Eric Robinson looks like a winner for the Buffalo Sabres so far

It wasn’t long since the Buffalo Sabres “lost out” on the Patrick Kane sweepstakes, but Eric Robinson may have been the better option.

It’s an ultra-small sample size, but through three games, Eric Robinson has played sound hockey for the Buffalo Sabres. Sure, he got hit with a game misconduct in his second matchup, but we can all agree it was a bad call that should have, at worst, been a minor penalty. But that hasn’t stopped Robinson from producing, and he now has three points, one goal, and a plus-5 in three games with the Blue and Gold.

What’s more? At 5-on-5, the Sabres have scored four goals and are boasting a 17.4 shooting percentage with Robinson on the ice, and they have also yet to allow a goal when he is out there. That’s an impressive feat for a guy who never got much of a chance with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season.

It also shows us that, just because someone is a cast-off in one location, it doesn’t mean they are a bad hockey player. Or just because they were never a big-time player elsewhere that they have a limited ceiling. Sometimes, they’re good system fits and will thrive in specific situations, and this could be the case with Robinson.

Eric Robinson may have been a sensational find for the Buffalo Sabres

As mentioned earlier, it’s an ultra-small sample size, and by no means should we judge Robinson’s season on three measly games. Sure, the Sabres look like a better team with him, as they are 2-0-1 since acquiring the fourth-line winger, but they are also only 29 games into this, so there is a ton of hockey yet to be played.

However, Robinson has set the stage that he can be an effective player from here on out, and he always seems to know how to put himself in the correct position in front of the net, something we have seen since he first arrived. He’s also not afraid to shoot the puck, with seven shots on goal and nine total shots in 11 minutes of average total ice time.

If Robinson keeps this up, expect him to keep a full-time position on the team even after Alex Tuch, Jordan Greenway, and Zemgus Girgensons return. He will give head coach Don Granato and general manager Kevyn Adams no choice but to find a place for him.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)