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Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 Lineup Projection 7.0: The Final Prediction

By Sion Fawkes

Sep 30, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; The Buffalo Sabres celebrate a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; The Buffalo Sabres celebrate a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 30, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Kirill Marchenko (86) looks to make a pass as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Riley Stillman (61) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensemen

  • Rasmus Dahlin – Connor Clifton
  • Owen Power – Mattias Samuelsson
  • Erik Johnson – Henri Jokiharju
  • Riley Stillman

Connor Clifton noticeably struggled in his Buffalo Sabres debut, but I’m not too worried about it. It was his first game in a blue and gold uniform, and it’s nothing more than an adjustment period at this point. Dahlin will pair with him and the duo will be fine.

I’ve seen a lot of Power-Jokiharju pairings, but I’m not buying it. Jokiharju has looked good in the preseason, but he was awful when lining up next to Power last season. Further, Mattias Samuelsson provides a better complement for the 20-year-old, so he gets the nod.

Erik Johnson will instead pair with the two-way Jokiharju on the bottom pairing, giving the Sabres three levels of complementary blueliners. Riley Stillman factors in as the extra, and he will be a physical presence when Johnson inevitably sits out a few games, or if the Blue and Gold want a hard-nosed pairing, in which he will replace Jokiharju.

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