One thing each Buffalo Sabres player MUST get better at in the second half of 2023-24
The Buffalo Sabres enter the second half of their 2023-24 season tonight in what is their third game vs. the Ottawa Senators, and each player must improve.
With the Buffalo Sabres looking to change the trajectory of their season as Game 42 will commence tonight, let’s look at one aspect of each player’s game they must improve in for the second half. Clearly, when you are one of the worst teams in hockey at the moment, there are a lot of improvements to make, but if each player gets better in just the one area listed below, that alone will account for better results.
This list reflects everyone currently on the Sabres 23-man roster as of January 10th. Therefore, if anyone is called up to the big club because of injuries or ailments, they will not be included. Anyway, let’s explore what each member of the Sabres must work on for a better second half to 2023-24.
What each Buffalo Sabres player must improve in the second half
1 - Casey Mittelstadt - Taking more shots
While you can claim Casey Mittelstadt is the Sabres best forward through 41 games, he’s still passing even when there is an open lane. Mittelstadt has a 16.9 shooting percentage, showing he’s more than capable of finding the back of the net.
2 - Jeff Skinner - Defense
Jeff Skinner is a stud offensively, but every year, he’s a defensive liability for a team that needs to collectively step up when not in possession of the puck. If the Sabres want to embark on a surprise run, Skinner needs to pitch in on defense way more than he has.
3 - Rasmus Dahlin - Outmuscling opponents near the crease
Rasmus Dahlin is without a doubt one of the Blue and Gold’s more physical players. But he needs to get in better position near the crease when the Sabres are in the defensive zone and help clear the area more. This will negate would-be goals and keep games more manageable.
4 - Alex Tuch - Scoring on the power play
Alex Tuch scored eight goals on the power play last season but through 41 games (34 in which he’s played), he has just one. Buffalo boasts one of the worst power play units in the league, and Tuch’s inability to find the net on the man advantage is one reason why.
5 - JJ Peterka - Scoring
JJ Peterka started off the season hot and he jumped out to score 12 goals, but he hasn’t found the back of the net since December 11th. Overall, Peterka has stayed aggressive with the puck, but he needs to find new ways to beat opposing goaltenders.
6 - Tage Thompson - Scoring on the power play
Like Tuch’s issue, Tage’s area of improvement was rather easy, given the two goals he’s scored on the man advantage all season compared to 20 last year. Sure, injuries have slowed him, but now that Tage should be more than good to go since he has no more restrictions stemming from his wrist injury, he must start producing on the power play.
7 - Dylan Cozens - Taking care of the puck
It was hard to pick just one issue for Dylan Cozens, but with 22 giveaways through the 39 games he’s appeared in, it’s unacceptable for a forward of his caliber. He’s on pace for roughly 44 this season, which would easily lead all forwards on the team.
8 - Owen Power - Decision-making
Owen Power's second season hasn’t seen him making a major leap, but it’s also not as terrible as you may believe. Nevertheless, he needs to make faster decisions with the puck and to stop hesitating when it’s on his stick.
9 - Kyle Okposo - Durability
Even without his current injury, durability is something Kyle Okposo must watch out for in the second half of the season. Even if it means extra time in the press box, the Buffalo Sabres captain has played surprisingly well offensively for a fourth-liner, and it needs to continue through April.
10 - Zach Benson - Finishing
Zach Benson is earning a reputation for his willingness to try and score goals that won’t make the highlight reel when the season ends. But he must also finish better, as his current shooting percentage sits at a measly 8.7 percent.
11 - Victor Olofsson - Defense
In a previous piece, we talked about Victor Olofsson shifting gears to focus more on defense than scoring when he’s active. His new role is something that must keep improving every time he’s in the lineup.
12 - Connor Clifton - Positioning
The Buffalo Sabres most aggressive defenseman has improved his positioning since the season began, but it’s still not always consistent. Clifton, who now has a plus-4 rating, should master this aspect of head coach Don Granato’s system by season’s end.
13 - Jordan Greenway - Finishing
Like Zach Benson, Jordan Greenway has seen quite a few chances when in front of or driving into the net, but he’s only boasting a 7.5 shooting percentage. While it would also be great to see him take more shots, he must also make the most of the opportunities when he tries to convert.
14 - Henri Jokiharju - Avoid overthinking
Henri Jokiharju has a bad habit of giving us overall inconsistent play, and while his numbers and possession metrics aren’t bad, he still gives us that, “What was he thinking,” shift early, and it often sets the tone for the rest of the game. He needs to play with a shortened memory and act like his current shift is his only shift.
15 - Mattias Samuelsson - Taking care of the puck
Like Dylan Cozens, Mattias Samuelsson has committed far too many giveaways (23) after he had just 21 last season. Sure, he could also improve his defensive game to the standard it was at last season, but Samuelsson has been responsible for more than his fair share of broken plays in the 37 contests he’s played in.
16 - Peyton Krebs - Contributing offensively
Once again, Peyton Krebs is playing a physical game, but he’s also invading shooting lanes and is already threatening to pass his career-high in blocked shots. The issue, however, is that his offensive game has been awful, with just six points at the halfway point after he scored 26 in 74 contests last year.
17 - Jack Quinn - Elevating his linemates
Assuming the Kid Line remains a thing, Jack Quinn has one linemate who is struggling and another in a goal-scoring slump. Quinn has been outstanding since he’s returned, and at this point, he must find a way to elevate their respective games.
18 - Eric Robinson - Physicality
Eric Robinson has been with the Buffalo Sabres for 10 games and he has just 10 hits to show for it. The Blue and Gold have been trying to solve this issue for a while, and the rugged play Robinson had in Columbus has yet to translate consistently in Buffalo.
19 - Zemgus Girgensons - Taking more shots
There are a few Sabres on this list who must give themselves a better chance to find twine, and Zemgus Girgensons is one of those players. He’s not the best shooter on the team by any means, but he also has three goals on 30 shots on net.
20 - Erik Johnson - Consistency
Inconsistent play has plagued the 35-year-old so far in 2023-24, and if the Sabres are to break out in the second half of the season, their leaders and most experienced players must set the standard.
21 - Ryan Johnson - Taking more shots
Ryan Johnson has played well for the most part defensively, but it’s demoralizing to see just 16 shots on goal and 45 total shots in 22 games. If he takes more shots from the blue line, then someone in front of the crease has a chance to deflect the puck into the net.
22 - Devon Levi - Consistency
Devon Levi’s 2023-24 season reminds me a lot of what Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen went through last year, morphing from some hot streaks to pedestrian play, meaning inconsistency has been his only consistency. While it’s not feasible to expect fully consistent play from the 22-year-old, Levi should log more quality starts in the second half.
23 - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - Positioning
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s numbers still may be below league average, but he’s nonetheless improved when compared to last season, with a respectable 0.625 quality starts percentage. However, opponents still lure him out of position far too often, and that must change in the second half of 2023-24.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)