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3 burning questions heading into the 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres season

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 10, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) dives in front of Buffalo Sabres left wing Jeff Skinner (53) during overtime at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) dives in front of Buffalo Sabres left wing Jeff Skinner (53) during overtime at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres season is right around the corner, starting with the Prospects Challenge later this month. So let’s answer some questions.

The Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 season is fast-approaching and before we know it, the Prospects Challenge and the preseason will arrive. As I write this piece, we are also less than a month and a half away from the puck dropping against the New York Rangers, and we will finally get the first taste of this season’s version of the Sabres playing together as a unit.

But a plethora of questions come with any new season, and we will answer the most burning ones below. So what will become of Victor Olofsson this year? When will Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power finally sign their respective extensions? And who will ultimately fill in for Jack Quinn? Keep reading for our hot takes.

Buffalo Sabres
Jan 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Victor Olofsson (71) skates off the ice after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

3 questions for the Buffalo Sabres heading into 2023-24

1 – Will the Sabres ever trade Victor Olofsson?

At this point, I would be surprised if Buffalo traded Victor Olofsson before the trade deadline. If the Sabres want to roll with seasoned veterans over prospects, then Olofsson could be the one replacing Jack Quinn in the top-six (more on that in another section) despite my previous implications on the issue.

Or, they will put Olofsson at winger on the third line, where he will either play full-time or would rotate in with someone like Brandon Biro. If he’s a full-timer, or a near-full-timer, then the Sabres would rather play the year with veterans. However, if Biro (or Lukas Rousek) rotates in, then it shows Don Granato and Company are cool with moving him in and out with an incoming prospect.

If Olofsson is playing full-time, keeping him all year depends on how well he performs. Suppose Jack Quinn returns and Olofsson plays at a high level, chances are he’s staying in Buffalo. But if the Sabres, for any reason, find Olofsson expendable, even if he played well, they could end up shopping him.

Source: Why the Sabres Should Not Trade Victor Olofsson by JP Gambatese

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