Buffalo Sabres: How did the lower-liners perform in 2021-22?
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.
Cody Eakin
While Eakin has been a moderately productive player in this league, his time with the Buffalo Sabres is rather forgettable. In 115 games, the face-off specialist has just 19 points and seven goals, and his shooting percentage was an ultra-fringe 5.4 last season,
Eakin’s knack for winning face-offs and providing a sound defensive presence gave him some value. But the problem is that the Sabres forked out millions for a fourth-liner whose best days have long since passed.
Prediction: There is no way the Sabres will re-sign Eakin on a seven-figure deal. There are others on the team that can also fill his specialty for winning face-offs in 2022-23. While he would make a valuable rotational player in the NHL, that role will not be with the Sabres. Expect general manager Kevyn Adams to let Eakin walk.
Zemgus Girgensons
A former first round pick that missed all of the 2020-21 season, Girgensons struggled with injuries again in 2021-22. However, he still managed to play in 56 games, scoring 10 goals and 18 total points.
Overall, Girgensons scored his highest points-per-game total, 0.32, since 2014-15, when he scored 0.41. It was a bounce back season for the forward who also won a respectable 49.7 percent of his face-offs, one of the best figures on the team.
He was also a physical defensive-minded forward, recording 81 hits, 25 blocks, and 24 takeaways. His number of takeaways stood out more than any other, as it was his highest number since 2013-14, when he played in 70 games. Had Girgensons made it to 70 games this season, he’d have hit the 30-takeaway milestone.
Prediction: It was a successful season for a man who played in just 56 games over the past two seasons. If Girgensons stays healthy, he will remain a fixture on the lower lines.
John Hayden
No one on the Buffalo Sabres was more underrated than John Hayden. At least from a performance standpoint. No, Hayden will never put up sound offensive numbers and no, he does not possess sound puck control, evidenced by a career-high in giveaways.
However, every NHL team needs a part-time player like Hayden who isn’t afraid to go head-to-head with professional hockey’s most physical teams. Last season, he played in just 55 contests, but he wound up with a near-career best 104 hits, second only to the 118 he compiled in 2017-18.
Prediction: While he is nothing more than a part-time player who shouldn’t rise above the fourth line, the Sabres have a phenomenal puzzle piece in Hayden whose grit goes underappreciated. Look for him to return and play the same part-time role next season.
Mark Pysyk
Pysyk established himself as a fan favorite and played well as a member of the lower defensive pairings. A versatile player, Pysyk has also played forward at times during his NHL career, but he looks more at home as a defenseman.
A journeyman who made his NHL debut back in 2013-14 with the Buffalo Sabres, Pysyk returned this season and appeared in 68 games. Never afraid to sacrifice the body, Pysyk logged 85 blocks in a stay at home role.
Prediction: The youthful logjam at defenseman, plus the possibility of general manager Kevyn Adams signing or trading for a veteran defenseman to pair with Owen Power means there is probably no room for Pysyk to continue his career in Buffalo. Though he played well enough to find a home somewhere.
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Overall, each lower-liner proved their worth to the team in some way. But, just because they fulfilled a niche does not mean they will return for another season. Especially if there is another player on the roster who can fulfill that niche.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)