Debate! Who will man the Buffalo Sabres fourth line in 2022?
Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons are borderline shoo-ins to find a spot on the Buffalo Sabres fourth line. But who will be their top line mate?
The Buffalo Sabres lineup looks far more clear cut in 2022-23 than it has in years. We know who will most likely find spots on the top two scoring lines, and we also have a clear-cut idea over who will start the season on the third line.
But who will become the main guy to team with Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo, the two projected starters on the fourth? The Sabres can go in many different directions here, and I have even seen one source list Peyton Krebs as the main act on the fourth. But I doubt this occurs until later in the season, if it happens at all.
The prime candidates to win the job include Jack Quinn, Vinnie Hinostroza, Riley Sheahan, and Anders Bjork. While we may see all of them at some point, let’s break down each and what their odds are of becoming the main guy to team with Girgensons and Okposo.
Which Buffalo Sabres low-tiered player will play most of the games on the fourth line in 2022?
Important! These rankings pertain to only a portion of the season. So some players, like the youthful Quinn, can and will easily rise to the third or perhaps even the second line come January 2023. So think of these rankings as pertaining to 2022 only.
Player #1 – Jack Quinn
I debated between Quinn and J.J. Peterka, but I feel that with the latter’s physicality, he would make a great puzzle piece on the checking line. So I placed Quinn here as an asset who would be able to ease his way into the lineup by starting his career on the fourth.
He would also benefit from playing alongside playing alongside two players with 23 years of combined NHL experience. For a rookie, that will go a long way. Eventually, I see Quinn taking a spot on the second line at some point during the season, with Krebs bumping down to the fourth.
But to give the Buffalo Sabres the best chance to win, I like to think of my projection of Quinn on the fourth line akin to that of a backup NFL quarterback selected in the first round. They will see less playing time early in a limited role, but that role will increase as the season wears on. This time next year, Quinn will be a projected second-liner barring any potential obstacle.
Extra Skaters
Player #2 – Vinnie Hinostroza
Hinostroza showed he can produce well when healthy. A team-oriented player, I can see him filling in for Quinn, Okposo, or Girgensons at various intervals during the season as the first extra skater in the rotation. The only way Hinostroza predominantly plays alongside Okposo and Girgensons is if the coaching staff feels Quinn isn’t quite ready for extended playing time even on the fourth line.
However, if Quinn performs well and quickly starts seeing time on the second line, Krebs is the prime candidate to become the fourth line center. This would most likely call for Hinostroza to rotate in with Okposo and Girgensons, with Krebs taking a full-time spot on the fourth.
Player #3 – Riley Sheahan
A former Sabre and current NHL journeyman, Sheahan showed in the past that he can win face-offs. And while he wasn’t anywhere near as effective as Cody Eakin in the role, there is a good chance he wins the job if the Sabres are looking to keep Girgensons predominantly at winger as opposed to playing center. It is important to note that Girgensons performed better in FOW% last year.
Overall, I only see Sheahan snagging the job if Quinn doesn’t win a full-time spot in the lineup early on. Sheahan will also be the odd man out the minute Quinn sees extended playing time. Either to be eased in on the fourth line, or if he winds up jumping straight to the second and Krebs comes down to the fourth to play center.
Odd Man Out
Player #4: Anders Bjork
Bjork remains on the roster and he is the one player myself and a slew of others have barely talked about. Given the amount of depth in the Buffalo Sabres lineup, Bjork is the odd man out. He only gets the spot if the injury bug strikes in training camp.
Overall, I am projecting Okposo at left wing, Girgensons to kick inside to center at least for the short-term, and Quinn to take the right until he’s ready to move up, with Hinostroza rotating in when necessary. If the Sabres decide to keep two extra skaters at forward, Sheahan is the favorite while Bjork will most likely look for a job elsewhere.
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However, if they keep Girgensons predominately at winger, then Sheahan may eventually wind up with the job while Hinostroza and Quinn rotate in. But considering the Sabres direction, Quinn at wing and Girgensons at center makes the most logistical sense, with Quinn and Krebs switching spots in the lineup sometime in 2023.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)