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Buffalo Sabres winger has been a revelation since his return

Thanks to an Achilles injury, Buffalo Sabres winger Jack Quinn was unable to play until December 19th, but he’s been lights out early on.

By Sion Fawkes

Dec 30, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) reacts after
Dec 30, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) reacts after / Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
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When Jack Quinn first returned to the ice on December 19th vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets, nobody thought he would make an immediate impact. And predictably, Quinn didn’t, scoring zero points and a minus-2 rating in what was an embarrassing 9-4 loss for the Buffalo Sabres. 

Then in three of the previous four games, Quinn scored a goal, including last night’s epic 3-2 win over those same Blue Jackets. Quinn’s return also allowed the Sabres to reform what was a dangerous top-six from last season, and while the overall results have been up-and-down, Quinn appears to be further ahead of the curve than any of us would have thought. 

Chances are, the Sabres second-year winger is just now finding his groove, so it’s not totally far-fetched if he were to progress much in the same way JJ Peterka has this season. Peterka, who has 25 points in 37 contests, is just seven away from tying his points total from last season. And while we thought Quinn wouldn’t get so close to his 37 points based on the circumstances, we can’t rule out the possibility just yet. 

Buffalo Sabres winger would see JJ Peterka-like growth in 2023-24

None of us would have blamed Jack Quinn if he needed an extended acclimation period having come off a serious injury like a ruptured Achilles that required roughly six months of recovery. But his scoring prowess shows us that Quinn is already near midseason form in what happens to be midseason, but goals are not the only indicator. 

Want more encouraging numbers? Then look no further than Quinn’s Corsi and Fenwick at even strength and 5-on-5, respectively. Through his first four games back since the stat has yet to update for Game 5 at the time of this writing, Quinn’s CF and FF at even strength sit at a respective 55.1 and 56.4. 

Head over to 5-on-5, and his CF is currently 55.3 while his FF is a whopping 56.8. That shows us the Buffalo Sabres are generating more than a few scoring chances with Quinn on the ice, and you can expect more of that as he continues to make his way back from a serious injury. 

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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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