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Buffalo Sabres winger’s imminent return may transform team’s production

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 6, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Since June, Buffalo Sabres winger Jack Quinn has remained sidelined with an Achilles injury, but that may change this week.

It looks like Buffalo Sabres winger Jack Quinn is on the cusp of returning as Field Level Media reported earlier today, and shared by ESPN. Anyone watching the Blue and Gold this year knows one thing: This team has not looked anything like what they were in 2022-23. One reason is that they missed Quinn, who was getting the hang of playing in the NHL throughout the second half of last season, and notably during the playoff race.

Quinn helped comprise “The Kid Line” with JJ Peterka and Dylan Cozens, and they were one of the most exciting young lines in hockey. Unfortunately without Quinn, Cozens’ play has not been the same even if JJ Peterka is enjoying a memorable sophomore year.

While it’s true he didn’t become a prolific scorer in 2022-23 with just 37 points in 75 games, Quinn was a valuable asset on the power play, where he saw 123.7 minutes and was on the ice for 13 of the unit’s 63 goals. It’s also worth noting that the Sabres have struggled on the man advantage this year, so perhaps Quinn’s presence will help them out should he (probably) find himself on the unit.

Buffalo Sabres will be much better off with Jack Quinn in the lineup

Sure, it would be premature to believe Quinn would help transform the team’s production immediately since there will be an acclimation period as far as live in-game reps go. However, the former first-round pick should make quite a jump once he discovers the same rhythm that saw him put up seven of his 14 goals between January 28th and April 14th, in almost exactly the final two-and-a-half months of the season.

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Quinn also put up 11 of his 23 assists in that same frame, so once again, it’s clear that he (along with Peterka) started catching on during the most important part of the season. Quinn also increased his two-way presence, so if he gets back into the groove by the new year and the rest of the Buffalo Sabres lineup gets healthy, then look for even more flashes of that fun team from 2022-23.

Source: Sabres’ Jack Quinn may return from ruptured Achilles Tuesday by Field Level Media, via ESPN

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Quant Hockey)

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