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How the Buffalo Sabres will win the 2022 NHL offseason

By Sion Fawkes |
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 12: Zemgus Girgensons #28 of the Buffalo Sabres tries to handle a bouncing puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leafs 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 12: Zemgus Girgensons #28 of the Buffalo Sabres tries to handle a bouncing puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leafs 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
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A recent article from the Bleacher Report listed the Buffalo Sabres as one of six teams to win the 2022 NHL offseason. Can it become a reality?

The Buffalo Sabres are in prime position to win the 2022 NHL offseason, as The Bleacher Report pointed out in a recent article. With over $40 million in cap space, three picks in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, plus a strong finish to the previous season, the Sabres are already in prime position to have a big offseason.

This time last year, it wasn’t the case. The Sabres were slated to become one of the worst teams in hockey and they were all but in rebuilding mode. But a 16-9-3 record (35 points) in March and April, juxtaposed by the sheer youth on this team, shows the franchise has put the NHL on notice.

ST PAUL, MN – MAY 02: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild looks on before the start of Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center on May 2, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Blues defeated the Wild 4-0 to take a 1-0 series lead. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MN – MAY 02: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild looks on before the start of Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center on May 2, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Blues defeated the Wild 4-0 to take a 1-0 series lead. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Here is how the Buffalo Sabres will win the offseason: Action #1 – Sign goaltenders

Note, I said goaltenders. This is because you can expect the Buffalo Sabres to sign one goaltender in free agency while they keep their own. This will provide depth and familiarity at the position that they didn’t see last season.

Craig Anderson could come back if he decides to keep playing. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a shoo-in to return. Malcolm Subban and Aaron Dell are great options for the AHL, and a goaltender like Marc-Andre Fleury would be an expensive yet wise investment. Only Dustin Tokarski appears to be the odd man out.

By keeping their own goaltenders, there won’t be such a steep adjustment period. If they sign a 30-something veteran like Fleury, they would be bringing in an outstanding mentor for Luukkonen, who struggled with injuries and inconsistencies in 2021-22.

Plus, it keeps pressure off of Luukkonen, who could spend 2022-23 as a backup goaltender. Fleury or whoever can start the season and rotate with Luukkonen. And that will be a huge help for the star-crossed Finn.

ELMONT, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 30: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders makes the third period save on John Hayden #15 of the Buffalo Sabres at the UBS Arena on December 30, 2021 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ELMONT, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 30: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders makes the third period save on John Hayden #15 of the Buffalo Sabres at the UBS Arena on December 30, 2021 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Re-sign high and low-tier players

Re-signing high-tier players who came on strong this season is a must. With so much room in cap space, Adams would be smart to negotiate with restricted free agent Victor Olofsson, and even cornerstones like Tage Thompson.

By signing and re-signing key players to extensions, Adams will officially lock in his top talents for the next few seasons. This makes small-market Buffalo a hotter destination than most for older, established free agents like Fleury.  It shows that the Sabres are no longer a rebuilding hockey team and that they are slated to pick up where they left off come October.

But, the Sabres also can’t forget that they need to keep their lower lines filled with talent. And this is where re-signing the likes of John Hayden, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Mark Jankowski come in. Re-signing these lower-tier players, even AHL prospects like Ryan MacInnis and Sean Malone, will turn the Buffalo Sabres into a well-rounded organization from the bottom-up.

BUFFALO, NY – APRIL 14: Playing in his home debut NHL 1st overall pick Owen Power #25 of the Buffalo Sabres gets his first NHL point assisting on a goal by Alex Tuch #89 of the Buffalo Sabres during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at KeyBank Center on April 14, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – APRIL 14: Playing in his home debut NHL 1st overall pick Owen Power #25 of the Buffalo Sabres gets his first NHL point assisting on a goal by Alex Tuch #89 of the Buffalo Sabres during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at KeyBank Center on April 14, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images) /

Nail the 2022 NHL Draft

Nobody is in a better position to nail the NHL Draft than the Buffalo Sabres. With three picks in the first round, the Sabres can snag three high-end prospects, preferably at forward.

Despite all their cap space, they cannot realistically keep all their players long-term. Which is why the NHL Draft is so important this season. Adams clearly nailed the 2021 draft, with Owen Power shining in his eight-game stint to close out the season.

We are also excited about Alexandr Kisakov and Isak Rosen, both of whom figure to be in the AHL next year. Josh Bloom and Olivier Nadeau are also intriguing prospects. Give the Sabres a draft like they had last season, and NHL experts across the world will think highly of them.

Must Read. 4 key offseason priorities for Kevyn Adams – 2022. light

Signing a goaltender should be their top priority. And if they snag a good one while re-signing their own goaltenders and top talents, they basically already won the offseason. But give them bonus points for nailing the draft, something we already know Kevyn Adams can do.

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