Buffalo Sabres: Bold Predictions for each player aged 25 to 29 in 2022

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 16: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 16, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 16: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 16, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Sabres
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 28: Victor Olofsson #71 of the Buffalo Sabres controls the puck through the defense of Jamie Drysdale #34 and Troy Terry #16 of the Anaheim Ducks during overtime of a game at Honda Center on October 28, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

70% of Victor Olofsson’s goals come at even strength

For years, most of Olofsson’s goals came during the power play. Last season, that changed, where 13 of the 20 times he found twine occurred at even strength. In 2022-23, look for at least 70% even strength goals this season, marking yet another step in Olofsson’s evolution as a player.

Olofsson, who struggled at midseason to find anything, found his groove in mid-February and he didn’t stop until Rick Jeanneret exclaimed “Casey at the bat,” on April 29th. Okay, he didn’t score in those last two games, but you get the gist of it.

He found himself playing alongside Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner on the first line later in the season. And some sources project him to once again play on the first to open 2022-23. That’s not a bold prediction, but scoring 70% from even strength is. At least for this season.