Logan Stanley has made a good first impression with the Buffalo Sabres and their fans. Although he has not registered a point in his first four games, he has made an impact in other ways. He dropped the gloves with Sharks forward Zack Ostapchuk in the first period of his Sabres debut. He's also been playing close to 20 shifts a night, averaging around 15 minutes of ice per game. It may be a short sample size, but it's pretty much what the Sabres have asked for in a depth role.
While Stanley was brought in for this season, many has wonder if it could be expanded. Could he be a player that helps Buffalo for years to come? The smart move for the Sabres would be to lock up Stanley before the start of free agency and pencil him into their top six. But what role could Stanley have on the Sabres long term, and how will this type of player benefit them?
Why the Sabres should re-sign Logan Stanley during the summer
Stanley has never been known as a point producer in his career, but he is currently in the middle of his best point season. In 62 games between the Sabres and Jets, he has racked up nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points. His goals and point total are currently career highs, and he is just one assist short of tying his career best for assists. Now, the Sabres should not count on this being a new part of Stanley's play, but it is possible he can become more involved in the offense going forward.
What you can rely on Stanley for is his strong physical play. He has a massive frame, standing 6' 7" and weighing 231 pounds, and he has not been afraid to use it. So far this season, he has delivered 98 hits, which would be the second most on the Sabres had he played the whole season with them. This physical play gives the Sabres the edge they need. It's someone who can send a message or be a deterrent against dirty hits from opponents.
This physical play, coupled with potentially more consistent offensive production, makes him the perfect bottom-pairing defenseman. Taking some of the pressure off the Sabres' top four is important. While Buffalo boasts one of the best defensive groups in hockey, it has been known to overplay its top two pairings. This can burn them out and make them less effective once the playoffs come around. Having Stanley can be a way to manage their minutes without costing them games.
He also someone the Sabres can get on the cheap. Even with the NHL cap going up $8.5 million before the start of free agency, the Sabres will still only have around $13 million in cap space. They will have to be smart with how they spend it. Stanley should only be a $2 million cap hit at most. This gives the Sabres a quality player familiar with their system and plenty of cap to make at least one more move.
Although it's only been a couple of games Stanley has earned a place in the Sabres long-term plans. He's the type of player that can bring a physical edge and be someone whose play elevates during the postseason.