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Why the Buffalo Sabres didn’t surprise me in 2022-23

By Sion Fawkes

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 11: Jack Quinn #22 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: Jack Quinn #22 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) /
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Despite nearly making the playoffs for the first time in 12 seasons, the Buffalo Sabres 91 points didn’t suprise me. Instead, they met my expectation. 

Kevin Fisher of Last Word on Sports claimed the Buffalo Sabres surprised in 2022-23, and I’m sure they speak for many hockey fans. Few saw the Blue and Gold playing meaningful games so late in the season, and even fewer expected them to go on a 296 goal tirade, which ranked third in the NHL.

But looking back on what I was talking about in the Summer of 2022, I need to admit something: The Buffalo Sabres DID NOT surprise me. Not that a few things didn’t, like Casey Mittelstadt’s breakout performance, Devon Levi’s ability to adjust to the NHL so quickly, and the fact Mattias Samuelsson absence resulted in so many losses.

Yet, I was the one saying that Buffalo, while they probably wouldn’t make the playoffs, would stick around longer than expected in the wild card race. And they did just that.

Buffalo Sabres never surprised me in 2022-23

So why was I not surprised? For one, I knew the Thompson line was going to have a better than expected season. While I didn’t see Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jeff Skinner scoring as often as they did, it was inevitable that they were going to become one of the better lines in the NHL, given the flashes they showed in 2021-22.

I also knew Rasmus Dahlin was going to make a jump, and that Owen Power was going to come in and play better than your average rookie. Ditto for Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka, who became quite a feared duo during their time in the AHL.

The Sabres were also coming into the season as the league’s youngest team, and that could even be the case next season, if they don’t get even younger. And while there are obvious disadvantages surrounding younger hockey teams, they often don’t tire as quickly, can hold up better for long road trips, and even late in games…unless they happened to get complacent when holding a two-goal lead.

Must Read. Ranking the Buffalo Sabres defensemen from 2022-23. light

As for next season, the expectation is playoffs, with a wild card berth serving as the floor. That said, if the Buffalo Sabres finish in the top three of the Atlantic, it won’t surprise me. But I will be more than disappointed if they play another 82 game season next year.

Source: The Buffalo Sabres Became Surprise Team by Kevin Fisher, LastWordOnSports.com

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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