3 Buffalo Sabres who must stick around for the rebuild
After winning three-straight games in overtime, it’s hard to say the Buffalo Sabres are still rebuilding
When you look at the Buffalo Sabres in March 2022, they are a far cry from the team that won just 11 games between November 2021 and February 2022. Add to the fact they won games against playoff teams and contenders, it gives the Sabres more credibility that they have entered building mode.
No, things won’t be so dandy all the time for this still-young NHL team. And it’s hard to call them a good hockey team just yet. They’re just having a good run and you can expect several of them between now and April 2023 (no, that’s not a typo). But we need to remember they remain a team in transition.
The Sabres will be letting several key veterans go this offseason and you can expect them to call up young talent from the Rochester Americans onto their lower lines. Perhaps some, like Jack Quinn, will see a larger role.
The Buffalo Sabres must keep a few veterans around for the rebuild
While the Sabres still need to get younger and free up cap space to pay all the young talent once their initial contracts expire – or if they decide to sign them to extensions – it would be foolish for them to release every key veteran. Some older players expressed interest in sticking around and they can provide exceptional leadership to a team that figures to be one of the NHL’s youngest.
Of course, the Sabres need to factor in things like player salaries and how much value they will get from these veterans. Odds are, they will be backups and placed onto lower lines, seeing limited ice time in eventual favor of the team’s younger talent.
So who should stick around for the long haul? Here are three players not only interested in returning, but three players who will also provide immense value to the Sabres.
Craig Anderson
The 40-year-old goaltender was a viable trade candidate and yes, the Sabres made a mistake by not trading him. Anderson was open to a trade if that trade was to a contender, and you can’t blame him for wanting to explore the option.
However, it also makes sense to keep Anderson in Buffalo should be continue his career. With a 12-9 record, Anderson has proven he can still play in this league. And he also won’t cost much to keep around.
Best yet, Anderson, if he stuck around, could make several appearances next season in a timeshare with current Amerks goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen should the Sabres recall the latter into the NHL ranks.
The Sabres also have two viable goaltenders in the college ranks: Devon Levi and Erik Portillo. And while you shouldn’t expect Levi or Portillo to enter the NHL ranks any time soon, having someone like Anderson as a backup will hold the position down until one of the two reach the NHL’s highest level.
Translation: It’s possible Anderson sticks around even beyond next year. Of course, since he will be 41 in May, Anderson has also noted that continuing his hockey career depends on his family’s blessings. And rightfully so.
Mark Pysyk
The Sabres may very well let Pysyk go along with Will Butcher and Colin Miller. However, if the Sabres were to keep one around, Pysyk is their most cost-effective option, so he gets the nod over the other two.
While Miller is the better player, he has not lived up to his heftier contract while Pysyk may cost no more than seven-figures to keep around. And while Pysyk is not the most physical defenseman nor a two-way player, he is great with puck handling and awareness.
Through 61 games in 2021-22, he committed just 17 giveaways while logging 81 blocks. Threatening his career-high of 123, which occurred during his time with the Florida Panthers in 2017-18.
Pysyk has also been one of the league’s most durable players since 2016-17, something Miller and Butcher cannot claim. He is also more than okay with lining up on the third pairing. And with Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Casey Fitzgerald, Henri Jokiharju, and Jacob Bryson all under age 24, Pysyk’s value increases if he sticks around to provide a voice of leadership.
Look for the Sabres to at least try and re-sign him in the offseason. And if they do, they can further allow younger talent down in the AHL level to develop.
Vinnie Hinostroza
This one was a toss-up between Victor Oloffson and Hinostroza. And while it would be great to see Olofsson stick around, Hinostroza provides the greatest bang-for-buck option.
As a bonus, Hinostroza wants to stay. Here is what he said before taking the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins:
“Until you’re in the locker room, you don’t actually realize how close it is to being something really good and what they’re building here. Just seeing that from the outside and you have a different perspective. … “You don’t get to see the inside of the locker room and really how close-knit this team is and how close it is to being something really special. I think being a part of it is something really cool.” – Vinnie Hinostroza via Buffalo Hockey Beat.
Hinostroza missed significant time with an injury this season, but his three-point outing during the Heritage Classic earlier in the month shows he can still produce and carve out a nice future with the Sabres. No, Hinostroza shouldn’t log over 15 minutes of ice time and he fits best as a role player. But his top-notch puck handling and 14.5% shooting percentage this season proves his value.
light. Related Story. Which low-tier defenseman sticks around?
Hinostroza will turn 28 by the time the following season rolls around, and he won’t be the oldest forward on the roster with Kyle Okposo set to return next season. But like Okposo, he will find himself in a leadership role with a young hockey team.
(statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)