Buffalo Sabres: Top 3 players/prospects who can replace Jack Quinn

The Buffalo Sabres and their fans were given bad news today when they learned second-year winger Jack Quinn will miss the start of the season. 

Jack Quinn will miss at least four months with an Achilles injury and he could be sidelined until the new year. That’s the bad news. Now, the good news is this:

1. Quinn will return at some point during the 2023-24 season.
2. The Buffalo Sabres have enough depth to ride out Quinn’s injury.

So let’s check out that second part real quick: Depth. Before I go any further, I first wanted to say this: I don’t believe Quinn’s injury will affect the Sabres in moving Victor Olofsson.

If the overall depth and prospects pool were weaker, that’s one thing. But it’s important to point out that Olofsson was not happy with being scratched last season, and he would get the inevitable scratch when Quinn returns to the lineup.

That said, you will still see a prospect move up in the rankings to replace Olofsson. But we may need to revisit that topic at a later date, because one of those prospects may need to be a stand-in for Quinn between October 12th and December 31st.

Or perhaps, a veteran. Here are three names with the best chance to step up.

3 Buffalo Sabres players/prospects who can replace Jack Quinn

1 – Casey Mittelstadt

Casey Mittelstadt would be a logical candidate here thanks to his performance last season, as he showed he could play on the top six. Further, as Dylan Cozens was another breakout player in 2022-23, the thought of placing him and Mittelstadt on the same line is beyond enticing.

Without Quinn on the second line, it’s easy to fear that there may be a drop-off. But if Mittelstadt were to join Cozens and Peterka on the top six, this entertaining line might not miss a beat.

2 – Jiri Kulich

Jiri Kulich was initially one of my potential replacements for Victor Olofsson should the Buffalo Sabres trade the winger. But Kulich proved to be so effective in the AHL last season that he will enter camp as a legitimate contender to take a spot on the second line while Quinn is on the mend.

However, you could see a drop-off early should the Sabres roll with Kulich while reverting Mittelstadt back to the third line. Personally, it would take a lot from Kulich to convince me to stray from Mittelstadt. He would have to overshadow the seasoned veteran all camp long to earn Quinn’s spot.

3 – Lukas Rousek

Unlike Kulich, Lukas Rousek has some in-game NHL experience, even if he only saw two games worth. But still, his overall hustle and knack for finding good positioning should convince the Sabres to at least give him a look.

Like Kulich, however, it would take a lot from Rousek to convince me that he should move right up to the second line after what Mittelstadt did last season in Tage Thompson’s absence. As it stands, Kulich and Rousek are mere outliers, and barring something outrageous, I can’t see anyone but Mittelstadt holding things down until Quinn returns.