Top 5 Buffalo Sabres players of the 2020s so far (Redemption Team?)
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres may not have made the playoffs yet in the 2020s, but there is no shortage of immense talent on this hockey team.
Matthew Morris of The Hockey Writers recently penned an article outlining the best Buffalo Sabres players since the 1970s, naming legends like Gilbert Perreault, Phil Housley, Dominik Hasek, Ryan Miller, and Zemgus Girgensons. But they only named a few candidates regarding the overall frontrunners to perhaps take the title by the end of the decade.
So if we were to rank the top five players on the Sabres throughout the 2020s, who would make the cut and where do they currently stand? It’s a question I recently asked myself, so if I were to rank how each player has performed for the Sabres overall since the start of their respective careers in Buffalo, here is how where they are currently clocking in.
Oh, and before I go any further, it’s important to remember that this list is not a player ranking for the 2023-24 season, but it instead ranks players based on their entire careers in the Queen City. So keep that in mind when you are reading this.
5 best Buffalo Sabres players in the 2020s
5 – Dylan Cozens
Scoring 68 points and 81 contests is a good way to enjoy a breakout campaign, and that’s exactly what Dylan Cozens did during his 2022-23 campaign with the Sabres. While he’s poised to repeat that success this season, last year was his first highly successful outing in Buffalo, and it came following an inconsistent season when he logged just 38 points in 79 games.
But it’s not all about points production, as Cozens has shown grit since he first put on a blue and gold uniform. And that will continue to evolve as he edges toward his prime.
4 – Alex Tuch
Many won’t like the fact I put Alex Tuch at Number 4 on the list, but remember, he’s only been playing in Buffalo for a year-and-a-half, and a grand total of 124 games. Therefore, he will be battling for a Top 3 spot before you know it, especially if his two-way tendencies continue.
Tuch enjoyed his breakout year with the Blue and Gold last season, much like Cozens, but he scored 79 points in 74 contests, equaling between 87 and 88 points over an 82-game stretch. If he stays healthy all year in 2023-24, Tuch will threaten the 90-point threshold.