3 burning questions heading into the 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres season
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.
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
2 – When will Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power sign their extensions?
This isn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when, so forgive the fact that I worded the question as such. Ideally, we would see this occur before the season begins, as was the case with Tage Thompson and Mattias Samuelsson. The latter of whom signed just one day before the puck dropped to open the 2022-23 season.
Dahlin will most likely sign his contract first, and that could come sometime during the eve of training camp, or at least before the season-opener. As mentioned in the past, look for a mega-deal for arguably the face of the Buffalo Sabres franchise.
Power could sign a bridge deal shortly before the season, but if he’s interested in sticking around long-term, then perhaps he inks a seven-year extension. Logistically, the bridge would be his better route with the rising salary cap.
At which point, he could better establish himself close to or at Dahlin’s level, then go from there. Overall, Power has options, and he will wisely consider all of them.
3 – Who ultimately fills in for Jack Quinn?
This is a question I asked several times over the offseason and even addressed earlier in the summer. Jack Quinn isn’t someone you can replace entirely, since he’s developing a complete game and could have made The Jump this season, but there are a few consolation prizes.
Casey Mittelstadt remains the preseason frontrunner, and that will be the case unless a winger proves they can beat him out. As implied earlier, Victor Olofsson is a strong candidate thanks to his scoring ability, as are several prospects.
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If it is Mittelstadt, then the former first round pick will have officially become the most versatile forward on the Buffalo Sabres capable of playing on almost any line. However, prospects like Lukas Rousek, Brandon Biro, Jiri Kulich, and Matt Savoie will also get their respective chances. And the gig will go to the best player Don Granato feels will put the Blue and Gold into the best possible position to win.