Buffalo Sabres: 5 bold predictions heading into the 2022-23 season

Owen Power AND Jack Quinn finish Top 3 for the Calder

Power and Quinn will have their rookie moments in 2022-23, no doubt. But here is a stat worth noting: In a combined 10 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season, the duo logged five points, three goals, and two assists. No, they weren’t on the ice at the same time, but these aren’t bad scoring numbers for two players seeing their first taste of NHL action.

Of course, you need more than points to win the Calder. But Power showed off his defensive prowess often during his eight-game stretch in the Queen City, routinely forcing opponents into improvising plays, disrupting plays, and even averaging 1.125 blocks per game.

While Quinn won AHL Rookie of the Year honors and secured a spot on the All-Rookie Team, his numbers tanked in the playoffs. However, Quinn was able to draw opponents in, which opened things up for teammates. That is a sign of a good hockey player, even if two assists in 10 games is a meager stat line.

Look for a high scoring output from both players. But even if they are not scoring, expect them to produce in ways that do not appear on the stat sheet. And this will translate into serious contention for the Calder.

Tage Thompson lives up to his new contract

In late April, I penned my Way to Early Bold Predictions piece and I projected Tage Thompson to once again pace the Buffalo Sabres in goals scored (40) along with securing his first appearance in the NHL All-Star Game.

Now that Thompson signed a long-term extension, the question now remains whether he will live up to his big contract. At least in 2022-23, you can expect it. One reason is that Thompson has experience and chemistry with the likes of Alex Tuch, Victor Olofsson, and Jeff Skinner. And that built chemistry will continue into next season.

This will translate into not only Thompson living up to the billing, but you can expect augmented statistics from all of the above. We talked about Skinner a couple of sections back, but it is also not farfetched to believe Olofsson and Tuch will threaten their career highs of 49 and 52 points, respectively.

Buffalo Sabres sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs, finish ahead of Ottawa, Detroit

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Buffalo Sabres have owned their cross-border rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even during their worst seasons, the Sabres play the Leafs perhaps harder than any other team on their schedule.

This year, they only play Toronto three times, and I am expecting them to pick up right where they left off in March and April 2022, when they outscored the Leafs 15-5 and won three straight contests against them. The Sabres have dominated the overall series against Toronto since 1970, and regardless of how good Toronto gets, the Sabres will remain a thorn in their sides.

Since July, I’ve projected the Sabres to finish ahead of the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, even if no one else is. While the Sabres went the conservative route in building this team, Detroit and Ottawa spent big money, which can result in a high reward, but it also poses a major risk.

I’m leaning toward the costs outweighing the benefits here. One reason is that it will take time for Detroit and Ottawa, especially Detroit, to build chemistry. And this is something the Sabres already have. Expect both teams to have their moments in 2022-23, but you can also look for them to struggle as they try to mesh as a team.

The Sabres hold a massive advantage here. Even if the NHL universe thinks otherwise.

Rasmus Dahlin earns NHL All-Star Team honors

2021-22 was a breakout season for Dahlin and he serves as the face of the Buffalo Sabres franchise. In 2022-23, expect him to build on his performance, something he did after playing in his first NHL All-Star Game in February.

Dahlin finished the season with 53 points, 13 goals, and 40 assists. He also logged a 7.6% shooting percentage. But his defensive numbers further showed he is a true two-way player and will hold that moniker for some time.

Look for him to take the next step as he earns NHL All-Star Team honors this year. He will also finish in the top five production-wise among all NHL defensemen. To be blunt: 2021-22 was a foreshadowing of what was to come down the road. 

Overall, we can put a dozen bold predictions here. But I wanted to place the five boldest front and center, but with a sense of realism as well. So what do you think? What predictions do you have for the Sabres this season? Let me know in the comments.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)