Buffalo Sabres: 5 bold predictions for the 2022 offseason
Technically, the Buffalo Sabres offseason began with them securing the 9th and 16th picks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft Lottery
It’s that time of year again for the Buffalo Sabres. The offseason is upon us and given the team’s phenomenal finish to their 2021-22 season, we should expect them to at least contend for a playoff spot in the 2022-23 season.
But, it is not as easy of a feat as we might think. The worst playoff team in the Eastern Conference this season, the Washington Capitals, recorded 100 points, 25 more than the Sabres. The Sabres also finished the season well behind the New York Islanders (84 points) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (83 points).
The good news is that they are a young hockey team that meshed as last season wore on. So if they make a jump similar to that of March and April 2022, the Sabres can become immediate contenders. But that also doesn’t mean they shouldn’t keep things as is.
The Sabres are without a viable goalie. And even if the 41-year-old Craig Anderson returns, he is in no shape to withstand the demands of an 82-game season. Something he proved this past year when multiple injuries limited his availability.
They also need to find a way to make a splash in free agency and the draft. Some fans say, and rightfully so, that this team is not finished rebuilding until they earn a trip to the playoffs. And since the Sabres lead the league in cap space, they have plenty of room to make a plethora of dynamic moves that will put them over the top.
So let’s have some fun with five bold predictions for the Buffalo Sabres this offseason. Some moves are logistic and others will make you do a double-take. But a common denominator exists: Each predicted transaction will make the Sabres a playoff contender, starting with the Captain Obvious move.
Sabres re-sign Victor Olofsson
As the Buffalo Sabres got it together in March and April, perhaps no player upped their game more than Victor Olofsson. Once thought of as nothing more than a power play specialist with a knack for scoring high-octane goals from the circle, Olofsson changed the narrative within three months.
A wrist injury held him back this season, which contributed to a three-month scoring drought. However, he broke the spell in February and played lights out the rest of the way. It resulted in Olofsson seeing time on the top scoring line to end the season, and he showed that he deserved to be there.
While some in the Sabres faithful believe general manager Kevyn Adams should forgo re-signing Olofsson, it is easy to predict otherwise. Adams has indicated he wants to keep the core group he spent the last two seasons building and maintaining (from the Botterill era).
Olofsson’s production was too good to go unwarranted. Expect the Sabres to get a deal done with the Restricted Free Agent (RFA) and he will pick up right where he left off come October.
Sabres sign Kris Letang
All signs point to Letang leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins following either elimination or a Stanley Cup. And Adams has been adamant about bringing in a marquee veteran defenseman to team with Owen Power.
While he will have several options in free agency, the 35-year-old Letang would be by far the best fit. Heading into his 17th season come 2022-23, Letang continues to show no signs of slowing down, having recorded 68 points and 171 hits this past season.
By contrast, Rasmus Dahlin amassed 53 points and 104 hits. So it shows you just how high-octane of a player Letang continues to be. Sure, he will come at a steep price. But who cares? Not only can the Sabres afford him, but his playoff experience will benefit the entire team.
Letang would also make a great leader overall. Look for Adams to double down and pay the price to sign Letang and place him onto the second pairing with Power. Doing so will immediately catapult the Sabres into the playoff conversation.
Sabres draft TWO steals in the first round
In previous articles, I outlined that the Sabres could easily package their picks and trade up, perhaps into the top five. Or, they can stay at home and select the best available players. Let’s assume the latter occurs, and predict that two highly-coveted prospects fall into their laps.
The players in question? Joakim Kemell and Frank Nazar. Tankathon has Kemell landing at sixth overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets while they mocked Nazar to the Sabres, but at ninth overall. This scenario projects Nazar falling to 16th, while the Sabres gladly scoop up Kemell with the ninth pick.
The players, both listed as right wingers, ranked first and second by the way, have taken different paths to the NHL Draft. Kemell, a Finnish native, had one busy 2021-22 season, playing in 69 games over the past 12 months, scoring 55 points, including 23 points in 39 games in Liiga, Finland’s premier hockey league.
Nazar committed to the University of Michigan, where he will team with another Sabres prospect, Erik Portillo. Nazar was also busy this past season, appearing in 86 games while scoring an astounding 114 points. His slight build, however, could cause him to drop to 16th.
Craig Anderson retires, then unretires
Yeah, you can translate this bold prediction into: Craig Anderson will be a Buffalo Sabre next season. But, he will not be the starting goaltender. Instead, the soon-to-be 41-year-old will retire and spend most of the summer enjoying time off, with no plans to return to the NHL.
Then August rolls around and he starts thinking otherwise. At which point he calls the Sabres and the two sides work out a one-year deal that will allow Anderson to return as a reserve. So look for Anderson to announce his retirement shortly, but take that announcement with a grain of salt.
The Buffalo News already reported that, if Anderson were to return for another season, it would be in Buffalo. And the Sabres have also stated their interest in bringing Anderson back to participate in a backup role.
Further, Anderson would make a great mentor to any goaltender that starts in the net. Whether it is the current frontrunner, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, or another name. Speaking of goaltenders, let’s talk about them in the next slide.
Adams throws a smokescreen
Kevyn Adams repeatedly has implied he wants Luukkonen or Devon Levi (currently at Northeastern) as the team’s future franchise goalies. But this is yet another statement you don’t need to take too seriously. This is the NHL offseason, and front offices love throwing smokescreens all over the place.
Instead, look for Adams to be on the prowl for a potential marquee or serviceable goaltender this season. The Buffalo Sabres figure to contend in 2022-23, so it makes zero sense to gamble on the unproven Luukkonen or to wait for someone like Levi.
What’s not to say the Sabres don’t go ultra bold and try for someone like Ville Husso? The St. Louis Blue had a breakout season and he will command attention from NHL general managers if he tests free agency.
More. 5 Sabres to watch at IIHF World Championship. light
Or, someone like Scott Wedgewood of the Dallas Stars may also be a good fit. Wedgewood wasn’t as effective as Husso and he was quite the journeyman, having also played in Arizona and in New Jersey this past season. However, he improved as the season progressed, finishing 13-15-6, with a save percentage of 91.0. Not bad for a goaltender forced to spend time in Jersey and Arizona.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Tankathon)