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Preliminary list of defensemen Buffalo Sabres can target in 2023

By Sion Fawkes

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 21: Damon Severson #28 of the New Jersey Devils skates during warm ups before the game against the Minnesota Wild at Prudential Center on March 21, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 21: Damon Severson #28 of the New Jersey Devils skates during warm ups before the game against the Minnesota Wild at Prudential Center on March 21, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Apr 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas (7) during warmups period prior to game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas (7) during warmups period prior to game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

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