Buffalo Sabres: Is the franchise still in rebuilding mode?
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres are not like most NHL teams that missed the playoffs. They have more roster stability heading into 2022-23.
The Buffalo Sabres will finally head into a new season with most of their puzzle pieces intact. Look at the skaters on last year’s roster and you can name at least 15 that will suit up for the team come October 2022. And that’s a conservative number.
One reason for the roster stability is that they played so well in March and April 2022. In their final 28 games, the Sabres, 35 points and a 0.625 points percentage, outperformed their Atlantic Division rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning (0.580 points percentage), in the latter category.
Besides outperforming rivals like the Lightning, the Sabres also beat eight playoff teams and contenders in those last 28 games, including three convincing wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs. That said, the Sabres, at most, are putting the finishing touches on their rebuild, and are reinforcing at this point.
Rebuilding is over, reinforcing has begun for the Buffalo Sabres
I wrote a few slideshow articles earlier this season that labeled the Sabres roster situation as a rebuild. But following the team’s solid output in March and April, labeling those slideshows as a reinforcement would be more appropriate.
Not to say they shouldn’t go out and improve the roster. They need a goaltender, and odds are they will re-sign and roll with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen next season. But, it wouldn’t hurt to at least consider signing an established player. If the opportunity is there, Kevyn Adams needs to take it.
They also need to sign a marquee defenseman to pair with Owen Power. And while Power did a good job pairing with Henri Jokiharju, he would thrive with a veteran presence alongside him.
The Sabres would also do well to promote Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka to the main roster, although this is a given. Both forwards played well enough in the AHL that they need to become regular members of the main roster.
Finally, expect Adams to further reinforce the entire organization via the NHL Draft, and seek to keep as many would-be free agents down in Rochester. The Sabres are familiar with the injury bug, so a thriving group playing in the AHL may prove to be valuable.
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Overall, the Sabres are no longer in rebuilding, but reinforcing mode. And that might just let them sneak into the playoffs come May 2023.