If there was ever an enforcer slash agitator on the Buffalo Sabres this past season, it was Casey Fitzgerald. But the defenseman is showing he can be more.
During his time with the Buffalo Sabres this season, Casey Fitzgerald recorded 86 hits in 36 contests. Do the math of an 82-game schedule, and that’s 196 hits, or roughly 2.4 hits per game. Fitzgerald’s 35 blocks showed he wasn’t afraid to sacrifice the body, and he involved himself in numerous fights.
And like his former line mate, Mattias Samuelsson, Fitzgerald was known strictly for his defense than for his two-way ability. He had just six points in those 36 games, all of which were assists. Down in Rochester, however, he has quickly shown he’s capable of becoming more than just a stay-at-home defenseman.
Casey Fitzgerald showing he can become a valuable piece for the Buffalo Sabres
Since 2018-19, Fitzgerald showed flashes of offensive ability down in Rochester, with 34 points in 79 games, including nine goals and 25 assists. In 2021-22, his shooting percentage improved drastically over the previous two seasons, increasing from 5.7 and 5.1 percent, respectively, to 8.9 percent. During this time, his total shots on goal has remained roughly the same.
In the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs, Fitzgerald has logged five points in six playoff games, including one goal and four assists. However, his offensive prowess was a trend that started upon his return to Rochester on April 29th, in which he amassed three assists.
This article isn’t to say Fitzgerald will become a two-way player. Far from it. Instead, it is merely pointing out that Fitzgerald has the potential to become a more complete player at the NHL level in time.
And given the number of defensemen playing above him, he probably won’t see over 17 minutes of average ice time per game on the third pairing. So expect Fitzgerald to make the most of every opportunity the Sabres give him. And that might include a few goals in 2022-23.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)