Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams stuck to his initial plan and spent conservatively in the 2022 offseason. What should we expect next?
While the Buffalo Sabres 2022 offseason is by no means even close to being over with opening night slated for October 13th, and of course, preseason and training camp preceding it, Kevyn Adams has done enough for me to provide a breakdown. And while he didn’t go crazy with spending and making huge splashes, there is still much to talk about.
I know some in the Sabres faithful wanted to see the blockbuster trade or the big-name free agent. But first and foremost, Adams played the smart route, knowing that within the next season or two, franchise cornerstones like Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Mattias Samuelsson, and Rasmus Dahlin will all be due for extensions.
And Adams would do well to sign as many as his cap space allows. That said, he went the smart route by keeping his draft picks, signing supplementary players, and even bringing back a few of his own. Let’s break it down.
Breaking down the Buffalo Sabres 2022 offseason: The NHL Draft
The Buffalo Sabres hit a slam dunk with Matthew Savoie. Though undersized, the ultra-productive Savoie could threaten to earn a roster spot as early as next season. With veterans like Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons seeing their respective contracts expire, it may open the door for Savoie.
But you also cannot forget about Jiri Kulich. The 28th overall pick is slated, per Elite Prospects, to return to Czechia’s Extraliga. But there is an outside chance he joins the Rochester Americans, since he already signed his contract with the Sabres.
Noah Ostlund, the 16th overall pick, is a shoo-in to return to Sweden this season and most likely, for 2022-23. Ditto for 41st overall pick, Topias Leinonen, except he will be playing in Liiga, Finland’s professional league. At development camp, Ostlund impressed me, despite my criticizing the Sabres of reaching for him at 16th overall. Leinonen showed he needs more polishing before an injury ended his camp early.
Round 3 and beyond…
Winger Viktor Neuchev dominated in the MHL last season, scoring 40 goals and 67 points. Mats Lindgren is an intriguing selection. A defenseman, he displays an offensive mind, but he needs to work on his defensive game before he is ready for a stint in the AHL.
Vsevolod Komarov showed in his first season in the QMJHL that he needs seasoning, though he has shown flashes of creativity. Jake Richard is one to watch. He had a good developmental camp and performed exceptionally well in the USHL, scoring 48 points in 56 contests.
Gustav Karlsson had an outstanding 2021-22 campaign in J20 Nationell, with 48 points and 31 goals in 41 games. You can also say the same for Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson, who put up 49 points in 47 contests in the same league.
Linus Sjodin is an older prospect who fared well at the SHL level in 2021-22. Look for him to make a leap this season and find himself on the outside and looking in on signing an entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.