Buffalo Sabres: 3 low-tier players Kevyn Adams should re-sign
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres are headed in the right direction. That said, they also need to pay close attention to re-signing low-tier role players.
The Buffalo Sabres are building a talented roster. So much, that fans I talked with even said a few high-end AHL prospects should not snag a spot on the team’s main roster. Not because they are no good, but because there wouldn’t be room for them. And that’s a good problem for an NHL team to have.
It was also an issue the Sabres didn’t have this time last year, when many in NHL circles believed they would finish the 2021-22 season as one of the worst teams in hockey. Many of these fans also liked a few obscure, low-tier players the Buffalo Sabres had in the organization last season. Players they believed the Sabres should bring back for at least another year.
The names listed below won’t wow you. But they performed well enough to remain part of the franchise’s transformation from NHL cellar dweller to potential playoff contender.
Who the Buffalo Sabres should re-sign: Player #1: Jacob Bryson
A few fans liked Bryson over Casey Fitzgerald. And while Fitzgerald is a more aggressive player, Bryson comes with his unique skill set.
One big advantage he has over Fitzgerald is his NHL experience. Bryson played in 111 NHL games since the 2020-21 season, scoring 19 points and averaging 18:35 of ice time. He will be a restricted free agent, however, and given the logjam of young talent at defense, it remains up in the air whether Kevyn Adams will bring him back.
Bryson’s play improved in 2021-22. He became a more aggressive player, logging 24 takeaways as opposed to just two the previous season. He also committed nearly 0.5 giveaways per game in 2020-21, and he slashed that number to just above 0.33.
He won’t score you many goals, but his ability to create turnovers and sacrifice the body shows he’s worth at least returning for a rotational role. Expect Adams to re-sign the 24-year-old defenseman.