2022-23 NHL TEAM PREVIEW: Buffalo Sabres Was the LetsGoBuffalo late-season surge legit? Can Owen Power and company make a real playoff run this season? Analysis from cooomzy:
Buffalo’s offense was well below average last season, as it ranked 22nd out of 32 teams in goals scored, but, as will be the theme in the post, it was a solid improvement over its results from the previous season.
In terms of bounceback showings from veterans, Jeff Skinner more than quadrupled his goal total from 2021 by scoring 33 goals while Kyle Okposo reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time since signing with the Sabres in 2016. The Sabres let veteran defensemen Mark Pysyk, Will Butcher and Colin Miller walk over the summer but also brought in defensive stalwart Ilya Lyubushkyn to compensate. The departures of Pysyk, Butcher and Miller ultimately open up room on the depth chart for Buffalo’s young defensemen to take on larger roles on the team.
Since letting go of long-time coach Lindy Ruff back in 2013, the Sabres have gone through Ron Rolston, Dan Bylsma, Phil Housley, Ralph Krueger, and now Granato, and he’s the first one to last into a third season behind the bench.