Young faces hold key to Sabres’ future success

The Buffalo Sabres face their final seven video video games of the season successfully outdoor of the playoff dialog. It’s been a disappointing yr for one in every of many league’s hottest teams on the end of the 2022-23 advertising and marketing marketing campaign. 

No particular person has stepped up in 2023-24, with Tage Thompson not however at 50 elements after scoring 94 closing yr, Devon Levi struggling to hold onto the start goaltending job amid less-than-flattering rivals and the safety persevering with to falter when confronted with an extreme quantity of stress.

The down-year has pressured regular supervisor Kevyn Adams to half with important morale objects, sending group captain Kyle Okposo to the Florida Panthers and former Colorado Avalanche assistant captain Erik Johnson to the Philadelphia Flyers. Even when it wasn’t their intention initially of the yr, the Sabres now sit with a clear mindset – get youthful, after which we’ll get larger. That’s not a model new perspective throughout the NHL, nevertheless it’s a harmful path forward. Few teams have the depth to refresh lineup roles solely from inside. Nevertheless after years of sturdy drafting, the Sabres might very nicely be one in every of many few to tug it off.

Future playoff hopes lie with prospects

Buffalo’s prospect pool is led by coronary heart Jiri Kulich, who has served as one in every of many excessive forwards for the AHL’s Rochester People. He’s scored 21 targets and 38 elements through 49 video video games this season, enhancing on his scoring tempo after 24 targets and 46 elements in 62 video video games closing yr. Kulich has added the rise in scoring whereas moreover taking on further accountability, turning right into a center in a position to staying diligent in all three zones. 

He’s been a favorite of Rochester head coach Seth Appert, spending the ultimate two seasons working with Rochester’s enchancment group to hunt out what specific program will best assist the Czechian vitality forward – determining that Kulich acquired’t draw again from laborious work. The Sabres hope that subsequent season bears the fruits of Appert’s labor, with the departure of Casey Mittelstadt opening up various down the middle. Kulich regarded undoubtedly overeager in his NHL debut earlier this season, exhibiting a clear need for added poise and experience. He’s gathered masses now on a Rochester group sure for the AHL playoffs, though if it’s going to be adequate to seamlessly transition into the NHL is however to be seen.

Nevertheless Kulich acquired’t be succesful to flee the rivals with fellow AHL sophomore Isak Rosen by transferring to the NHL. Rosen has regarded merely as succesful in his skilled appearances, even incomes seven NHL video video games to Kulich’s one this season. The 21-year-old winger has 16 targets and 40 elements in 59 AHL video video games this yr, topping his 37 elements in 66 video video games closing yr. And he’s managed it on the once more of rising confidence with the puck on his stick. 

Rosen has always made himself a focal piece of the offense, nevertheless he found a model new layer of poise this season, doing considerably higher at slowing play down and creating space when various isn’t present instead of forcing through a failed entry. Nevertheless whereas his AHL play has improved due to raised independence, Rosen’s NHL recreation suffered from a excessive lack of involvement. 

He’s however to achieve his first NHL degree and did little to look convincing in his outings. There’s function for optimism – with Rosen on no account wanting downright harmful or misplaced on the excessive diploma – nevertheless he’ll need to search out his drive amidst the right on the planet if he wishes to succeed. Rosen took a couple of years to hunt out his footing throughout the minors and may need the equivalent sluggish transition into the NHL. Which implies the Sabres have to be affected particular person, as Rosen in all probability begins in a smaller perform and works his method up subsequent season. Already struggling for wins, it’s going to be fascinating to see if Buffalo has the time to spend.

Kulich and Rosen are joined on the excessive of the depth chart by Matthew Savoie, who returned to the WHL after one NHL recreation and 6 AHL video video games. He scored 5 elements throughout the latter matchups, and carried the sturdy scoring once more into juniors, the place his 30 targets and 71 elements in 34 video video games (2.09 points-per-game) marked the perfect value any WHL participant has scored at since Connor Bedard closing season, and Mike Comrie in 2001 sooner than him. To affix such an distinctive itemizing is always thrilling, and Savoie is certainly deserving, proving this yr that his high-tempo playmaking is simply too good for the CHL. 

It seems various is the ultimate remaining piece of Savoie’s puzzle, significantly considering his AHL success earlier this season. Nevertheless pre-season hurt marred Buffalo’s potential to truly check out him on the excessive diploma. They’ll should endure the feeling-out course of initially of subsequent yr, whereas moreover hoping Savoie can quickly flip the tides on the scoresheet. His tempo and expertise have been dominant in juniors and will certainly convey the game-changing offense that Buffalo is in dire need of. A bill of high-quality nicely being this summer season and confidence this fall may prepare Savoie for a first-rate perform as rapidly as subsequent yr kicks off.

Buffalo has a great deal of totally different forward prospects which may push the envelope rapidly. Viktor Neuchev carried a mild AHL perform all season prolonged, no matter being in his first season of North American professionals. He, along with Swedish duo Anton Wahlberg and Noah Östlund, will all proceed to get comfortable through minor league roles subsequent season. 

It’s instead defenseman Ryan Johnson that rivals one amongst Buffalo’s remaining NHL slots. Johnson is collaborating in through his first expert season this yr, with seven assists in 41 NHL video video games and eight assists in 19 AHL video video games – though he’s nonetheless in search of his first skilled intention. And whereas he’s adjusted successfully, there’s been masses left to wish from the 22-year-old defenseman. 

He’s merely however to hunt out the place his have an effect on comes – exhibiting energy in a protracted itemizing of roles nevertheless however to stamp one as his calling card. It was his potential to handle the offensive zone, and administration possession, that propelled Johnson through college. He’s confirmed flashes of that potential throughout the NHL as successfully, though they’ve been coupled by a clear need for sooner willpower making and sharper performs. The Sabres will hope he can uncover his offensive space of curiosity throughout the NHL quickly, with Johnson essential a extremely depleted defensive depth chart. If he can’t solidify an NHL perform subsequent yr, the group could also be pressured to point out in path of the draft to attempt to mend a blue-line that’s regarded unconfident for years.

Zach Benson lit the Sabres on fire this yr. Whereas he’s solely managed 23 elements on the season, he’s confirmed a willpower and work ethic that’s laborious to hunt out, significantly in 18-year-olds straight out of juniors. Buffalo needs further of that prospect luck subsequent season, within the occasion that they want to reignite the fireside beneath their playoff hopes. Savoie represents a great deal of upside, whereas Kulich and Rosen may each carve out sturdy roles of their very personal, nevertheless all three avid gamers face questions. How they are going to overcome that uncertainty, along with how quickly Buffalo’s prepared in order so as to add in impactful defensive depth, could be the defining questions as a result of the Sabres look to assemble a profitable group from inside.