We are just a few weeks away from the Buffalo Sabres opening up training camp, so it’s time to start the 2023-24 season preview!
It is the final countdown before Buffalo Sabres training camp commences and the 2023-24 season is underway. Now that the team is set, barring a surprise signing, it’s time to make one final lineup projection before camp and the subsequent preseason begin.
Below, you will find the projected 23-man roster coming from a rather logical angle. Therefore, don’t expect any major surprises, like Prospect A or Prospect B overtaking a seasoned veteran. Those are fun to project during the late-spring and over the summer, but now, it’s time to get serious.
Buffalo Sabres initial 2023-24 lineup will comprise….
Forwards
- Skinner – Tage – Tuch
- Peterka – Cozens – Mittelstadt
- Greenway – Krebs – Olofsson
- Girgensons – Jost – Okposo
- Biro – Murray
You can’t go wrong with this top-six, given the way Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch have and could continue to take over games. They comprise the first line and that will remain a steady fixture all season, barring injury.
The second line also looks the same as we have seen in previous installments, with Casey Mittelstadt filling in for the injured Jack Quinn. Thanks to his incredible passing, Mittelstadt could be a huge factor in JJ Peterka finding the net more in 2023-24, along with Dylan Cozens.
Jordan Greenway, Peyton Krebs, and Victor Olofsson comprise the most potential-laden line on the team. We know what the first line is capable of, and we also know Mittelstadt will prevent the second line from missing a beat. But if Olofsson and Greenway become more consistent in their respective games, and Krebs picks up where he left off last season, this could be one excellent third line.
Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo bring experience, and they will return to their respective roles this season. In former projections, I placed a few dark horses like Tyson Kozak into the lineup, but logistically speaking, the role belongs to another Tyson – Tyson Jost.
With Brandon Biro and Brett Murray lacking a waiver exempt clause, they will open the season as extras. This means the likes of Lukas Rousek, Jiri Kulich, and Matt Savoie will return to the AHL and WHL, respectively.