Buffalo Sabres: Predicting one bold signing, draft pick, and trade in 2023
By Sion Fawkes
As the biggest events of the 2023 offseason are near, it’s time to make one ultra-bold prediction for the Buffalo Sabres in three different avenues.
Why is the offseason so much fun? You get to make wild predictions. And while I’ve written extensively about potential moves the Buffalo Sabres will (or won’t) make, and have made a few bold predictions, it’s now time to narrow the bold takes to one in each category.
We know what the Sabres need if they’re interested in returning to the playoffs for the first time in what will be 13 seasons next April. To do that, they will make bold moves on two of the three fronts listed below.
They will also make another big splash in the 2023 NHL Draft, which I’ll also discuss in one of the following slides. But first, let’s talk about bringing in a top four defenseman.
One bold signing, pick, and trade Buffalo Sabres will make in 2023
1 – Forgo signing and extending a young blueliner for someone over 30
I previously listed five defensemen aged 30 and over that the Buffalo Sabres could (and should) target. And if you take one look at the available players, there are plenty of names that have experience winning coupled with sound leadership qualities that will help a young hockey team.
Another reason I’m saying the Sabres sign an over 30 blueliner here as opposed to inking one in their late-20s to a long-term extension comes because of the talent they have in the prospects pool. Even on the verge of playoff contention, Adams will still make roster moves with his prospects in mind.
However, given the amount of cap space the Blue and Gold has in 2023-24, they have the means to pay extra and land a top four defenseman over 30 for perhaps a pair of seasons who will immediately play a prominent role in the group while Ryan Johnson and Company develop in Rochester.
In another previous piece discussing the subject, I was rather cryptic about what kind of defenseman I thought the Sabres would sign, using terms like ‘big name’ and leaving it at that. That big name will be over 30, they will serve the team well, and when someone like Johnson, Nikita Novikov, or Vsevolod Komarov is ready to take over, Buffalo will be in a better place.