Buffalo Sabres: Making the case for captaincy in 2023-24
There are many options for who the next captain of the Buffalo Sabres could be. Let’s take a look at the candidates for 2023-24.Â
Kyle Okposo – 35 Years old – 75 GP | 11 goals | 17 assists | 28 points
Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is open to resigning Okposo, that much we already know. It definitely won’t be for $6 million per season again, so the veteran forward will take a pay cut, and Okposo is the type of player to happily do it.
His best years are behind him and it will likely be hard for the veteran to keep up with the young core the Sabres posses. However, Okposo has an impressive resume in his case for captaincy. Every player in the locker room sees him as a leader, so it’s easy to see why he was chosen to be the Sabres Captain this past season.
Okposo served as the Alternate Captain for seven seasons with the New York Islanders. Then after coming to Buffalo, served as our Alternate Captain for five seasons before earning the C. It was a choice that many Sabres fans, players, and Sabres staff members agreed with.
When reading up on interviews of the players, everyone had nothing but good things to say about their Captain. Overall, it’d be nice to see Okposo come back for another season or two to play a bottom six role and continue to lead our youngsters into a playoff spot. I’d also like to see Craig Anderson return as a coach to have another leader like Okposo around as well.
Who should be the Buffalo Sabres team captain in 2023-24?
Jeff Skinner – 30 Years old – 79 GP | 35 goals | 47 assists | 82 points
When I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston plays in the KeyBank Center, Jeff Skinner scores on an amazing snipe, and the crowd goes wild! That amazing smile is on Skinner’s face, the entire bench and the Sabres on the ice light up, and everyone gets a boost of energy. That is the Jeff Skinner Effect.
This is the type of effect you look for in a Captain. It’s the energy supplied to us by Okposo. Before Jack Eichel became Public Enemy #1 he supplied that energy.
It’s just a gift leaders have. They bring everyone around them together, and they bring out the best in you.
Skinner served as an Alternate for the Carolina Hurricanes for two seasons, though I think it is unlikely that he will be given the C here in Buffalo, especially with the leaders we currently have in the room. However, it’s possible for Skinner to get the A sometime during his remaining 4 seasons here.