A trio of familiar faces should make up the Sabres second line in 2024-25

The Buffalo Sabres projected first line may have come as a surprise to some of you, but professional hockey is full of surprises, so I hold no regrets in making that projection. The projected second line will probably look more than familiar to you if you’ve followed the Sabres over the past two seasons, even if that line didn’t get a lot of playing time together last year. 

Anyway, what were my overall justifications for rolling with the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality? Keep reading, and you’ll see exactly why this fan-favorite line should continue, even if one of the players projected to play wing could easily bump up their ice time to play alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. 

Jack Quinn

Jack Quinn will look to completely solidify his spot as a top-six player in what will be just his second full season with the Sabres after injuries marred what would have been Year 2 of his career. Still, when he played, Quinn put up encouraging performances. And despite seeing ice time in just 27 games, he still finished 13th in points and 10th among forwards on the team. 

If Quinn ends up going above and beyond this season, perhaps he gets some looks with the first line, but forging out a spot on the second will be the most realistic approach this season. In this projection, he won’t be the only player on the second line looking to redeem himself, as one more one the second trio will also take up the mantle. 

Dylan Cozens

While 2024-25 isn’t a major “make-or-break” campaign for Dylan Cozens, a bounce-back season is still necessary if he wants Sabres fans to restore their faith in him. Last year, 47 points and 18 goals was a major drop-off that even the most pessimistic of us didn’t see coming, but there’s a reason Cozens edges out the likes of newcomer Ryan McLeod for this spot. 

Everyone in the NHL knows about Cozens’ work ethic. Hence his nickname, “The Workhorse from Whitehorse,” and with it comes some scrappy, physical play. Now that Lindy Ruff is in charge, Cozens could take that physical play to another level, not just in being a disruptive player, but one who should routinely battle to make room for himself in front of the net, leading to that bounce-back effort. 

JJ Peterka

At worst, JJ Peterka will play on the second line and while you and so many other Sabres fans may believe he’s ready for a permanent spot on the first, I’m saying differently. The chemistry alongside Quinn and Cozens, when everyone is healthy, is impeccable, so placing one of them elsewhere doesn’t make a ton of sense unless it’s absolutely necessary, even if it’s simultaneously a logistical move given his performance last season. 

So, Peterka’s sticking around the second line in these projections while Zach Benson gets a crack at the first. Why put the latter up there? Hey, he’s with a pair of seasoned veterans, and his late-season production foreshadows that the game’s slowing down for him.

In my view, he’ll be fine. Peterka would, or should, also be fine with the arrangement projected in this article, thanks to the rapport he’s built with his two regular linemates.