Top 5 defensive and power forwards on the Buffalo Sabres in 2023
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.
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.
4 – Kyle Okposo
While Kyle Okposo was clearly aging, the Buffalo Sabres re-signed the longtime winger around for more than just his leadership abilities. While it’s true Okposo isn’t the player he was, he still knew how to disrupt plays and separate opponents from the puck, something he will continue this season.
Okposo finished the year with 78 hits, and Buffalo had an on-ice save percentage of 90.9 and 91.9 at even strength and 5-on-5, respectively, with him on the ice. We likely won’t see Okposo playing as often this season if the Sabres have a 13th or 14th forward capable of producing serviceable play with fourth line minutes, but when he’s on the ice, he will remain an effective player.
3 – Zemgus Girgensons
Fun fact: Zemgus Girgensons’ 49 blocks were his most since 2014-15, the year he represented the Buffalo Sabres in the All-Star Game. He also had 96 hits, making him the most physical forward on the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres in the category. And he was just four away from achieving triple digits for the eighth time in his career.
What’s more, is that opponents rarely scored with Girgensons on the ice, as the team logged an on-ice save percentage of 92% at even strength and 92.1% at 5-on-5. Girgensons was also trusted on the penalty kill, logging nearly 117 minutes with the unit last year.
2 – Peyton Krebs
With Peyton Krebs logging 93 hits, Zemgus Girgensons was the only forward to record more. But now that the 22-year-old appears to have found his niche in the game, look for Krebs to hit triple-digits in hits this season.
As with his usual linemates Kyle Okposo and Girgensons, the Buffalo Sabres on-ice save percentage sailed north of 90.0% at 5-on-5 and even strength when Krebs was on the ice. And he also became one of the most trusted members on the penalty kill later in the season.
In fact, despite the Blue and Gold’s struggles on the unit, they logged an on-ice save percentage of 87.3% when Krebs was out there. He only totaled a little over 51 minutes on the PK, but thanks to his performance there this past season, expect him to become a regular on the unit for 2023-24.
1 – Alex Tuch
Alex Tuch is one of the best scorers on the Buffalo Sabres, but his ability to win on the forecheck, coupled with dynamic overall defensive play, kept the team’s first line looking at least somewhat respectable when they weren’t scoring goals. Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner struggled defensively last season, but Tuch was the exception, further evidenced by his 46 blocks, 54 hits, and 64 takeaways.
While the Sabres on-ice save percentage at even strength was nothing to brag about when Tuch was on the ice (88.7), it was a different story at 5-on-5. Here, the number sat at 91.0%, giving him one of the better overall numbers in the category vs. his Sabres teammates.
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Overall, Tuch’s defensive performance should climb even further north in 2023-24 as he continues to dive into the thick of his prime. Look for him to become not only one of the best two-way players in Buffalo, but one of the best in the NHL.
Source: Buffalo Sabres mailbag: Sorting through glaring roster questions after free agency by Lance Lysowski, BuffaloNews.com
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)