5 Buffalo Sabres who can win individual awards in 2022-23
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.
Rasmus Dahlin, Norris
Dahlin took a massive step forward in 2021-22 and earned his first All-Star Game appearance. He also played better in the three months following the big game, finishing the year with 13 goals, 40 assists, and 53 points.
His defensive output also increased, evidenced by his 121 hits and 91 blocks. And while his possession metrics still weren’t the greatest of his career, most of them were far better in 2021-22 and they were in 2020-21, indicating that the Buffalo Sabres are more productive when he is on the ice.
Dahlin can definitely contend for the Norris if he builds on last season. Overall, he would need to hit the 60-point mark while displaying more physicality than he did in 2021-22. Last year was a sound improvement, but we still need more output if he is to make his case for the Norris. However, I see him making a steady improvement this season on both offense and defense.
Rasmus Asplund, Selke
If there is one underrated player on the Buffalo Sabres, it is Rasmus Asplund. And while his scoring output is below pedestrian (27 points in 80 games last season), his defensive efforts did not go unnoticed, as he finished 19th for the Selke, awarded to the forward who shows the most defensive prowess.
While you won’t see Asplund’s efficacy in defensive statistics like hits, blocks, and takeaways, you will see it shine in his possession metrics. At even strength, Asplund’s Corsi For Percentage (CF%) never traveled north of 48.1, before it climbed to 52.8 in 2021-22. His Fenwick For Percentage (FF%) also increased, and it rested at 52.9.
This means the Sabres controlled the puck more often with Asplund on the ice. And in many cases, it was because Asplund was on the ice, as he routinely served as one of the Sabres more disruptive players.
While I listed a couple of downsides with Dahlin and Okposo, it is hard for me to be critical in any way over Asplund next to his pedestrian offensive statistics. I fully expect him to contend once again for the Selke, and perhaps finishing, at worst, in the top 10 for the award.
Owen Power, Calder
If there is one player on the Buffalo Sabres many fans will predict to win an individual award this season, it is Owen Power. And while the Sabres may have three rookies contending simultaneously for the award – the other two being Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka, Power is the clear-cut favorite not just in Buffalo, but probably in the NHL.
He gave us an eight-game cameo last year after an unforgettable year at the University of Michigan. And while Power looked like a rookie at times, he had far more ups than downs.
Overall, I see Power having his fair share of rookie struggles. But then again, there isn’t a single NHL rookie out there who won’t. It will come to who can adapt to the game the fastest, and right now, most NHL pundits will point to Owen Power.
Like Asplund, there is really no downside regarding his contention for the award. Expect him to warrant strong consideration as the 2022-23 season wanes. If Power wins the Calder, he will join Gilbert Perrault, Tom Barrasso, and Tyler Myers as former Sabres who also snagged the honor.
Don Granato, Adams
This one is an obvious longshot, but if the Buffalo Sabres as much as sneak into the playoffs, it is highly likely that Granato will be in the running to win the Adams award. Especially since only a few still have a high opinion of the Sabres, with them sitting between 25th and 28th in most power rankings.
Last season, the Sabres were supposed to finish in the league basement, and they ended up playing moderately well considering their preseason expectations of roughly 68 points. Note, they probably wouldn’t have encroached 68 had it not been for a late-season run. But better late than never!
One thing that will keep Granato from winning the award this season is that the Sabres still may not be that good. If they don’t accumulate enough points for a playoff berth, they will have a hard time sneaking in. In that case, I would only expect Granato to contend for the award.
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Overall, these five Buffalo Sabres have the best chance at taking an individual award and giving the team a piece of hardware for the first time since 2009-10. Now, I’d like to see your list of players/coaches that can contend. Who do you have on your list and why?
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)