Playoffs or not, the Buffalo Sabres climbed another rung in 2022-23
By Sion Fawkes
State of the Buffalo Sabres
Fast forward two measly seasons, and the Sabres, with 68 points, are a better team than most would have given them credit for. Unlike the state of the franchise two seasons ago, Buffalo has pieces in place for the long haul. Among the most likely candidates, we got:
Forwards: Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, Peyton Krebs, J.J. Peterka.
Jordan Greenway, Casey Mittelstadt, Zemgus Girgensons, and Tyson Jost are also names that we can’t count out. And remember, Jiri Kulich and Matt Savoie could also find their way onto the roster next season, and potentially long-term.
Defensemen: Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson.
Riley Stillman and Henri Jokiharju could easily be long-term fixtures on the third pairing, and don’t be surprised if Adams adds another young piece to the rotation in the offseason. There is also a chance Ryan Johnson signs and eventually becomes the missing link in the Top 4.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is also a strong candidate for the backup goaltending role. Once Devon Levi ends up signing, then the future at goaltender is also a bright one with a potential Levi-Luukkonen tandem.