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.