Prediction! Injury bug won’t ravage the Buffalo Sabres in 2022

The injury bug sunk the 2021-22 Buffalo Sabres season between November and February. Don’t expect a repeat to occur in 2022-23. 

The Buffalo Sabres experienced a rash of injuries in the middle of the 2021-22 season and come March 2022, the team had no choice but to play spoiler. That won’t be the case this year, even if injuries do strike the Sabres.

Last season, they had a patchwork goaltending unit with Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had just four games of NHL experience, while Malcolm Subban was thrust into the lineup. The Sabres were also forced to use Michael Houser and Aaron Dell.

This year, if injuries strike the goaltenders, the Sabres will be in much better shape, with Luukkonen having more experience and Subban having now spent nearly a year with the organization. Houser is also with the Americans this season, and the Sabres know how effective he can be in spot duty.

Injuries won’t adversely affect the Buffalo Sabres in 2022-23

As with any injury scenario, the Sabres won’t be as good of a hockey team if injuries affect their primary players. But at least they have a plethora of guys who can step in if injuries hit the defensive rotation.

Kale Clauge has 54 games of NHL experience. We know what Lawrence Pilut is capable of. Chase Priskie is proving to be an effective depth player. And Casey Fitzgerald is a big hitter who appeared in 36 games last season.

No, you don’t want to see all four players in the rotation at the same time. But at least this is a group that can play in the NHL.

Forward is a position I’m iffier on. We know Vinnie Hinostroza and Riley Sheahan  can step in and play. But beyond them, there is nothing but inexperience and fringe NHL talent besides perhaps Brett Murray.

If the Sabres see some injuries at forward, they could be in trouble. But even at forward, they still have a few players who can step in and keep this team serviceable in 2022-23.

Overall, the Sabres have enough depth to avoid the midseason catastrophe they faced last year. And while they will see a noticeable drop off should an injury bug occur, don’t expect another fiasco that that we saw last season. The Sabres will at least be watchable this time around.