While the “energy line” doesn’t bring in the points often, they’re the unit that serves as “glue” and holds teams together regardless of what the situation is. It’s usually the bruising line that helps teams win championships, and the evidence is out there because quite a few contenders love acquiring big hitters at the deadline. The Buffalo Sabres haven’t had the luxury of possessing such a line for quite some time, but that will change in 2024-25.
Below are three players who will make up the bulk of the fourth line, and the final two players listed will serve as extras, or at least that’s how we’re projecting it.
Sam Lafferty
Sam Lafferty should be the Sabres new full-time center on the fourth line, and while he could do a better job at winning faceoffs, Lafferty remains a force to be reckoned with. For one, he’s been a fair scorer in recent seasons, putting up double-digit goals over the past two years.
He’s also one of a few players who will land body check after body check, and as the headline of his piece implies, he’s one of a few who will strike fear into opponents if he doesn’t change his overall playing style. Lafferty won’t be looked at as an excellent signing in terms of being a playmaker, but players like him can help keep high-scoring opponents in check.
Beck Malenstyn
Beck Malenstyn should invigorate fans of the Blue and Gold more than anyone, as there are few up-and-coming big hitters in the league like him. He may have cost a little more than we’d have otherwise liked in trade compensation, but other than a top-six forward, the Sabres needed someone like Malenstyn.
Maybe he’ll never snag over 30 points in a single season, but there’s a good chance he’ll, at some point, finish a campaign with over 300 body checks. And if you think about it, that alone would fill a significant portion of hits that the Sabres attained this past season.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Something I like about Nicolas Aube-Kubel is that he’s coming to Buffalo alongside a former teammate in Beck Malenstyn. While Aube-Kubel may not be the full-time skater in this projection, there’s a chance he can become one. What is a given is that he will smash opponents against the boards a few times per game and, thus, disrupt plays.
Further, Aube-Kubel is someone who will constantly help get the puck up ice, and he even sported a 53.5 percent Corsi For at even strength in 2022-23. That number dropped last season to just 43.4, but even then, only 12.6 percent of his starts came in the offensive zone.
Peyton Krebs
Peyton Krebs is probably the odd man out on the fourth line after the Sabres brought in Lafferty, Malenstyn, and Aube-Kubel. But he never lived up to his status as a former first-round pick and is likely nothing more than a niche player at the NHL level. That said, look for Krebs to play his role as a defensive forward well should he remain in Buffalo.
Lukas Rousek
And finally, we got Lukas Rousek, who, like Krebs, is likely a rotational player who will spend a significant amount of time in the press box. Rousek isn’t a bad player by any means and has shown hustle when he’s gotten a chance, but with such a limited skill set for the NHL, he will play his best hockey as a part-time player.