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Top 5 defensemen over age 30 the Buffalo Sabres can sign

By Sion Fawkes

MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 13: Dmitry Orlov #81 of the Boston Bruins skates during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on April 13, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 13: Dmitry Orlov #81 of the Boston Bruins skates during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on April 13, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Will the Buffalo Sabres sign Justin Holl?
SUNRISE, FL – APRIL 10: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during first period action against the Florida Panthers at the FLA Live Arena on April 10, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

5 – Justin Holl

Another blueliner more than capable of playing consistently on the second pairing, Justin Holl has 280 hits over the past two seasons and 243 blocks in 149 games. And like Orlov, if the Sabres snagged him, then they’re making yet another division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, weaker.

With a changing of the guard north of the border and Holl’s age, it’s likely the new general manager in Toronto won’t be interested in bringing them back. And if that’s the case, it should play right into general manager Kevyn Adams’ hands.

Related Story. Sabres: J.J. Peterka sets historic record at IIHF Worlds. light

Overall, each of the players listed above are capable of playing alongside Owen Power as they are all great complements from a playing style standpoint. Some would need to play a few more shifts than they are used to, but given their overall physicality, they would be tough to take a pass on. Though if Adams wanted to go with someone who can play on the top four without issue, he would go with either Orlov or Holl.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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