The Buffalo Sabres had several fringe third and fourth-liners rotating in and out last season, playing between 40 and 70 games apiece.
None of the players mentioned below or in the following slides had memorable seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. But most role players don’t. They come in for a few games, do their jobs, and watch a few contests as healthy scratches.
Some saw more ice time than others, but these fringe bottom dwellers had their moments. So they deserve a bit of recognition for what went right last season plus a prediction on whether they will return for 2022-23.
Each player, regardless of how much or little ice time they received, or how well they did or did not resonate with the Buffalo Sabres faithful, carved out a specific niche. Which may prove their value to the team’s coaching staff and front office.
So who are these obscure players? Keep reading to find out.
How did the Buffalo Sabres lower liners perform? Player #1: Anders Bjork
Bjork was one of the team’s better defensive forwards when he saw playing time during his 58 contests. He scored just eight points and converted 9.8 percent of his shots. His playing time dropped from 17:02 during his first season in Buffalo to just 12:02. But he had some shining moments, even if they were far in between.
One of the most obscure players on the roster logged a respectable 16 takeaways while blocking 16 shots. He also tallied 51 shots on goal, the second-highest of his career. And while these statistics don’t pop off of the stat sheet, it shows that Bjork played his role effectively when he got his chances.
Prediction: Bjork won’t return, although he has a year remaining on his contract. Given the influx of J.J. Peterka and Jack Quinn, plus the fact there are better options to fulfill his role on the roster makes Bjork an odd man out. He will find a home, however. Probably on a team in need of stopgap defensive forwards.