Top 7 stars in the Buffalo Sabres core for 2023 and beyond
General manager Kevyn Adams has done an incredible job in shaping up the Buffalo Sabres core for long-term success, and that number is set to increase.
General manager Kevyn Adams has built and maintained what may be the most exciting and talented young core in the NHL. So far in his tenure, Adams identified elite talent and signed them for seven seasons, something we saw with Mattias Samuelsson, Tage Thompson, and Dylan Cozens.
He acquired Alex Tuch, who will likely play out his entire career in Buffalo. And now, per numerous sources, he’s on the brink of signing Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power to long-term deals. There’s also Jeff Skinner who, after enjoying two outstanding seasons, is part of this core even if he’s substantially older than the others.
What’s more? With rising players like Jack Quinn, J.J. Peterka, Peyton Krebs, Devon Levi, and Casey Mittelstadt, Adams may not be done just yet. If we added another name or two to this group during or even before the 2023-24 season, I wouldn’t be surprised. But for now, let’s meet the top seven players who will be in Buffalo long-term.
Buffalo Sabres core for 2023 and beyond
1 – Rasmus Dahlin, D
Will sign extension
We know Rasmus Dahlin’s extension will sit somewhere between seven and eight years, probably eight, for at least $10 million. The two-way player enjoyed a breakout season in 2021-22, before he evolved into one of the NHL’s best defensemen in 2022-23, with only injuries keeping him from reaching his full potential.
2 – Jeff Skinner, LW
Signed through 2026-27
A holdover from the Jason Botterill era, Jeff Skinner signed what many felt was the worst contract not only in Buffalo Sabres, but NHL history. Funny how narratives change over a couple of years, right? Expect Skinner to continue proving doubters wrong about this once ill-fated contract.
3 – Alex Tuch, RW
Signed through 2025-26
Alex Tuch has the shortest contract on this list, but he’s been added anyway since it’s basically a foregone conclusion that he signs on long-term once eligible when the 2024-25 season rolls around. A team captain in the making, Tuch will get his eventual payday when he’s firmly entrenched into the prime of his career. And that contract could keep him with the Buffalo Sabres for probably the rest of his playing days.
4 – Tage Thompson, C
Signed through 2029-30
Another holdover from a previous era, Adams extended Tage Thompson when the latter put up a 68-point season. Few gave this extension a decent grade since Tage was a ‘One-Year Wonder’ at the time. He responded with a 94-point, 47-goal season, with only injuries keeping him from scoring 100 last year.
5 – Dylan Cozens, C
Signed through 2029-30
Just as Tage put together a remarkable campaign in 2021-22 that earned him an extension, Dylan Cozens enjoyed a similar one in 2022-23. And this time, Adams didn’t wait until the summer. He signed Cozens halfway through the year, and the Workhorse from Whitehorse will be a Sabre until the 2029-30 season, and hopefully beyond.
6 – Mattias Samuelsson, D
Signed through 2029-30
The Buffalo Sabres are one of the NHL’s better hockey teams when Mattias Samuelsson is on the ice. And it’s a trend you can expect will continue over the duration of his contract. If Samuelsson stays healthy in 2023-24 and beyond, the Sabres will be annual playoff contenders.
7 – Owen Power, D
Interested in signing long-term
When I went over Owen Power’s options to sign his extension, I convinced myself he would roll with a bridge contract. But as mentioned in a previous section, recent reports say otherwise, and now, it looks as though Power will be with the Buffalo Sabres for longer than the foreseeable future.
Who’s Next?
As mentioned in the intro, Adams may not be done yet, even if he will have seven solid players in this core already. Of course, Devon Levi will be getting an extension when eligible during the 2024-25 season if he continues to show he can be ‘the guy’ moving forward in the net.
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Then there is Casey Mittelstadt, Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn, J.J. Peterka, and I wouldn’t even count out Jordan Greenway. No, not all of the above will get lucrative long-term deals and many will probably end up continuing their respective careers elsewhere. But you can expect to see a couple of them sticking around if Adams can swing a deal with them.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference, contract info provided by Cap Friendly)