The Buffalo Sabres and their fans got to see two NHL debuts in back-to-back games. And both went better than advertised, giving everyone some solace.
When was the last time Buffalo Sabres fans could say they saw not one, but two, incredible debuts occur in the same week? Given all the trials this team has been through lately, fans definitely needed a reason to watch their team whose playoff hopes are all but dashed, even if, at the time of this writing, the Sabres sit just five points out of the WC2 spot with eight games to spare.
Anyway, as slim as their playoff hopes are, this past week brought plenty of excitement with not one, but TWO successful debuts in Lukas Rousek this past Monday, and Devon Levi last night. And they provided more than a positive glimpse into the Blue and Gold’s future.
Rousek scored less than five minutes into the contest, and in his first NHL shift. The top-end prospect finished the game with two points, as he provided an assist for Riley Stillman’s first goal with Buffalo, in just over nine minutes of ice time, earning Second Star honors in the process.
Then there was Levi, who stopped 31 of 33 shots on net, including 19 of 20 in the third period alone. He was a major reason the Sabres snagged the upset in overtime, and his effort gave him the First Star award for the night.
Buffalo Sabres saw a sample of what the future holds
No one could have predicted a better pair of debuts from two players who should find themselves in a blue and gold (or black and red) uniform for quite some time. If Levi enjoys repeat performances in his trial, there is a chance he ends up in at least a “backup” role in 2022-23-I quote “backup,” because it’s likely he would log nearly as many starts as a potential starter with a chance of taking the role as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, Rousek is a favorite to land a spot with the Buffalo Sabres if he puts up a solid training camp. Look for him, Brandon Biro (who had a one-off with the Sabres last season), Jiri Kulich, and Brett Murray, among others, to get a look, with Matt Savoie also joining the conversation.
Overall, the future is bright in Buffalo. And while this young hockey team could ironically get younger in 2023-24, if the likes of Levi, Rousek, and other young talents play like they belong, Buffalo could once again exceed expectations.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and NHL.com)