3 Buffalo Sabres Who Need to Improve in 2024-25 – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabres

Now that the free agent frenzy and the NHL Draft are over, all that’s left to do is look ahead to the upcoming season. Even though it’s the middle of summer, training camp will be here before we know it.

Related: 9 NHL Teams That Blew Their Chances in Free Agency

For the Buffalo Sabres, the NHL Draft and free agent market were disappointing when fans were expecting an impact. The ink is dry and we have a pretty good idea of ​​what to expect from the roster for the upcoming season under new/old head coach Lindy Ruff. There are three players who need to step up and have a great campaign if the Sabres are to exceed expectations.

Alex Tuch (75 GP, 22 B, 37 A, 59 PTS)

In the author’s opinion, Tuch may have been the biggest disappointment of a thoroughly disappointing 2023-24 season. He had a breakout in 2022-23 (like many Sabres), becoming the top-tier scorer many expected with 36 goals and 79 points in 74 games.

Tuch took a big step back in 2023-24. He played one more game, but managed just 22 goals and 59 points. His shooting percentage didn’t even take a huge hit (from 16.5% to 11.5%). What was visible, however, was a disappearing number similar to that of former Sabre Drew Stafford.

Like Stafford, Tuch is a power forward who can drive to the net and make an impact on the scoresheet. While Tuch’s peak is much higher, the periods where he doesn’t make an impact are just as frustrating. Either he was visible in his impact, or he could have gone completely unnoticed.

Tuch needs to get back into shape, play 100 percent every night, and become the team’s best right wing again. When he’s healthy, Tuch is physical, talented, and the kind of player Buffalo can love. The team needs that Tuch in 2024.

Dylan Cozens (79 GP, 18 B, 29 A, 47 PTS)

The hockey world was smitten with Cozens after a breakout 2022-23 season in which he scored 31 goals and 68 points while playing solid defensive hockey. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: He regressed in 2023-24.

The precipitous drop in goals and points was concerning enough. But what really stands out is a visibly frustrated Cozens saying the team is playing “way too soft.” He was right, and the team has made several changes to improve for 2024-25, but they need Cozens to lead the change.

However, much of the improvement will depend on Cozens’ ability to step up and become the legitimate second-line center the team thought they had. Cozens had a stellar 2024 IIHF World Championship, and hopefully he can build on that to have a successful season ahead.

Mattias Samuelsson (41 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 PTS, 8:30 p.m. TOI)

With all the love for the Sabres’ defensive core of Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Bowen Byram, it’s easy to overlook Samuelsson. If the Sabres want to be better defensively, they need Samuelsson to provide quiet reliability on the blue line.

The problem with Samuelsson is that he can’t stay on the ice. Even in a very strong 2022-23 season, he only played 55 games (averaging 22:11 per night). He missed time multiple times last season before finally being rested for season-ending surgery in February, which limited him to just 41 games.

Samuelsson absolutely needs to be on the ice this season. Not only will it impact the Sabres’ return to the playoffs, but it could also spell the end of his tenure if he can’t stay healthy. He can eat up minutes, provides good defensive play, and gives the team’s good skaters the freedom to roam. Samuelsson should be a key part of the top four if he can stay healthy.

A decisive year

Of all the stories happening around the NHL, the Sabres’ quest to reach the playoffs for the first time in nearly 15 years will be at the forefront. There’s no doubt that general manager Kevyn Adams is on the hot seat and another season without a playoff spot will likely mean starting the rebuilding process all over again.

If the Sabres are going to make that leap, they need Tuch, Cozens and Samuelsson to be key contributors. All three took a step back last season, contributing to the disappointment of another playoff-less spring. Other things will have to come together, too, but the Sabres need their key contributors to be a factor.