The Buffalo Sabers went into the 2022 offseason with a lot of hope, but a few holes to be addressed. What’s next on the agenda?
When you look at the Buffalo Sabers roster, you see one common denominator: Youngtalent. Whether it is on the blue line, at forward, or even in the AHL ranks. And not just young talent, but young talent that will stick around the Queen City long-term, given the amount of cap space the Sabers still have.
But, you may also ask yourself whether general manager Kevyn Adams has something up his sleeve to further address the roster. Because let’s be honest: The current group probably won’t take the team deep into the playoffs this season. That’s if they make the playoffs in the first place.
Though they do have a good group of talent who could easily catapult this team a year or two down the road. So will Adams further address the roster and try to make a playoff run this season?
The Buffalo Sabers can make a blockbuster roster move with the cap space they have. But expect something to be addressed internally as the offseason wanes.
That something will be a message to both the seasoned veterans like Kyle Okposo and Craig Anderson to the franchise cornerstones like Rasmus Dahlin. I can see both Adams and head coach Don Granato delivering that message, and it will be simple: It’s a good group. And it’s one that earned a lot of points late in the year.
The duo at general manager and head coach will go on to tell address team that in 2022-23, they will be taking everything one game at a time, and even one practice at a time. As though they are playing 82 one-game seasons, not one, 82-game season.
They will further say the Sabers already celebrated their accomplished late-season run on April 29th when Casey Mittelstadt ended the year on a high note. And in this new year, the team knows what they are capable of doing.
But at the same time, they will be approaching every game the same way. As though it is the last game of the season, and in a win and you’re in a situation to a place the Sabers haven’t been since 2010-11.
And that message will ring through the KeyBank Center all season long. Don’t expect any major roster moves. The roster is set. Instead, expect the Sabers to spread a positive, inspiring message that will trickle down from ownership to the front office, the players, and finally, the NHL’s best fan base.
I don’t see a big playoff run this season. The Sabers are too young. But that inspiring message will keep this young team in contention for most if not the entire year and a wild card run will be more than realistic.
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