3 reasons the Buffalo Sabres will not add new names to the roster
By Sion Fawkes
No position controversy
The Buffalo Sabres have an outstanding top four, top five really, on the defensive side of the puck, with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Henri Jokiharju, and Ilya Lyubushkin. They also have good rotational pieces that include Jacob Bryson, Lawrence Pilut, and Casey Fitzgerald, all of whom have proven they can be serviceable acts in the NHL.
It was one reason that, when I wrote about John Klingberg before he signed with Anaheim, that while he would be a smart addition to not just the Sabres, but anyone, I also said this:
"“Personally, I do not believe the Sabres will pursue Klingberg because they are set at all three defensive pairings with intriguing prospects waiting in the wings. I also am not endorsing general manager Kevyn Adams to pursue Klingberg, as I am happy with the rotation they already have.” – Sion Fawkes, via Sabre Noise."
The same belief pattern holds true for the Sabres at forward, as I showed in the previous slide. They have players who can not just play in the NHL, but players who can perform at the NHL level.
No, I am not endorsing the idea that Case Mittelstadt could go and play on the first line, or that Jacob Bryson should be on the first pairing. But I am endorsing the fact that they are both tremendous role players who are playing around talent, as the Thompson line demonstrated last season in Mittelstadt’s case and the top two pairings demonstrated with Bryson.
This is a young team that could stagnate if you brought in a new player or two with the intent to place onto the top pairings or first two lines. Once again, if the Sabres struggled in March and April, I’d toss around the idea. But after seeing their success, it shows that this team has grown.
Therefore, it makes no sense to add someone to the roster that could inject controversy. No, not even at goaltender. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen did look good at the NHL level last season, and so did Eric Comrie. That gives the Sabres, for 2022-23, two young goaltenders capable of manning the net this season with no one except for 41-year-old Craig Anderson breathing down their necks.