Preliminary list of defensemen Buffalo Sabres can target in 2023
The Buffalo Sabres finished 2022-23 with 91 points and 296 goals. The problem, however, is that they allowed an unacceptable 300. That needs to change.
Since the trade deadline loomed a few months back, one thing was clear: The Buffalo Sabres needed a top four defenseman. They wound up trading for Riley Stillman, a physical player who could make a good asset on the third pairing when the Blue and Gold need someone to knock around a few opponents, but he often looked lost out there when given too much ice time.
That said, general manager Kevyn Adams will zero in on an upgrade to pair with second-year blueliner Owen Power. Don’t expect Adams to spend too much in free agency, but he will invest enough in an effective player, nonetheless.
Below, I’ve concocted a list of several blueliners Adams may target. And no, before you say it, I am NOT going to be so picky and place only RHDs down here, though most of them coincidentally are.
Instead, I decided to base my list on guys who proved they can play hockey. Oh, and this is a prelim list only, so it’s subject to change as/if players re-sign with their current teams.
Preliminary list of D-men Buffalo Sabres may target
Connor Clifton, Bruins
In a previous article, I already discussed the possibility of Connor Clifton leaving the Boston Bruins. And the physical blueliner fits the mold for what the Buffalo Sabres could be looking for.
He will be 28 next season, and his 208 hits this past year gives him a Mattias Samuelsson type of feel. He’s also somewhat productive in the offensive zone, having scored 23 points in 78 regular season contests.
If Clifton doesn’t return to what could be a declining Bruins team, perhaps he jumps ship within the division and trades in the black for some blue. And no, it’s not farfetched to say the Sabres could possibly be a better team than the Bruins next season.
Radko Gudas, Panthers
Coming into 2023-24 at age 33, Radko Gudas is not a long-term solution, but he would make a decent consolation if the Sabres can’t land younger talent. However, with 312 hits in 72 games, plus another 124 blocks, Gudas is that old-school, rugged d-man the Blue and Gold could use.
What’s more? The Florida Panthers had an on-ice save percentage of 92.7% with Gudas on the ice at 5 on 5. So yeah, I’ll take the journeyman as a consolation.
Mathew Dumba, Wild
Mathew Dumba will be 29, so he’s also not the youngest player out there. Despite this, he’s averaged 20 or more minutes of average time on ice since 2016-17. And unlike Gudas, he’s no journeyman, having spent his entire career with the Minnesota Wild, so that says a lot.
Dumba has logged triple digits in hits just three times in his career, but two of them have come in the past two seasons. Overall, he’s the classic, stay-at-home defenseman whose presence will easily help Buffalo’s goaltenders keep a few more pucks out of the net.
Damon Severson, Devils
I know many fans would love to see Damon Severson in a Buffalo Sabres uniform. Like Dumba, he’s middle-aged in hockey years, and has only played for one team since his career kicked off in 2014-15.
Unlike Dumba, however, Severson has a borderline two-way game, evidenced by his 33 points this past season, and 46 in 2021-22. While he doesn’t have the same physical presence as the three defensemen listed above (44 hits in 81 games), his 115 blocks are uncanny for preventing pucks from finding twine.
Ryan Graves, Devils
Ryan Graves could be the best option on this list. He will be 28, so again, we’re looking at a middle-aged D-man in NHL years, but there might not be a better shutdown blueliner out there come the summertime.
Graves’ statistics won’t boggle your mind, unless you count his career high 152 blocks. But he will force a lot of opponents to improvise when the Sabres are in their own zone should the Blue and Gold acquire him.
Hot. Sabres: Top 3 Amerks prospects in second round of playoffs. light
Overall, this is just one of a few prelim lists I’ll be concocting as the new league year approaches. Will any of the above defensemen call Buffalo home next season? We won’t be waiting long to find out.
Source: WHO COULD THE SABRES TARGET TO IMPROVE THEIR DEFENSE CORPS? by Lyle Richardson, TheHockeyNews.com