Buffalo Sabres need to keep getting younger for long-term success

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed Kyle Okposo earlier this offseason thanks to his leadership qualities, but they still need to make room for some prospects.

The Buffalo Sabres have three veterans they will either seek to retain or to let walk in Zemgus Girgensons, Victor Olofsson (trade candidate), and Tyson Jost. Each played a key role on the team last year, with Jost sliding in and becoming effective on the lower lines while Olofsson retained his role of scoring from the circle. Girgensons became a physical presence on the fourth line.

Of the three players mentioned above, it would be wise for the Sabres to move on from Olofsson and Girgensons, though myself, like many Sabres fans, would love to see the latter stay and be there when the team inevitably earns a playoff berth. But the NHL is a business, the Sabres have a few prospects who need to be in the NHL next season, and Girgensons is a player who has long since reached his limited ceiling.

There are a few prospects who could take over Girgensons’ role in Buffalo, with Lukas Rousek and Tyson Kozak being two names that jump out at me. Rousek already showed he belongs in the NHL, albeit his limited sample size, and Kozak’s strengths will help negate the Blue and Gold’s weaknesses.

Buffalo Sabres need to keep getting younger in 2023-24

We know Olofsson is one player that needs to go, but the question remains whether general manager Kevyn Adams will be able to move him. A one-timer and power play specialist, Olofsson otherwise has made little impact offensively and defensively, and someone like Jiri Kulich would fill in as a long-term upgrade.

Tyson Jost is still young enough to justify bringing back for another season, though he needs to return to form on the penalty kill. Something that has jumped out at me regarding Jost is his inability to win faceoffs with the PK unit, which sat at an ugly 19.61%, or 10 out of 51 last season, per Natural Stat Trick. 

However, Jost is a high-energy player who makes for a physical stopgap on the lower lines until someone like Filip Cederqvist, for example, is ready to take on a role in the NHL. That being said, Jost could still play an effective role for at least next season.

Most of us will agree that Olofsson needs to be moved. It’s just a matter of whether anyone is willing to trade for him. Girgensons played a physical role on the fourth line last season, but the Buffalo Sabres could use someone like Tyson Kozak, whose physical presence alone would let him succeed Girgensons along with his efficacy on the penalty kill and ability to win faceoffs. Of the three, Jost is the only one who should stay as at least a stopgap.

Source: What we’re hearing about the Sabres’ offseason after the NHL Scouting Combine by Adam Fairburn, TheAthletic.com