We are in the part of the NHL off season where a lot of the decision makers are taking time off at their vacation homes in cottage country. So, now that the vast majority of off season moves have been made by the Sabres, it is a good time to throw some random thoughts about where the roster stands today and what we can look forward to in the 2022-23 season for the Sabres.
- I am more optimistic about the Sabres goalie situation today than I was when they announced the re-signing of Craig Anderson. Leading into free agency, the news was that Jack Campbell was signing a 5 year deal in Edmonton and Darcy Kuemper was signing a 5 year deal in Washington. So, with the two biggest names in goal off the market, Eric Comrie was the one guy left that I was hoping the Sabres could get. Shortly after signing, Comrie went on a media tour including the InGoal Radio podcast and Sabres Live with Duffer & Marty Biron. Comrie comes across as a "good vibes" guy and a cerebral goalie that is looking forward to getting a shot to be the #1 in the NHL. Having turned pro with the Winnipeg Jets one year after Connor Hellebuyck. That unfortunate timing has led to Comrie never really getting a shot. It is not a lock that Comrie will be the short term answer in goal, but I like the roll of the dice given the two year deal that he got.
- The battle for roster spots on the wings will be really interesting with Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka looking ready for NHL duty and the Sabres re-signing Vinnie Hinostroza and not trading away any wingers in a quantity for quality trade means that a veteran winger like Hinostroza or Girgensons will be a healthy scratch with Anders Bjork if everyone is healthy and Quinn and Peterka are in the lineup.
- The center position will be really interesting to watch. Tage Thompson might be the only guy that you can write in pen into a center spot. Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, Peyton Krebs, Zemgus Girgensons, and Rasmus Asplund are all guys that could be centers or wingers, depending on what Don Granato wants to do. If they go with Thompson, Cozens, and Mittelstadt at center, the last center spot will be really interesting to watch. Is it Girgensons? Or, do they go without a traditional 4th line center and play Krebs at center? Another option could be to give Cozens the defensive/energy type role given that he did play well last season matching up with McDavid and Matthews.
- Who steps up as the other top four defenseman will be interesting. Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson are expected to be three of the top four D on the Sabres this season. Whether it is Henri Jokiharju or free agent signing Ilya Lyubushkin who is in the top four as Power's partner will be interesting to watch. I expect that Jokiharju gets the first shot in that role. But, I could also see a scenario where Lyubushkin is that guy given that he has more experience and would be more defensively minded.
- Kevyn Adams is being more patient than a lot of Sabres fans are. The latest Instigators podcast had the guys from the Expected Buffalo podcast on to talk about when will Adams shift gears and be more proactive in building a roster to compete for the playoffs. It was a very interesting conversation. I think a lot of the fans that are accepting of the patient approach this off season are expecting that Adams is more proactive next summer. But, with the first of back-to-back off seasons with major RFAs to re-sign, I would not expect it, either. Next summer, the Sabres have Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Asplund, and Mattias Samuelsson hitting RFA. The summer of 2024 will see Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Henri Jokiharju, Jacob Bryson, Casey Mittelstadt, and Peyton Krebs hitting RFA and Eric Comrie hitting UFA. So, I could see Adams waiting until the summer of 2024 to make major moves unless he is able to get guys like Dahlin and Power locked up long term a year early.
- I know lots of fans looked at what Ottawa and Detroit did this off season and they are jealous. I get it. There was a part of me that wanted Adams to do more. And I would still like him to sign Johan Larsson to fill that 4th line center role. But, I do think that the patient approach that Adams has taken so far is the right one for the Sabres right now. While a lot of Sabres fans would eat the marshmallow in the marshmallow test, I am betting that Kevyn Adams would wait.
