Lukas Rousek got his first taste with the Buffalo Sabres last season in a two-game cameo. Will he be a full-time member of the roster in 2023-24?
Lukas Rousek showed consistency with the Rochester Americans this past season, breaking out for 56 points (16 + 40) in 70 games. His efforts landed him a cameo appearance with the Buffalo Sabres, and he scored early in his first NHL game.
Rousek’s play initially picked up during the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2022, and he once again showed consistency in the postseason in 2023, logging 12 points, five goals, and seven assists in 14 contests. So will his success warrant him a long look in camp? Keep reading to discover why it will.
Why Lukas Rousek can earn a spot on the Buffalo Sabres
1 – Already warranted consideration
The Buffalo Sabres coaching staff and front office aren’t going to select you to play in a couple of NHL games unless they believe you can handle them, and it’s clear they showed faith in Lukas Rousek. He didn’t disappoint, scoring a goal and an assist in two contests, and showing quickly that he could position himself well in front of the net.
Since Rousek has already caught the staff’s attention, look for him to enter camp ahead of the curve on his competition should there be an open roster spot or two in the Queen City. If Buffalo doesn’t bring back Tyson Jost or Zemgus Girgensons (each still unsigned at the time this article was published), Rousek could already be the front runner.
2 – Smart hockey player
While I’ve often stressed that the Buffalo Sabres need to take more chances to score off of rebounds, they also need players who do the opposite – players who wait for those rebounds as opposed to trying to create them. They also need forwards who position themselves well in front of the net to receive a quick pass before deflecting or backhanding it into the net.
This is one aspect of Rousek’s game that I liked. He doesn’t shoot the puck just to shoot it. And that’s okay if it means sound positioning and scoring a quick goal either via a pass or off of a rebound. His 76 shots in the regular season (1.08 per game) tell us he waits for the opportune time to shoot, and his 16 goals (21.0%) further indicate that his patience paid off.
Fast-forward to the Calder Cup Playoffs, and he shot the puck just 11 times, yet he recorded five goals. The Buffalo Sabres need more players willing to put themselves in front of the net to find twine, and given Rousek’s tendency to shoot when he has open looks from close range, he can be that type of player in the NHL.
3 – Hustle and Energy
With the Buffalo Sabres top six set in the foreseeable future, the bottom six is a different story, with Peyton Krebs, Jordan Greenway, and Casey Mittelstadt being the only real fixtures at this point. Kyle Okposo re-signed, but he could easily wind up as a 13th forward at this stage in his career.
Therefore, the bottom six will be in need of talent that can provide some hustle in 2023-24, and Rousek showed that in both of his NHL appearances. If he can sustain such play throughout camp, look for Rousek’s odds of finding a place in the team’s lineup to dramatically increase.
(Statistics provided by theAHL.com and Hockey-Reference)