Buffalo Sabres: Three things that went right in 2021-22
With Yahoo Sports writing their annual ‘What Went Wrong’ series, let’s focus on what went right for the Buffalo Sabres in 2021-22.
By no means are we challenging Yahoo Sports’ portrayal of the Buffalo Sabres. In fact, they even noted how strange the Sabres were to grade. This is because while the Sabres set a record in playoff futility by missing the postseason yet again, they also acknowledged the team’s latest rebuild looks a lot different from previous attempts.
For one, they acknowledged how trading away three forgettable first round picks for Devon Levi, a draft pick that ended with Isak Rosen coming into the system, Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, the 16th, and 28th overall picks for the 2022 draft has set the stage for something special. They particularly acknowledged their success regarding the Eichel trade.
So while the article was entitled What Went Wrong, Yahoo Sports also acknowledged a lot of what went right. Keep reading for more.
What went right for the Buffalo Sabres: Winning when healthy
Yahoo Sports acknowledged the team’s goaltender conundrum that set them back around midseason. In short, it was an absolute disaster, with the Sabres running through six goaltenders. None of whom played well.
On top of that, key forwards missed extended time. Guys like Kyle Okposo, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Zemgus Girgensons missed dozens of combined games, forcing the Sabres to use taxi squads at midseason. But when they got healthy, they started winning, and it showed in March and April 2022.
Their 35 points in their final 28 games did not go unnoticed in league spheres. So if the two-month sample size shows what a healthy Sabres team can do, will it translate to seven months of regular season success? Right now, that answer is probably. They just need to stay healthy.
Breakout seasons
Yahoo Sports got it right when they recognized Tage Thompson’s breakout season. His 68 points in 78 games was something no one saw coming. And if he builds on it for 2022-23, Thompson is a shoo-in for the 2023 All-Star Game.
They also acknowledged Victor Olofsson, whose 49 points in 72 games was really more of a Tale of Two Halves of a Season. But in the end, Olofsson played well enough to warrant attention in NHL spheres.
And finally, they also gave Rasmus Dahlin a nod. The all-around defenseman’s 53 points in 80 games did not go unnoticed. Besides his offensive prowess, Dahlin’s defensive ability also shone with 91 blocks and 121 hits.
Yahoo Sports also gave Owen Power a nod. And although Power played in just a cameo this season, he looked as though he belonged in the NHL.
Seasons of redemption
Jeff Skinner jumped out to Yahoo Sports more than anyone else on the Buffalo Sabres. His 63 points tied a career-high and it was the ultimate season of redemption for a player who scored just 37 times in 112 games.
And while they did not mention it, Kyle Okposo‘s 45-point outing in 74 games also displayed redemption for the aging winger. Before 2021-22, his career in Buffalo looked null and void. But these days, Okposo’s performance and leadership qualities have pegged him as the frontrunner to achieve team captain status in 2022-23.
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If the Buffalo Sabres see a few more breakout seasons in 2022-23 from the likes of Casey Mittelstadt, Dylan Cozens, and Peyton Krebs, plus perhaps something from one of the rookies, they will build off of what went right this season. Especially if the players mentioned in the previous two slides can continue to play the way they did in 2021-22.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)