Burning questions for 2023-24: Will Buffalo Sabres replace Olofsson?

The Burning Questions for 2023-24 series kicks off today, and I’m asking: Will the Buffalo Sabres replace Victor Olofsson? The answer? Complicated. 

Victor Olofsson has been the subject of ultra-intense scrutiny. And while he’s an outstanding goal scorer at times, he offers hardly anything else in his game.

Olofsson has also toiled through minute production for stretches over the past two seasons. It’s likely his time with the Buffalo Sabres is coming to an end, and it’s something I started speculating on about six weeks ago.

In the NHL, however, it’s a little tougher to get rid of a player outright than it is in, say, the NFL. While it is possible to term a player, it can only be done during a specific window, and it must be done in buyout fashion. What I’m getting at is, the Sabres most likely won’t up and get rid of Victor Olofsson, whose contract runs through 2023-24.

So what are the Sabres options? If Olofsson is there in camp, then it’s likely that he will end up as an extra skater, and a part-time player. At least in the short run. But it’s more likely that general manager Kevyn Adams will try to move him elsewhere, well before training camp begins in September.

Look for the Buffalo Sabres to try and trade Victor Olofsson

In the absolute worst-case scenario, Olofsson is in Buffalo for another season. But there will be potential contenders for 2023-24 who may be looking for a specialist who can score from the circle, and it’s something Olofsson’s been able to do for his entire career.

He would make an incredible asset on a good team with a weak power play. And if they feel the role player is one of a couple of missing puzzle pieces, don’t be surprised not only if they trade, but if they overpay for his services.

It’s clear the Buffalo Sabres are looking to replace the winger with someone in-house, either with a youngster in Matt Savoie or Jiri Kulich, or even someone like Lukas Rousek as the front-runners. If Buffalo can work out a deal with another team for Olofsson once he’s eligible to be traded, then training camp just got that much more exciting.

Final Prediction: Sabres trade Olofsson, likely for at least a mid-round pick. Someone will pay more than what Olofsson may actually be worth, given his sheer ability to score from the circle. He could be an incredible asset to someone’s power play, especially for a contender.