Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 Player Outlooks: Lukas Rousek

The Buffalo Sabres will have plenty of prospects contending for a spot once camp rolls around two months from today, including Lukas Rousek. 

If there was one prospect who excelled in 2022-23, it was Lukas Rousek, and he even got to play in a pair of games with the Buffalo Sabres. In those contests, Rousek scored his first NHL goal and logged an assist, averaging 11:19 of ice time in both showings.

While it’s a small sample size, the Sabres were effective in the offensive zone throughout Rousek’s first two NHL games, with a Corsi For Percentage sitting at 57.1% at even strength and 5-on-5, and a Fenwick For Percentage of 55.56%. This shows us that Buffalo took a few more scoring chances with Rousek on the ice.

He was also dominant in the AHL in both the regular and postseason, scoring 56 times in 70 contests with 16 goals and 40 assists. Rousek also tacked on another 12 points in 14 playoff games, scoring five goals on just seven shots and seven assists.

So does that make Rousek the frontrunner to snag a spot in the Sabres lineup? Let’s check out this intriguing prospect’s 2023-24 outlook, and if there will be room for him come October.

Lukas Rousek may end up with the Buffalo Sabres on opening night

Jack Quinn’s injury means the Sabres need a contingency plan for the first half of the season, and calling up a prospect could be in their best interests. However, it’s also important to remember that Rousek is one of three forwards of healthy “roster players” that are waivers exempt, per Cap Friendly.

The other two are Peyton Krebs and J.J. Peterka, and neither will be heading back to Rochester barring an abysmal camp. Further, we also need to acknowledge that Brandon Biro and Brett Murray are two “non-roster players” who could be serious contenders for a spot in the Sabres lineup that are not waivers exempt.

Therefore, unless Rousek dominates in camp and in the preseason, it could make more sense to the Sabres to keep Biro and Murray on the roster as at least 13th and 14th forwards if they do not want to risk losing them via waivers at least in the early going.

Other scenarios to consider are what the Buffalo Sabres want to do with Matt Savoie, as they can either send him directly back to the WHL, or they could give him limited exposure in the NHL and in the AHL before reallocating him to the Wenatchee Wild. Then there is the entire Victor Olofsson Saga, and whether Buffalo decides to keep him around in the wake of Quinn’s injury, or if there is still a possibility that they will move him. Finally, we also have to account for other prospects who could be vying for a spot like Jiri Kulich.

In short, the greatest odds would be for Rousek to return to the AHL. However, even if this occurs, it doesn’t mean he won’t at least get a few more games of NHL experience, depending on how the season plays out.

He will, however, end up and start the season in the lineup if he enjoys a dominant camp. But at this point, there are a lot of what-ifs to wade through, and all Rousek can do is put forth his best effort when camp rolls around.

And if Rousek ends up back in Rochester for most of the 2023-24 season, expect him to dominate in the AHL ranks with 60-plus points and at least 20 goals, and I’m being rather reserved in that estimate.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Amerks.com)