Yesterday, the Buffalo Sabres completed Day 1 of what will be an interesting 2022-23 season. And Day 1 of training camp brought plenty of revelations.
Leave it to just 24 hours of on-ice action, and we already have three remarkable revelations from Buffalo Sabres training camp. Of course, we learned a lot about the odds and ends, such as the golf outing involving general manager Kevyn Adams, Alex Tuch, Rasmus Dahlin, and Casey Mittelstadt.
If I remember correctly, prospect Matej Pekar asked Adams about the outing, and the general manager cited Mittelstadt as the best golfer he played against. At least as far as the Sabres roster goes. Now, if only Mittelstadt can transfer his success on the green to the ice, he’ll be a shoo-in for another contract extension. Perhaps…
Anyway, enough golf talk. Here are three revelations that jumped out at me regarding Buffalo Sabres camp Day 1.
Revelations from Buffalo Sabres Camp: Granato-Adams Connection
Head coach Don Granato stated he and Adams were more like teammates than anything else. Often, the general manager is higher in the chain of command than the coach, and while the Sabres situation is no different, it is good to know that Granato and Adams remain in constant, positive communication.
Whether it’s following practice or discussing game plans, the more the two communicate, the more they will remain on the same page. This minimizes the chances of a power struggle occurring, one the general manager usually wins, and it also minimizes organizational dysfunction.
2 – Rasmus Dahlin’s leadership
The consensus is that Dahlin is rather timid and quiet, though that is not the case according to Don Granato. If a teammate works hard, Dahlin will work harder, challenging them to match him in work ethic. If they can’t, the star defenseman lets them know about it.
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Dahlin, one of the youngest players on a young hockey team, is rarely thought of as a leader, despite wearing the A patch for a stint last season. Instead, we think of Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Kyle Okposo, and Zemgus Girgensons as leaders and potential captains. Given Dahlin’s antics in practice, it is also clear that he also knows a thing or two about leadership.
3 – Angry Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres exited last season with some built-up anger, having been part of the team that set an NHL record in consecutive seasons without a playoff berth. If you ask them about their remarkable run in March and April 2022, which included outscoring high-end teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs 15-5, they’re going to say, “Who cares?”
So who was the angriest Sabre of the bunch? Dahlin, of course, who spent the early part of his offseason watching the playoffs, allowing it to serve as motivation for the upcoming season. With such a mindset, expect an edgier Sabres team to come out of the woodwork this year, and look for a career outing from Dahlin.
Article Source: Camp Notebook | 12 things we learned from Day 1 of Sabres camp by Jourdan LaBarber