Breaking down each Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 season in one sentence
The time has come for player breakdowns and predictions. Here is a one-sentence breakdown of each Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 season (including signees).
With roughly two months before training camp and the preseason begin, it’s time to start reviewing the 2022-23 campaign and previewing the Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 season. In Part I of what will be a multiple-part series, we’re breaking down how each current member of the Sabres performed last season in one single sentence.
So if you’re someone looking for quick hits as opposed to a detailed look, then this is a piece you want to check out. And if you’re someone who likes detailed breakdowns, don’t worry, because those are also coming sooner than later, along with one-sentence projections and even detailed projections.
So how did each current member of the Sabres play last season? Keep reading to find out for yourself.
Breaking down each Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 season in one sentence
Goaltenders
Devon Levi: Impressed everyone in his seven-game sample size and played a pivotal role in keeping the Blue and Gold alive in the playoff race until the 80th game of the season.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Luukkonen struggled at times, but he enjoyed a few solid moments that included a Rookie of the Month award for January 2023 and a serious look to be the 1B this year.
Eric Comrie: Struggled in the Queen City after he posted elite numbers as a backup with the Winnipeg Jets the season prior and will likely get waived before the 2023-24 season begins.
Dustin Tokarski: Former member of the Buffalo Sabres who mainly played in the AHL in 2022-23 and will do so again in 2023-24.
Devin Cooley: Has never seen NHL ice time and spent the previous season with the Milwaukee Admirals, where he appeared in 26 regular season games and four playoff contests.
Defensemen
Rasmus Dahlin: Scored, scored, and scored some more when healthy, and he also made major contributions defensively.
Mattias Samuelsson: All he did was kill plays when healthy, and the Buffalo Sabres often won with Samuelsson in the lineup.
Owen Power: Averaged 23:48 of ice time, scored 35 points, and kept getting better as the season progressed before he ended up as a Calder Trophy finalist.
Connor Clifton: Had 208 hits and 120 blocks as a member of the Presidents’ Trophy winning Boston Bruins in 2022-23.
Erik Johnson: Showed he’s still capable of logging triple-digits in hits and blocks in 2022-23, and averaged at least 17 minutes of ice time.
Ilya Lyubushkin: Was serviceable when healthy as a hitter and also sunk a shorthanded game-winning overtime goal.
Henri Jokiharju: Likely an odd man out in 2023-24 after he was often caught out of position and forced to play catch-up in 2022-23.
Jacob Bryson: Had an abysmal season in 2022-23 and is likely going to get traded at some point before the puck drops in October.
Riley Stillman: Brought some much-needed edge to the Buffalo Sabres, but he often looked lost out there on the ice after the Sabres traded for him late.
Kale Clague: Ended up getting the edge over Bryson at times but will likely find himself in Rochester now that Clifton, Johnson, and Stillman are in town.
Jeff Skinner: Scored 82 points in 2022-23 and has put a stop to remaining claims that he signed “the worst contract in Buffalo Sabres history.”
Tage Thompson: Lived up to expectations with his new contract, but injuries kept him from reaching the 50-goal and 100-point threshold in 2022-23.
Alex Tuch: Showed poise, leadership, and productivity in his first full season with the Buffalo Sabres and could be a future team captain.
J.J. Peterka: Struggled early, as expected, but started figuring out the NHL game as the season progressed and will continue to grow.
Dylan Cozens: Enjoyed a breakout 68-point season and became yet another member of the Blue and Gold to sign a long-term deal.
Jack Quinn: Like Peterka, Quinn had his growing pains, but his productivity grew offensively and defensively throughout the latter portion of the season.
Casey Mittelstadt: Surprised everyone with 59 points, and his presence filling in for an injured Tage Thompson late helped maintain the tempo of the Sabres first line.
Victor Olofsson: One of the team’s better scorers once again in 2022-23, but he offered little else and is yet another trade candidate on this list.
Jordan Greenway: A late-season trade addition had a tough time finding his place in the lineup, but those concerns should dissipate with a full offseason and camp.
Peyton Krebs: Found his niche as a physical fourth line center who helped lead a formidable fourth line in 2022-23 that will return this season.
Kyle Okposo: Started showing his age last season, but his leadership skills and occasional playmaking were enough to keep him around another season.
Zemgus Girgensons: Longest-tenured Sabre led all forwards with 99 hits in 2022-23 and he also tacked on another 49 blocks.
Tyson Jost: A waiver-wire pickup performed well enough to earn himself another year in the Queen City in the bottom six or as an extra skater.
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And that’s it for our Buffalo Sabres quick hits/one-sentence breakdowns of how each player performed in 2022-23. Stay tuned for our 2023-24 one-sentence projections and more breakdowns as we continue to preview what should be an exciting season here in Buffalo.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)