Need To Get Better Defensively

Team: 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 14, 2023

Published: Apr. 14, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Don't have all the answers since I don't go in the locker room to understand the leadership needs, but IMO, here are the Sabres needs:

4th line C good at Faceoffs and PK that can provide leadership. Savoie's to loose and learn the game next to Okposo just as Krebs did this year.

3rd pair defense. Top 4 cannot play 25 minutes consistently through 82 games. Need to be PK guys and shot blockers. Stillman/Clague/Bryson/Jokiharju all lacking in this area. Lyubushkin serviceable as the #6.

Goalie that challenges for games and can take over net if Levi gets rookie burnout (can't have the Carter Hart situation).

Don't sign Johnson - low ceiling and limited. Did not develop as hoped. If he and Sabres both agreed in their assessment, he'd be signed already.

Kulich/Rousek/Biro/Murray/Oloffson all fighting for the final spot and a bench job.

Scratches are the players to be moved but I won't bother guessing where since I won't pretend to know what other teams need. Value in some of them but selling low and still not in cap trouble this year to keep them as depth.

Prospect Options:
Savoie - Sabres love is drive - just needs to prove it and WHL won't help (Europe for a year?)
Biro - Amerks rave about defensively sound game. Can he be the 4th line C?
Murray - Can he take the Girgenssons role?
Kulich - Seems ready but can the Sabres find a spot for him?
Rousek - Only if they delay Savoie another year - seems like same player with lower ceiling.
Rosen - Another AHL ready to strengthen and dominate.
Murray - Big Body that needs to play heavy game which is somewhat lacking on NHL team.
The remainder are not close.

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