Buffalo Sabres: Top 3 dynamic duos opponents must look out for

The Buffalo Sabres have more than a few players who work well together on the ice with one unlikely tandem that will surprise in 2022-23. 

When you look at the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres roster, you see one of the NHL’s youngest groups. But amidst the youth, there is talent galore, and pairs of teammates that, in one way or another, work well or will work well together in differing capacities.

And when they are out on the ice, they could cause nightmares for opponents in many ways, given their on-ice chemistry and even polar opposite playing styles. So who are these players and what either makes or will make them one of the team’s more dynamic duos? Keep reading for a rundown.

1 – Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson (Two Budding Buffalo Sabres Lifers)

Two forwards, two large contracts, and a lot of years remaining. While Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson have critics regarding those contracts, the duo combined for 131 points in 2021-22, averaging 65.5 points apiece. Not all-world numbers, but a solid step in the right direction for a team that saw itself heat up toward the end of last season.

Skinner and Thompson regularly teamed up during the preseason, and the duo, especially Thompson, looked sharp in their on-ice appearances. Thompson has shown promising early returns on his contract while Skinner remains in redemption mode with his and the result should be a satisfying one for the Sabres faithful.

2 – Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson (Mythbusters)

What I love about this dynamic duo is that they completely debunk the, “you need one RHD and one LHD on the ice,” myth. What’s even funnier is that Samuelsson has seen the NHL ice for two seasons but he has yet to play a full 82-game stretch. However, when tasked in teaming with Dahlin on the first pairing, the guy played lights out.

These two work well together because of Dahlin’s two-way game and Samuelsson’s stay-at-home and hit you mentality. They play their respective roles well, and if the Buffalo Sabres find another young, stay-at-home defenseman to ultimately team with Owen Power, I have no doubt you will see two dynamic defensive pairings in the Queen City.

3 – Craig Anderson and Eric Comrie (Unlikely Heroes)

Critics can laugh all they want at this one. But given the Buffalo Sabres plan to preserve Anderson and the under-the-radar performances Eric Comrie enjoyed last season, if there is one tandem that can sneak up as a deep sleeper, it’s that of Craig Anderson and Eric Comrie.

While Comrie put up supposedly spotty performances in the preseason, he probably would have been better off had his defensive rotation not even bothered to show up, they played so poorly. As for Anderson, he was without a doubt the team’s most impressive goaltender from a numbers standpoint.

Comrie is also a much better fit than last season’s backup goaltender, Dustin Tokarski, to regularly supplement the aging Anderson. And playing behind the likes of the duos mentioned above, expect solid performances from Comrie.