Sabre Noise
Fansided

Top 5 defensive and power forwards on the Buffalo Sabres in 2023

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) skates around Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (49) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) skates around Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (49) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

The Buffalo Sabres may not have played well defensively in 2022-23, but they have a fair share of defensive-minded forwards in the lineup for 2023-24.

Heading into 2023-24, the Buffalo Sabres should be a better defensive team overall. While they were the third-highest scoring unit in hockey this past year with 296 goals for, they still finished with 300 goals allowed, equaling a -4 point differential.

If they repeat their defensive woes this season, then it will be that much tougher for the team to break through and reach the playoffs. Luckily, with a better rotation at the blue line, they should be a better team overall, and the following five defensive-minded/power forwards will also help contribute to that.

Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens
ELMONT, NEW YORK – MARCH 07: Dylan Cozens #24 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his goal at 5:00 of the second period against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on March 07, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

5 best defensive/power forwards on Buffalo Sabres in 2023-24

Honorable Mention – Dylan Cozens

I was disappointed to see that I had no room for Dylan Cozens in my top five – for this season, at least. But he made more than a concerted effort on defense in 2022-23 that I had to include him in some capacity, given his 55 hits and 36 takeaways, a pair of numbers that will only improve next season.

Cozens also gave us 101 minutes on the penalty kill last season, and Buffalo’s on-ice save percentage sat at 85.6% in the category when he was out there. I’m expecting an improvement all around for Cozens in 2023-24, and he’s a shoo-in for a top five ranking on this list 12 months from now.

5 – Tyson Jost

It would have been interesting to see what Tyson Jost could have done with the Blue and Gold had he played an entire season with them. But still, 50 hits and 21 takeaways in 55 games translates to 74 hits and 31 takeaways throughout an 82-game stretch with an average time on ice of 13:21.

Jost’s possession metrics numbers were by no means outstanding, but his grit and willingness to battle for the puck, plus the fact he was a staple on the penalty kill shows us his overall potential to become more than just a solid defensive forward. He will get even more of a chance to prove himself this season, and if he improves, Jost might just stick around the Queen City.

Home/Sabres News