Sabres will be hoping to get more production from their forward group
The Buffalo Sabres will likely see changes this summer with the return of Lindy Ruff if they are serious about snapping their lengthy playoff drought and getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2011. There appears to be stability in goal with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi, and the blueline has a talented top-four group that needs to be more physical and defensively consistent, but it is at forward where the club needs to make the most changes.
<div class='s2nPlayer k-gpuAvEBu' data-type='float'></div><script type='text/javascript' src='//embed.sendtonews.com/player3/embedcode.js?fk=gpuAvEBu&cid=14624&offsetx=10&offsety=100&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right' data-type='s2nScript'></script>
The Sabres came off the 2023 season where their core forwards enjoyed career years, but an emphasis on defense and an ineffective power play saw the club's goal total decrease by 50 last season. The decline in offensive production of Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens had a domino effect, as top liners Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner saw their goal total drop significantly.
There were bright spots with J-J Peterka scoring a career-high 28 goals, rookie Zach Benson showing remarkable potential for an 18-year-old, and Jordan Greenway providing much-needed size and two-way ability, but the injury-plagued season of Jack Quinn limited the 21-year-old to only 27 games.
With Kyle Okposo traded before the deadline, and veterans Victor Olofsson and Eric Robinson heading to free agency this summer, there will be a significant changeover in the Sabres bottom-six. The longest-tenured Sabre in Zemgus Girgensons will possibly return, but with Ruff at the helm, GM Kevyn Adams will be looking to add more sandpaper and size.
Speculation after the season indicated that the Sabres might consider buying out the last three years of Skinner’s contract, with Peterka, Quinn, or Benson stepping up into larger roles, but that would be a departure from the Sabres usual practices. If Adams does make a move to add an impact player via free agency or trade this summer, a top-six winger is the most likely target.
LATEST THN BUFFALO STORIES