wing, preferably right-wing, on the second line since Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, and Jeff Skinner will man the top scoring line until further notice. Still, it should come as no surprise if Quinn’s performances eventually land him on the top scoring line.
Ideally, we would have seen more of him this season, but the injury. Still, he’s already shown he can play in the NHL.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Despite Dustin Tokarski’s recent shutout, it’s farfetched to believe he will fill the void at goaltender long-term. Overall, he’s a great backup to keep around for the next few seasons while young talent like Luukkonen takes centerstage.
While it’s unclear whether Luukkonen will be the long-term fix at goaltender, it’s clear he will be given first dibs at the job. If the Sabres were to move Craig Anderson or perhaps Tokarski, or opt not to re-sign them, then expect Luukkonen to open next season as the starting goaltender.
And while he has struggled in Rochester, he also dealt with a depleted roster while simultaneously returning from his own injury. In Buffalo, he posted a .917 save percentage during his few appearances and posted a 2.74 GAA, a far-cry from his 3.88 GAA in 2020-21. Luukkonen has improved, and he deserves a full season in the net.
J.J. Peterka
Peterka posted a two-game cameo in a Sabres uniform this season and you can expect more of him in 2022-23. While it remains to be seen whether or not he becomes a full-time Sabre next season, expect him to at least see more time at the NHL level.
Another winger, Peterka has also posted excellent numbers including 50 points, 16 goals, and 34 assists. While Peterka hasn’t shown the same offensive prowess at the NHL level, he did log two takeaways and two blocks. Translation: A definite future third-liner with immense potential to move up to the higher lines.
This time last year, hockey fans would have laughed had we claimed Peterka would face competition from a score-happy hockey team. But the Sabres have shown flashes. Peyton Krebs, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Dylan Cozens have all shown scoring potential, and it goes without saying the top line has as well.
So if Peterka best serves the team on the third-line to begin his full-time NHL career so be it. He will contribute in more than just the scoring realm.
Brandon Biro
Biro had an improbable path to the NHL, starting off as an undrafted free agent and toiling for two seasons in Rochester. But, he now has one NHL game on his resume and has made it further than many of his undrafted brethren.
Looking at his AHL statistics, it’s clear Biro will get another shot with the Sabres when, yes, when they re-sign him. In 40 contests this season, Biro has nine goals, 27 assists, and 36 points. Like Peterka, Biro has potential to develop into a top scorer but he may be best-suited for the lower lines.
If he doesn’t regularly play on the third line either next season or in 2023-24 (assuming he re-signs with the organization), look for Biro to start off a full-time NHL career as a high-end fourth-liner. He’s already played well enough to make an NHL appearance, and you can bet his cameo earlier in the year won’t be his last.
Oskari Laaksonen
If the Sabres want another Rasmus Dahlin-like player, they may have one in Laaksonen. No, he doesn’t boast the same two-way potential as Dahlin, but his 29 points in 54 games shows he’s a tremendous puck-handler with a knack for playing the blue line well.
The only concern with Laaksonen involves his 36 penalty minutes. This is reminiscent of Casey Fitzgerald, another defenseman who has racked up time in the box. Overall, think of Laaksonen as a hybrid between Dahlin and Fitzgerald and it’s something the Sabres lack on their three defensive pairings.
With the Sabres likely to part ways with several key veteran defensemen, look for Laaksonen’s name to at least get thrown around as a potential replacement for Colin Miller and company on the third pairing. And with his ability to create opportunities for teammates, you can also expect Laaksonen to provide a little more value than the veterans currently manning the third pairing.
(All statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Hockey Database)