Opening day is here, and if you haven’t met them yet, check out who will be taking the ice tonight as the Buffalo Sabres face the Senators.
The Buffalo Sabres are an NHL team on the up and up. No, they are not Stanley Cup contenders in 2022-23, but they have enough talent to contend for a wild card spot. Even then, their odds are long, but they possess an exciting roster, given the sheer blend of youth and talent.
That said, look for them to improve upon their 75-point outing in 2021-22. And you can also expect many of the names listed below to stick around for the long haul, especially since general manager Kevyn Adams is already at work inking deals.
Many of the names you see below will stick around the Queen City for at least the next half-decade. So if you haven’t already done so, meet the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres roster.
Meet the Buffalo Sabres Forwards
Rasmus Asplund is a versatile defensive forward who can play on the lower lines. Effective in his role last season, he finished 19th for the Selke. Anders Bjork will play on the fourth line in a part-time role, while the tenacious Dylan Cozens should see immense time on the middle six.
Zemgus Girgensons returns as an assistant captain and will be a staple on the fourth line as Vinnie Hinostroza will fill in as an extra skater capable of seeing between 10 and 15 minutes on the ice. Peyton Krebs is one name to watch as he enters his first full season with the Sabres, and Casey Mittelstadt will look to build on the success he enjoyed in April 2022.
Kyle Okposo is the team’s oldest skater and captain, while Victor Olofsson will look to prove he is more than just a one-trick pony on the power play. J.J. Peterka and Jack Quinn are the Buffalo Sabres newest forwards and could compete for the Calder Trophy as Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, and Alex Tuch seek to pace the team in points.
Meet the Defensemen
Jacob Bryson will try to improve upon his numbers from last season as Rasmus Dahlin seeks to build on his dominance that ended up with a trip to the All-Star Game. The always aggressive Casey Fitzgerald won a heated battle to serve as the team’s extra skater while Henri Jokiharju looks as though he will once again pair with the dynamic rookie in Owen Power.
Ilya Lyubushkin is a newcomer and he will act as one of two regular sledgehammers, with Mattias Samuelsson joining him for his first full season in the Queen City. Lyubushkin will handle mop up duties on the third pairing while Samuelsson will team with Dahlin on the first.
Meet the Goaltenders
Craig Anderson may be 41, but don’t let his age fool you. He enjoyed an outstanding preseason and should see ample time in the net in 2022-23. Eric Comrie didn’t look so hot from a numbers standpoint, but he did play two road preseason games with fringe lineups in front of him.
Overall, the Buffalo Sabres have a young, exciting roster that will fare better than many think. And the Prove the Critics Wrong Tour starts tonight in Game 1 of an 82-game slate against the Ottawa Senators.