Buffalo Sabres: Grading each forward’s 2022-23 season
The Buffalo Sabres finished the 2022-23 season as the third-highest scoring team in hockey, and the forwards played a big part in it.
The Buffalo Sabres may have barely missed the playoffs, but don’t mistake that for bad hockey. While they undoubtedly suffered through some lean stretches, the Blue and Gold also played well enough to score 296 goals in 2022-23, placing them third in the league.
So for the annual grades/snapshots article, it’s safe to say that it’s going to be fun, and not a drag, to write. This team was just too good offensively for the most part, so, spoiler alert, every member of the Sabres who finished the year on the active roster received a passing grade, though the actual letters themselves vary.
In case you were wondering, here is th e grading criteria I used for each forward:
- How they looked in their unique role
- How they played compared to how they were expected to play
- How likely each player would be in the lineup for 2023-24
Grading each Buffalo Sabres forward from 2022-23
The Top Scorers
Tage Thompson
With 94 points in 78 games, Tage Thompson was one of the NHL’s highest scorers. And if it wasn’t for an injury that hampered him over the final few weeks, Tage may have hit the elusive 100-point mark. If he stays healthy in 2023-24, don’t be surprised if he is a top five scorer league-wide. Grade: A
Jeff Skinner
Jeff Skinner’s 82 points were a career-best, and the narrative that long surrounded his once-infamous contract extension all but evaporated. Though he could enter 2023-24 as the Buffalo Sabres oldest skater, don’t look for him to regress any time soon. Grade: A
Alex Tuch
Alex Tuch finished just one point shy of 80, and had he not missed an extended period, he’d have eclipsed the mark easily. Tuch also showed leadership skills necessary to potentially wear the ‘C’ patch when the puck drops in October. Grade: A
Dylan Cozens
With 68 points in 81 contests, Dylan Cozens came eight points from doubling his 38 scored in 2021-22. He also played a significant portion of the season on one of the NHL’s youngest lines alongside Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka, forming a trio called ‘The Kid Line,’ or ‘The Fun Line.’ He is a candidate for team captaincy in 2023-24. Grade: A
Casey Mittelstadt
No one on the Sabres improved more than Casey Mittelstadt in 2022-23. He was the only member of the Blue and Gold to play in all 82 games, and his 59 points was more than double his previous career high. If he has a repeat season in 2023-24, and he probably will, look for him to remain part of the team for a long time. Grade: A
The Middlers
Victor Olofsson
There is perhaps not a more curious case among the Buffalo Sabres forwards. With 28 goals, Victor Olofsson certainly has worth. But with 40 total points, a -23, and little defensive value, he’s not as good of a hockey player as his number of goals show. Grade: C
Jack Quinn
Like all rookies, Jack Quinn experienced some growing pains and he found himself in the press box a few times this season. Overall, he scored 37 in 75 games, and he also showed his worth on defense more than a few times this season. Grade: B
J.J. Peterka
J.J. Peterka struggled at times during the year, but that’s expected from rookies. However, his hustle was on display all season, and it seemed to peak in March and throughout April, when he also enjoyed his best stretch of the season. He will make a jump in 2023-24. Grade: B-
The Grinders
Kyle Okposo
Statistically, Kyle Okposo regressed, but that was expected for the aging forward whose leadership skills were on full display in 2022-23. His hockey skills were also still intact, but with diminished speed, it was hard for him to maximize them this past season. Grade: C+
Peyton Krebs
For a while there, Peyton Krebs looked as though he could have benefited more from a few more games in Rochester. But once Granato put him onto the fourth line between Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons, his gritty style of play took off. No, Krebs didn’t score much, but he’s there to scuffle with opponents, and he did his job. Grade: B
Tyson Jost
With just 22 points in 59 contests, Tyson Jost doesn’t score much, but he doesn’t have to. He simply creates scoring chances, and occasionally puts himself in good position to contribute. Viewed as a ‘draft bust’ by many, Jost found a place with the Buffalo Sabres, and should be back for 2023-24. Grade: A
Zemgus Girgensons
Zemgus Girgensons had just 18 points in 80 contests. But the fourth-liner who was also the longest-tenured Sabre this past season was a leader on and off the ice, and one of the team’s most physical players. That’s all Buffalo needed from him, and he did his job. Grade: A
Jordan Greenway
Jordan Greenway arrived at the trade deadline and at times, looked out of place. But with a full offseason awaiting, expect Greenway to benefit perhaps more than any other forward in this article. Grade: C
Vinnie Hinostroza
With 11 points in 26 games, it’s clear Vinnie Hinostroza was the odd-man-out for most of the season. Though when he got a chance to play, he played serviceable hockey. Don’t expect him back next season, but he will be an effective extra/stopgap for one of the league’s other 31 teams. Grade: C
Lukas Rousek
Lukas Rousek played in just two games this season, but he finished the year on the active roster, so he gets a grade. He had two points in two games, including a goal in his first NHL shift. In the season finale against Columbus, Rousek didn’t score, but you noticed his hustle and aggression at various times in the contest. He will contend for a roster spot next season. Grade: A
Must Read. Sabres: Grading each goaltender’s 2022-23 season. light
When you’re a high-scoring team that the Buffalo Sabres were in 2022-23, you’re going to receive far more passing grades. And looking at this article alone, you see a lot of ‘A’s, and at worst, ‘C’s. Here’s to that trend continuing in 2023-24.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)