Sabre Noise
Fansided

5 moves the Buffalo Sabres will (and won’t) make in 2023 offseason

By Sion Fawkes

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 11: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 11, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 11: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 11, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Buffalo Sabres
TAMPA, FL – APRIL 6: Ryan Johnson #23 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers stands on the blue line before a game against the Boston University Terriers during game one of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Frozen Four Championship Semifinal at the Amaile Arena on April 6, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

5 – Sign Ryan Johnson

Ryan Johnson needs to sign, something I said a while back. He would be going into a system with a weak defensive rotation both at the NHL and AHL levels, and could find himself on one of the Buffalo Sabres pairings sooner than later, even if Adams ends up signing a veteran.

Sure, it’s Johnson’s decision, but at this point, he’s only shortchanging himself if he tests the free agent market. There is a good chance he could end up in a system with more competition than he will have in Buffalo, unless he decides to sign with a team that has a depleted prospect pool. Then again, it could be a top team with plenty of talent in the rotation at the NHL level.

But overall, the Sabres are on the cusp of making a playoff run, as they’ve shown this season, AND most of their better defensemen prospects are still playing junior hockey. He should eventually realize this.

Verdict: Ryan Johnson eventually signs, and will play in Buffalo at some point in 2023-24.

5 Sabres prospects to watch in the Calder Cup Playoffs. light. More

Adams has some actions to take and decisions to make, and none of the above will be easy. How long will it take to get a deal done with Dahlin and Power? And will he opt to bring in a veteran to help the Sabres make their frist playoff appearance in 13 years? We will find out sooner than later.

Home/Sabres News