The Buffalo Sabres are a far better team on paper heading into the 2022 preseason. Here are three bold predictions for September.
While the Buffalo Sabres still have youth all over the place, you can expect them to be a better team this season. But before we start talking about what their regular season will look like, let’s first discuss issues pertinent to their 2022 preseason.
Below, you will find three bold predictions pertaining to the Sabres and a few of their players. And spoiler alert: These predictions have a lot to do with players who are 27 and younger. Let’s get bold.
Buffalo Sabres preseason predictions – Savoie, Kozak get long looks
Matt Savoie and Tyson Kozak combined for seven goals over three games at the 2022 Prospects Challenge. They played so well that they were my third and first star, respectively, Given their respective performances, I am expecting the Buffalo Sabres to give them long looks in preseason.
Perhaps longer than anyone else in the 2021-22 draft classes not named Owen Power. While it’s farfetched to believe the duo will play in camp the way they did in the Prospects Challenge, they will show a few more flashes.
I also don’t expect them to play on the opening day roster, so look for them to return to the Portland Winterhawks (Kozak) and the Winnipeg Ice (Savoie) for most of the 2022-23 season. But their long look will set the stage as potential full-time additions in 2023-24.
Prediction #2 – Comrie dominates
The Buffalo Sabres signed Eric Comrie in hopes he will be a stopgap for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Devon Levi, or perhaps even Erik Portillo. And while many critics refuse to believe Comrie will be a major factor for the Sabres this season, it doesn’t negate his remarkable performance when he got a chance in Winnipeg last year.
One reason so many are tough on Comrie stems from the fact Winnipeg didn’t even try to keep him. It still doesn’t erase the goaltender’s 2.58 GAA or 0.920 save percentage. Yeah, it was only 19 games, but it matters little. Comrie was excellent when called on last season, and he will show that dominance in preseason.
Prediction #3 – Quinn sees time on second line
Jack Quinn is the biggest mystery heading into training camp. He was legendary during the Rochester Americans regular season before disappearing in the playoffs from a productivity standpoint. While scoring is just one portion of being a good hockey player, everyone expected Quinn to put up more than two assists in 10 playoff games.
In training camp, I don’t see Quinn struggling so much. Instead, look for him to impress the bosses and see time on the second line throughout the preseason. If he fares well there, you can further expect him to play on the line at times during the regular season, perhaps even going as far as to become the full-time second line winger at some point in the near future.
Last year, Quinn played in just two NHL games. But he scored twice (1 + 1). Look for more productivity in preseason, and it will further help his case to snag a spot on the second line on at least a part-time basis.