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Buffalo Sabres: Projecting the 2022 lineups (pre-free agency)

By Sion Fawkes

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 12: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against Alexander Kerfoot #15 of 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: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against Alexander Kerfoot #15 of 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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It is always fun to play around with projections, so the time has come to project the Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 lineup before free agency starts on July 13th.

Before I dive too deeply into projecting the Buffalo Sabres lineup, I do want to make one thing clear: What you are about to read is subject to change. Starting July 13th, we will experience NHL free agency with the team on the up and up for the first time in a long time.

But that doesn’t mean, with all things being equal, that we can’t at least make a few sensible projections over the current state of the lineup. Plus, this projection will also give us an idea over which position groups the Sabres will most likely go after in free agency. Let’s dive deeper.

Buffalo Sabres
HAMILTON, ONTARIO – MARCH 13: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres moves the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period during the Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field on March 13, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Projecting the Buffalo Sabres lineup before free agency: First Line

Jeff Skinner, LW

It was a year of redemption for Jeff Skinner, following two seasons of subpar hockey. With 63 points and 33 goals in 2021-22, he evolved into one of the Buffalo Sabres leading scorers. And at age 30, he will be, barring a free agent signing, the second-oldest skater on the roster. Look for Skinner, still in his prime, to continue his dominance this season.

Tage Thompson, C

Few in NHL spheres had a breakout season in the same mold as Thompson. The guy threatened to score 40 goals, falling just two short of that mark. But nonetheless, 68 points in 78 games leaves us wondering what he has in store for fans this season.

Alex Tuch, RW (A)

Tuch gave us just 50 games this past year, scoring 38 points. And while his scoring prowess cooled as the season wore on, Tuch did show off his defensive skills, giving us 40 takeaways and 49 blocks. If he can remain consistent offensively, he may develop into one of the NHL’s better two-way players.

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