The Buffalo Sabres are finally closing in on the playoff threshold, having come within striking distance to end the 2022-23 season.
The Buffalo Sabres are a good hockey team and yes, it is safe to say that these days. They were the NHL’s youngest squad last season, yet the Blue and Gold still won 42 games and amassed 91 points.
In 2023-24, they should make a leap all across the board. So much, that one of their lines, projected pairings, and yes, even a projected goaltending tandem, can all evolve into one of, if not the NHL’s best.
How is it possible (even at goaltender)? Keep reading for the rundown.
Buffalo Sabres lines, pairings, and tandems can be NHL’s best
1 – Tage Thompson line – One of the best keeps getting better
The Tage Thompson line was one of the league’s best last season (even if they were snubbed in some rankings) and you can expect more of the same this year. Tage could have had 100 points, but a late-season injury put a dent in his production.
Jeff Skinner earned a career-high 82 points at age 30, and despite his longevity in the league, he shows no signs of slowing down. Perhaps you can call him a late bloomer (to a degree), and project he could at least come close to that mark in 2023-24.
Alex Tuch has done nothing but improve by leaps and bounds since he came to the Buffalo Sabres in November 2021 and debuted shortly thereafter. Look for him to join the NHL’s elite class this season.
2 – Projected Dahlin/Samuelsson pairing – Remarkable complements
Unless Don Granato decides to place Erik Johnson with Rasmus Dahlin, then we will once again see the 2018 first overall pick pairing with Mattias Samuelsson. Toward the end of 2021-22, we saw flashes of what a Dahlin-Samuelsson pairing was capable of before they took off last season.
Unfortunately, they both found themselves banged up, with Samuelsson missing extended time on multiple occasions with injuries. But if they stay healthy, you’re basically seeing one of the league’s best two-way blueliners pairing with one of the fastest-rising stay-at-home defensemen.
3 – Projected goaltending tandem – Improbable, but possible
Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would probably sit near the bottom of the list in most rankings. For one, the duo has combined for just 53 games and for another, Levi’s inexperience and Luukkonen’s lack of consistency gives us little reason to believe the tandem can emerge into one of the NHL’s best.
But even the strangest things happen, so let’s get ultra bold. For one, we know Levi can be a productive goaltender behind even the worst rotations, as we saw late last year. We also know that, when the rotation is healthy, Luukkonen can also be effective.
With Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton arriving, the Levi-Luukkonen duo have help on the way, and that alone will point their arrow north. Further, if the two become a legitimate 1A and 1B, then the Buffalo Sabres have a better chance of having fresh skates lining up in the crease in 2023-24, and this could catapult them in any ranking.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)