Buffalo Sabres: 3 position battles to watch in training camp in 2022
By Sion Fawkes
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