5 Buffalo Sabres who can win individual awards in 2022-23
By Sion Fawkes
One of the toughest accomplishments in the NHL is to win an individual award. But the Buffalo Sabres have five players who can win one in 2022-23.
The Buffalo Sabres remain a work in progress, but there are a few players on this team who can most definitely contend to win an individual award. The following players may have contended for such awards in the past, or their recent development is putting them in position to snag one.
And while it is no easy feat, there have been plenty of Sabres in the past to have come out of nowhere to win not just one, but multiple awards during their time with the team. And given the dark ages the Sabres still find themselves in, it has been a while since anyone with the franchise won anything.
In 2009-10, they had three award winners, with Tyler Myers taking the Calder, and Ryan Miller winning both the Vezina and the NHL Foundation Player Award. So who on this list can join them next? Here are five names to look for.
5 Buffalo Sabres who can snag an individual award for the 2022-23 season: Player #1 – Kyle Okposo, Byng
Okposo won the RICO last season, which is Buffalo Sabres exclusive. It goes to the player who shows as much (if not more) passion for the community as they do on the ice. The award also defines resiliency, and Okposo, of course, fit all three traits.
This is one of a few reasons I believe he can contend for the Lady Byng Trophy, which goes to a player who combines on-ice productivity with a high-level of sportsmanship. Given his renaissance season in 2021-22, plus his good-guy approach, it should surprise no one if Okposo at least contends for the award.
The only way I can see him failing to contend would be if he experiences a drop-off in production and reverts back to the player he was in 2019-20, and 2020-21. And given the Sabres direction, that productivity can wane if he and the other older players on the roster see lesser ice time.