Buffalo Sabres: What makes Vsevolod Komarov so intriguing?
The Buffalo Sabres signed yet another blueliner, this one being Vsevolod Komarov, their fifth round pick from what has become a stellar 2022 draft.
The Buffalo Sabres signed yet another member of their 2022 draft class, this one being defenseman Vsevolod Komarov, who spent the previous two seasons with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. And if there are two things that jump out at me regarding the 19-year-old, it’s his sheer size and production.
This past season, the 6’2, 183 lb Komarov produced 39 points, 12 goals, and 27 assists for the Remparts during the regular season, before tacking on another eight points (1+7) in the playoffs, giving him 47 points across 80 games. That said, although he has the potential to grow into even more of a physically imposing defenseman for Quebec, Komarov spent the 2022-23 season developing an identity as a two-way player.
And he will have another year with the Remparts to grow his game even more, as he will not be eligible to join the Rochester Americans in 2023-24 thanks to the fact he will still be 19 when the season rolls around. However, much like Matt Savoie, you could see him making an appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs next season should the Amerks return, assuming he’s not gearing for another Memorial Cup on the junior circuit.
Buffalo Sabres should love what Komarov brings to the table
I personally started thinking Buffalo had something special in Komarov last September during the Prospects Challenge. Here is a snippet of what I said in my overall player grades:
“One of the more intriguing picks of the 2022 Draft, Vsevolod Komarov, showed a sound blend of physicality and craftiness, something I saw coming, though he played better than I initially believed. Look for him to have a solid outing this season in Quebec.”
Source: Buffalo Sabres: Notable Player grades from the 2022 Prospects Challenge by Sion Fawkes, SabreNoise.com
Needless to say, Komarov delivered, and those like Lance Lysowski of Buffalo News specifically mentioned the power play as Komarov’s greatest strengths. While the Sabres already have a pair of sound quarterbacks on the power play in Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, it’s also true you can never have too many.
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So when Komarov inevitably sees time in the Queen City a few years from today (if not sooner), he will only make the unit more effective should the Buffalo Sabres decide to utilize him on the man advantage. Komarov is the second defenseman to sign with the Blue and Gold this week, joining Nikita Novikov, who will debut for Rochester next year.
Source: Sabres sign defense prospect Vsevolod Komarov to entry-level contract by Lance Lysowski, BuffaloNews.com
(Statistics provided by Elite-Prospects)