Top 3 Buffalo Sabres players and prospects who get no respect
The Buffalo Sabres have a slew of talent at the NHL and AHL levels, but a few of them get next to no recognition for their respective A-games.
The Buffalo Sabres are fortunate thanks to the fact they have a talented young hockey team who will make a serious playoff run in 2023-24. They have a dynamic prospects pool that can put them in position to not only achieve in the short-term, but also maintain long-term success.
But the Blue and Gold have more talent than you may realize, as there are more than a few players in their NHL and AHL lineups that are quietly among the best on their team. However, you would never know it, as they get little to no appreciation for their efforts.
It’s not always points that win games, but disrupting plays and creating opportunities for teammates also go a long way. So let’s give them their well-deserved recognition, and discuss why they receive little to no respect league-wide.
Buffalo Sabres players and prospects getting no respect
1 – Mattias Samuelsson, D
In most cases, you’re not getting the respect you deserve as a defenseman unless you are basically a forward listed with a blueliner. But as I’ve stressed several times since March, the Buffalo Sabres are a much better hockey team with Samuelsson on the ice as opposed to when he’s missing time with injuries.
But if you’re a casual hockey fan, or even a die-hard who follows a team outside the Atlantic Division, then you probably don’t know who Samuelsson is. And even if you do, you probably don’t realize that the Sabres win over 60% of the time when he’s in the lineup.
Take 164 possible points and multiply that number by 60% – you get a floor of between 98 and 99 points. That’s the kind of effect Samuelsson would most likely have on the Blue and Gold across an 82-game stretch.
2 – Tyson Kozak, F
I was reading Jacob D. Strozyk of The Hockey Writers’ Top Ten Prospects for 2023-24 piece, and I saw that they listed Tyson Kozak at #6 on their list. Yeah, finally someone who sees Kozak’s value in the same way myself, and many fans who have watched the Rochester Americans.
I’ve even listed Kozak as my dark horse to sneak his way into the Buffalo Sabres lineup at least for a portion of the season in my latest projection. While he’s realistically facing an uphill climb, Kozak’s ability to play a solid defensive role at forward is often overlooked, thanks to the 10 points he scored in 55 regular season games in Rochester.
Pay close attention to Kozak this season, especially in camp, and you will see those defensive abilities shine. Whether he remains in the AHL or if he sneaks his way into the lineup as the fourth line center is still to be seen – likely returning to the AHL – but his role as a defensive forward will be fun to watch.
3 – Peyton Krebs, C
Peyton Krebs also morphed into a Kozak-like role, but at the NHL level in 2022-23, and he will likely become the Blue and Gold’s most physical forward this season. Krebs, however, could start the year on the third line if Casey Mittelstadt bumps up to the second to play winger in Jack Quinn’s absence.
Krebs will likely never score over 30 points in a single season, and it’s one reason why so many fans write him off given his status as a former first round pick. But the truth is, the Buffalo Sabres have enough high-profile scorers even without Quinn in the lineup, but they need more defense from their forwards.
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Luckily, Krebs gives them that defense, and now that he has a full season of hockey under his belt, look for him to continue to solidify himself in the role. Krebs’ work may go unnoticed by many, but like Kozak, pay close attention to him in camp, and ultimately, the regular season.