New Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson had some encouraging words for the Blue and Gold, and they are the basis of Bold Prediction #56.
Erik Johnson made a bold prediction for the Buffalo Sabres future beyond 2023-24, which you can learn more about by clicking the above link. But during his news conference with reporters, Johnson also made a few statements regarding the team this season when he said the following:
"“It’s a team that’s knocking on the door and you don’t get free agency signings in the first 15 minutes of free agency if you’re not a team that’s on the rise. That’s what happened with myself and Connor. I think guys see that and want to be here and I think that’s the culture the guys have built over the last few years.” – via Buffalo Hockey Beat"
Source: Erik Johnson excited to be in Buffalo, give Sabres missing element by Bill Hoppe
And Johnson is right in every claim he made in the above quote – if you’re a team that’s either heading south in terms of overall talent, or if you’re near the bottom or even the middle rung of a rebuild, you don’t get guys like him or Connor Clifton. Johnson won a Cup with the Colorado Avalanche while Clifton was part of the league’s best regular season team last year.
Buffalo Sabres will become a desired destination for players for 2024 and beyond
“Knocking on the door,” is how Johnson put it, and this statement often means a team is on the cusp of breaking through to something greater than what they have been doing. Johnson’s claim will turn into something more this season, and, in turn, the Sabres performance in 2023-24 will transform Buffalo, New York into a hot destination once more for free agents and trade assets.
BUT, there is a massive catch, and I think you all know where I’m heading with this: Just because players from outside the organization want to play here, it doesn’t mean they will end up in the Queen City. We know general manager Kevyn Adams wants this franchise to build through its pipeline, and that’s what they are going to keep doing.
So to make this long Bold Prediction #56 piece short, the Buffalo Sabres will once again outperform expectations and break down the door this year. In turn, Buffalo will become a desired landing spot for 2024, but Kevyn Adams, the wise general manager he is, will be turning players away from this exclusive club given the limited number of spots available with what is (mostly) homegrown talent.