Buffalo Sabres: 3 candidates for team captain in 2022-23
The Buffalo Sabres have seen a plethora of strong output from their core players in 2021-22 and it created many candidates for team captain
The Buffalo Sabres had a vacancy at team captain this season and someone will fill that vacancy come October. This time three months ago, it would have been a toss up, considering the Sabres relative inefficiency.
Fast-forward to April 2022, and you can probably name at least seven viable candidates to take over at captain. However, there can only be one true captain and a handful of alternate captains on any given NHL roster.
So we are going to break down the three likeliest candidates to earn the ‘C’ badge next season. And with the choices narrowed to three, it forced us to leave off a few of the team’s fastest-risers.
For example, Tage Thompson did not make the cut. Although Thompson was arguably the team’s best forward in a breakout campaign, there were two names that easily edged him out.
Alex Tuch was another name that drew serious consideration, but he has not been part of the organization long enough to warrant a true argument. Craig Anderson would be an exceptional choice at captain, but he would need to re-sign to generate serious consideration.
The same goes for Victor Olofsson, as he will be a restricted free agent (RFA) following the season. No one had a better second half of the season than Olofsson, and at 26, he is entering the prime of his career. But there is no guarantee he will wear blue and gold.
So that leaves us with three candidates, one of which is the oldest player on the team who is under contract for next season. Another candidate had a career renaissance and a third is transforming into a superstar.
Who are these three candidates and which one of them currently has the best chance to put the ‘C’ patch on the front of their jersey come October? Here are the three candidates.
Rasmus Dahlin
No one had more of a breakout season than two-way defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. One knock on Dahlin, however, is that he is only 22 years old and that he has only had one great season at the NHL level. So although he was an All-Star in 2021-22, age may still be a factor here.
However, Dahlin has become a vocal piece in and out of the Sabres locker room. He also showed this season, especially in March and April 2022, that he should be ranked among the NHL’s best defensemen. And as a former first overall pick, it is safe to say he lived to expectations.
At the very least, expect the Sabres to reward Dahlin with an ‘A’ patch, which will eventually evolve into a ‘C’ patch. But if the Sabres are looking to go in the direction of an older, more experienced player, there are two viable candidates for the job. And it is easy to project the following players, like Dahlin, will achieve at least Alternate Captain status.
Jeff Skinner
After two marginal seasons, Jeff Skinner returned to form and is threatening a new career-high if he logs just two more points. Unlike Dahlin, Skinner has both age and experience on his side, as he will be entering his 13th NHL season.
Skinner also has credentials that Dahlin has yet to achieve. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2010-11, while Dahlin finished third in the voting following his rookie season. Skinner also has two NHL All-Star Games on his resume.
Finally, Skinner, has provided consistent performances all season. And he is a perfect candidate to lead a plethora of younger Sabres who have already risen to or are rising through the AHL ranks and to the NHL.
Like Dahlin, Skinner will at least wear an ‘A’ on the front of his jersey in 2022-23. But given his production and experience, plus contract status, he is probably the best option to attain the ‘C.’
Kyle Okposo
Like Skinner, Okposo is in his 30s. Also like Skinner, he experienced a career renaissance this season. His 45 points are his highest total since joining the Sabres in 2016-17. He also scored 21 goals for the first time since his days with the New York Islanders in 2015-16.
The only knock on Okposo heading into next season is that he will be in the final year of his contract. This might hinder him from attaining the ‘C,’ but as the oldest player slated to be under contract in 2022-23 that can produce, he may get it nonetheless.
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This season, Okposo spent time as the Alternate Captain. And at worst, that will be his status on the team next season. He and Skinner are neck-and-neck to win the ‘C’ patch.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)