Buffalo Sabres: 3 players with major concerns after first 10 games

The Buffalo Sabres have steamrolled out to a 14-point start and appear to be showing zero signs of slowing down early in this young season. 

Last night, the Buffalo Sabres won in comeback fashion yet again, this time against one of the league’s best franchises, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The win improved the Sabres to 7-3-0 on the year and scoring-wise, they look like that team from March and April as opposed to the one from November 2021 to February 2022.

This Sabres team, however, has a few players that just seem to be lagging in one way or another. Owen Power is one name that comes to the minds of many fans, but he is only 18 games into his NHL career and what you are seeing are growing pains. That said, I have zero concerns over Power.

There are a few players who are giving my some massive headaches in their own way. And they are the subject of today’s article. Let’s meet them.

1 – Ilya Lyubushkin

There is nothing wrong with the way Lyubushkin is performing for the Buffalo Sabres. Overall, when he is on the ice, there is a good chance he is going to flatten an opponent. However, Lyubushkin seems to have a nagging lower body injury that just won’t go away.

And these are the worst types of injuries, often never healing properly over the duration of the season. Will this affect Lyubushkin long-term? Right now, it’s nagging enough to keep him off the ice. And if it does affect him for the long haul, will it negatively affect his play?

2 – Casey Mittelstadt

Last night against the Penguins, Mittelstadt seemed to be slow and somewhat lazy. After he enjoyed a few solid outings that included winning in the faceoff department more often than not, he seems to have reverted back to his old self. And that’s not a good thing.

While he is sixth on the team with seven points in 10 games, Mittelstadt’s FOW% has dropped to just 48.3%. His shooting percentage? A measly 5.3%. Mittelstadt also has 11 giveaways in 10 games, which may serve as his bleakest stat line.

3 – Peyton Krebs

Krebs is one player who I believe will turn it around, but with two measly assists in eight games, I was looking for more out of a second-year player poised to make a leap in 2022-23. So far, Krebs appears to have regressed. He’s taken just five shots on goal, converting none of them, and when on the ice, the Buffalo Sabres on-ice save percentage at even strength is just 90.5%.

Overall, Krebs looks as though he is suffering through a sophomore slump that is showing no signs of ending. And while it’s still too early in his career to write him off, his struggles have dated back to the preseason, so they are in danger of prolonging themselves.

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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)