The sting of not playing in the Conference Finals is real for the Buffalo Sabres and their fans. Right now, it hurts. But time heals all wounds and the fandom will look back on this season with pride.
Several players stepped up, become leaders and maxed out their potential. One finally proved what the Sabres invested in him after being drafted in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Mattias Samuelsson had a long-awaited breakout campaign for the Buffalo Sabres
With 41 points during the regular season and seven during the postseason, Samuelsson was one of the reasons that the Sabres finally broke through to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was a defenseman that had to be accounted for at all times while he was on the ice.
The points were an impressive part of his game this season. But he was drafted to become a strength of the defensive end. He did not disappoint leading all Sabres in blocked shots at 154.
He became a leader and was one of the keys to the Sabres postseason run. He was such a dominant force that he had a plus-41 rating in the regular season. It is the best single season mark by a Sabres defenseman since Jim Shoefield (+60) in 1979-80.
It is this type of season that will allow Samuelsson to not only be rememered fondly by the fanbase but given them hope during the offseason. He should factor high in the Sabres plans moving foward.
He is 26. There is no doubt that the Sabres and their fans should expect much of the same next season. He is signed through 2030 and does not appear to be going anywhere.
This offseason many questions remain for the team as to who will be the starting goalie. The question lingered throughout each part of the season. But similar to the NFL, the quarterback can only go so far without a good offensive line.
A goalie can only succeed if the team does not have a strong core of defenseman. Before the Sabres Rasmus Dahlin was key. However, the emergence of Samuelsson gave them another quality starter on that end of the ice on the first pair.
That should continue into the futures, which seems bright for Samuelsson. Ten years from now, however, the fanbase can look back on the 2025-26, smile and be proud about the team that broke the 14-year playoff drought.
Samuelsson is hard to miss as a 6-foot-4 defenseman. But his remarkable emergence from this season will be remembered for a long, long time.
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