The Buffalo Sabres, for once, have several players who can become stars in this league for years to come. Here are the top three.
Dysfunction still plagues the Buffalo Sabres more often than not. But when this team is on, they are on. And if there is one big thing to notice this year, it is that you are seeing players accumulate more points, which naturally leads to more offensive productivity.
But the three stars listed below aren’t just high-octane scorers. They create opportunities for other players, may take away scoring chances when on defense, and are three potential franchise cornerstones. Let’s meet the three stars at the quarter-mark of the Buffalo Sabres season.
Third Star: Alex Tuch
2022-23 Statistics: 21 games, 21 points, 10 goals, 11 assists, 19.6%, 12 blocks, 16 hits
Tuch is on pace for an 82-point season, and his 19.6% shooting percentage also paces the team. So far, Tuch has shown us he is more than just the middle six forward that he was in Vegas, with a high-octane offensive output.
He has also contributed some on defense, securing just over a half-block per game and logging 15 takeaways. He also has four game-winning goals. So far, my prediction for Alex Tuch has been underwhelming, as I projected 63 to 74 points, with a bold prediction of 80 points.
Second Star: Tage Thompson
2022-23 Statistics: 21 games, 26 points, 13 goals, 13 assists, 13.5%, five blocks, eight hits
Last season, Tage led the Buffalo Sabres in points with 68, and he is on pace to shatter what was also a career-high. While he doesn’t score in every game, Tage’s points accumulate in spurts, and it is not uncommon to see him log multiple points over a stretch of games.
Before the season started, I predicted Tage would score one point per game. So far, he exceeded those expectations and has also morphed into the Buffalo Sabres top forward.
First Star: Rasmus Dahlin
2022-23 Statistics: 20 games, 23 points, eight goals, 15 assists, 11.1%, 38 blocks, 36 hits
Dahlin is also logging 17 takeaways, and that, combined with his number of blocks and hits, makes him one of the NHL’s most dangerous two-way players. He was the NHL’s First Star following the opening week of the season, when he scored a goal in five straight games.
While his goal-scoring output cooled, Dahlin made serious strides on defense, and has even created a plethora of scoring opportunities for his forwards. Overall, he has been the team’s best player, and is exceeding the expectations Zach projected over the summer.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
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