The Buffalo Sabres had a lot of question marks heading into this season. Would they make the playoffs for the first time in 12 years after coming short by one point in 2022-23? To do that, the Sabres needed some growth from their young players.
Players like JJ Peterka, Casey Mittelstadt, and rookie Zach Benson were all guys who had the potential to make or break the season. At 18, Benson passed his test with flying colors, scoring seven points in his first 17 games. He’s found chemistry with Peterka, who is currently on pace to nearly double his career-high in points.
Mittelstadt has been arguably the Sabres’ best player this season. He leads the team in points and has also improved his defensive game. Despite all the young middle six players having so much success, the Sabres have a feeble 11-14-2 record. The team’s top players have failed to live up to expectations, and they’ve negated any positive steps taken by some of their breakout players.
Jeff Skinner‘s Defensive Struggles
As one of the few veteran forwards in the Sabres’ core, Jeff Skinner needs to play a more responsible defensive game. Buffalo has the youngest team in the NHL, and many of the Sabres players are still figuring out how to play defense. Skinner’s inability to provide a solid two-way game to the top six has been crippling, given the lack of experienced players. He ranks dead last on the team in goals against and expected goals against per hour.
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From a defensive perspective, I don’t think it’s much of an exaggeration to say he has been one of the worst top-six forwards in the NHL. For Skinner to have the worst defensive season of his career at a time like this, when the young players need someone to help provide stability, has been a massive blow. He can still put the puck in the net, but he hasn’t been the player they’ve needed him to be.
Dylan Cozen’s Lack of Finish
It has been a strange season for Dylan Cozens so far. His production has taken a massive dip compared to last season. He got his nose busted in a fight, and no matter how many prime scoring chances he generates, he can’t seem to put the puck in the net. His frustrating season has been a major issue for Buffalo, but I think he is one of the better candidates to turn things around. Last season, he had a shooting percentage of 14.19; this season, he is…
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