Team: 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 14, 2022

Published: Jan. 19, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Goal will be to add size and get more physical in the off-season to compliment younger skill players up and coming.

Sabres select F Juraj Slavkovsky out of Slovakia in the top 5 of the 2022 NHL Draft.

UFA

G- Pavel Francouz- competing for an opportunity to be a number one goalie

D- Buffalo requires another former Sabre in Zadorov for the bottom four D transforming the D into one of the biggest units in the league.

F- Zach Aston-Reese, physical winger who plays a heavy game to transform the fourth line. Underrated defensive metrics, plays hard. Maybe an overpayment, but the Sabres need more guys like him.

F- Carter Rowney, a versatile grinder for the fourth line

F- a grinder/fighter to replace John Hayden

If the Sabres don't win the lottery and obtain Shane Wright, i'd the Sabres to continue to address the wing positions, and right side defense.
For defense, Simon Nemec and David Jiricek make sense here. If the Sabres look at a forward, Slavkovsky makes the most sense. Jack Quinn will be ready to graduate by next season, and J.J Peterka is also very close. But what the Sabres really need is more size and power on the wings, and Slavkovsky has that along with an elite skill set.

"Slafkovsky is a multi-tool threat from the wing, although a peek at his production and puck domination supports the idea that he can play center as well. Slafkovsky has produced more assists than goals by a 2-to-1 margin against each of the junior, senior, and international levels of draft-year competition. His skill set is diverse enough where he can pump seven to 10 shot attempts in one game, then deliver three primary assists the next. This kind of versatility helps explain his occasional usage as a point man on the power play, but one mustn’t overlook Slafkovsky’s goal-scoring prowess. He can create his own shot, unleash a deadly backhander to roof pucks from in tight, and jam the net-front area for deflection or rebounds"

"Slafkovsky isn’t shy towards using his thick frame to his advantage. He can and will deliver hard open-ice hits and is a menace in the net-front area, and his stick work can be effective, violent, and generally permissible under the rule book (Slafkovsky has been whistled for only six minor penalties in 35 games between his two club teams)."