Buffalo Sabres: 3 position battles to watch in training camp in 2022
The Buffalo Sabres are going to have an interesting camp with position battles all over the ice. Here are the top three to watch in 2022.
It is September, one of the best months of the year because regardless of how well your favorite NHL team will fare, optimism is in the air along with an aura of crispness in the atmosphere that tells us fall is on its way. And for the Buffalo Sabres, it means there will be some good old position battles taking place.
This article will not necessarily focus on battling for a spot on the Sabres roster. Instead, we will discuss players already projected to find a place in the lineup who are on the cusp of moving up a rung, or losing their projected spot to someone else.
And while every position is up for grabs in camp – even those supposed locks – the most heated battles are the most enticing. Here are the top three.
Intriguing position battles to watch in Buffalo Sabres training camp – Battle #1: Dylan Cozens vs Casey Mittelstadt for second-line center
I can thank Josh Erickson’s article on Pro Hockey Rumors for the tidbit here. In the article, he projects Dylan Cozens to snag second-line center, but not before fighting it out with Casey Mittelstadt. In my own projections, I have Mittelstadt taking the spot here, believing him to be better-suited for the second line while Cozens’ skill-set is better for the third line.
But there is a chance Cozens wins the job on the second line if he has a great camp and Mittelstadt continues to struggle. So let’s assume for purposes of this article that Cozens takes the gig from Mittelstadt. That projects him to start the season alongside Peyton Krebs (LW) and Victor Olofsson (RW).
Where does that put Mittelstadt? Do you place him onto the checking line, or the high-energy fourth line? Neither seem to be a great fit for the center. Or, do you bump Krebs down to the third, put him at center, and experiment Mittelstadt at winger?
All the question marks surrounding what to do with Mittelstadt if Cozens ends up on the second line is one reason I’ve been hesitant to project him elsewhere. He’s a raw fit, at best, anywhere else.
Projected Winner: Mittelstadt
Ilya Lyubushkin vs Henri Jokiharju
There has been a lot of debate regarding this duo regarding who will line up alongside Owen Power. If you take general manager Kevyn Adams’ mentality that involved an older, more experienced defenseman lining up next to Power, then the clear choice is Lyubushkin, whose KHL experience plus NHL experience gives him an edge over Jokiharju.
Then there is the fact Power and Jokiharju worked well as a pairing in the last eight games of the 2021-22 season. Yes, it is a small sample size to go on, but as the Sabres remain in transition, it wouldn’t hurt to see how they fare early in the year as a pairing.
However, Lyubushkin and Power make for better complements for one another’s skill-set. Power is a two-way player whose speed lets him play offense and defense well. He also has tremendous athletic ability for a player at his size. Lyubushkin is a hitter who doesn’t score often.
At worst, whoever loses this battle will line up beside Jacob Bryson on the third pairing. And they may even see a few appearances on the second.
Projected Winner: Lyubushkin
Eric Comrie vs Craig Anderson vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Yes, Luukkonen is going to get a chance to become the Buffalo Sabres starting goaltender in camp, though his odds of manning the net in October remain between slim and none. Therefore, expect this battle to feature Comrie vs Anderson.
And while the 27-year-old Comrie is the logical choice over the 41-year-old Anderson, the former’s lack of experience isn’t ideal and it leaves question marks surrounding us of whether Comrie can start for an extended period.
However, on paper, Comrie outplayed Anderson and he also remained healthy all season while Anderson showed signs of wear. Overall, no one is thinking highly of this duo, and there is no predicting on how well they will play this year when midseason dawns.
At this point, they are also stopgaps, though if Comrie plays well enough, he should at least get a look to be the long-term solution. But if they struggle, Luukkonen could easily come in and unseat them if management feels he is ready, likely in early 2023.
Projected Winner: Comrie (for at least October-December 2022)
Expect heated battles at many positions. There is a potential battle for first line right winger between Alex Tuch and Victor Olofsson. Jack Quinn may fight for a spot on the third or even the second line, depending on how well his camp goes. Vinnie Hinostroza could also battle for a spot on the checking line.
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With so many possibilities, it will be one interesting camp for the Buffalo Sabres in 2022. So tune in and have fun watching these battles play out.