One thing missing from the former Sabres who didn’t return from last season

There has been a lot of talk about the Buffalo Sabres’ new signings this summer, and rightly so. The Sabres need to take the next step and find a path to the playoffs, whether it’s through a new coach, their newfound speed and physicality, or a leap forward in the development of the team’s young core. While the new players bring new hope, there will be some aspects of the old Sabres who didn’t return that will be missed.

Remember, the Sabres were one point out of a playoff spot a few years ago and essentially decided to go back with the same team. Buffalo enters the 2024-25 season without longtime mainstays Jeff Skinner, Casey Mittelstadt, Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons. Tyson Jost and Eric Robinson are not returning as depth forwards, and Erik Johnson’s first season in Buffalo has become his only one.

Other former Sabres contributors from last season who are not returning to the organization include goaltender Eric Comrie, AHL call-up Brandon Biro and prospect Matthew Savoie.

There are, of course, valid reasons to part ways with these players, but that doesn’t mean they won’t miss some part of their game. Here’s one thing the Sabres won’t easily replace among their returning players next season, especially the oldest.

Girgensons of Zemgus

Provided attribute: unphased

Girgensons is a workhorse who keeps his head down and plays hard. The “Latvian locomotive” will be missed as he was a constant presence on and off the ice, who never seemed fazed or intimidated by anything. Girgensons can always be counted on to play hard, be competitive and be responsible on defense.

His presumed replacements (Beck Malenstyn, Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel) will also bring some grit and add more speed, but it remains to be seen whether they will match Girgensons’ demeanor.

Kyle Okposo

Attribute provided: shelter young players

As he approached his 30s, Okposo, like most players, saw his game decline. He had to adapt and adjust on the ice, and he went from a top-six scorer to a bottom-of-the-line player. His biggest asset over the last two seasons, however, was his leadership and being the guy the rest of the team called “Dad.”

Once Okposo was traded to the Florida Panthers, there was no longer that person who stood in the locker room after every game, ready to address the media, win or lose. He endured the anguish of explaining losses that weren’t his fault, and he was the one person every Sabres player could turn to and confide in when they were struggling.

Without Girgensons and Okposo, the new core of leaders may be ready to spread their wings and fly. They may even be better off for it, but if things get tough, it’s because “Daddy” isn’t there to protect them. I’m looking at you, Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens.

Casey Mittelstadt

Attribute provided: Playability

In 2023-24, Mittelstadt has been Buffalo’s best offensive creator. His play has boosted everyone on his line, and even as the de facto third-line pivot, he’s found his way into crucial scoring moments. His replacement is Ryan McLeod, who has underlying signs of being a good playmaker but has yet to convert that into Mittelstadt-level point totals.

Any time you trade your leading scorer, there will be scrutiny. The former Sabres center will still be tied to defenseman Bowen Byram, but McLeod and company can ease the burden. Mittelstadt’s offensive production will need to be replaced overall, with bounce-back seasons from Thompson, Cozens and Tuch going a long way to filling the void.

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Jeff Skinner

Attribute provided: Five-on-five attack

Replacing Skinner’s 92 goals over the past three seasons has been the talk of the town this offseason after the Sabres decided to buy out the remaining three years of his contract. The truth is, the $9 million forward was a net-loss player at even strength last season because of his poor defense.

Skinner’s ability to contribute offensively at even strength is his modus operandi. Over the past three seasons, only Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrnak and Filip Forsberg have had a greater offensive impact at even strength according to Evolving-Hockey. Skinner ranks sixth, while Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid rank seventh and eighth, respectively.

No addition could replace Skinner’s offense (though Nikolaj Ehlers, the subject of some rumors, is close). Instead, since hockey is a game of outscoring your opponent, the Sabres are hoping to compensate for their former winger’s departure by playing better defense.

Victor Olofsson

Attribute provided: Power play shot

If there’s one dynamic trait associated with Olofsson, it’s undoubtedly his shot. Whether he’s putting a one-timer or using his electric shot for a wrist shot, he knows how to pick his spot and beat goalies with time and space. Olofsson lost his spot on the power play when the unit got stagnant, and Buffalo’s power play production has never really recovered since.

The Sabres enter the 2024-25 season with two vacancies on the top power-play unit. With Alex Tuch in net, Tage Thompson on the left flank and Rasmus Dahlin at quarterback, Buffalo must audition players for the right flank and bumper positions.

Jack Quinn and Dylan Cozens are right-handed shooters, making JJ Peterka the most likely replacement for Olofsson on the right flank in the long term. Peterka has never really thrived in that role, though, and the Sabres could be looking to replace Olofsson and his dynamic shot.

Tyson Jost

Provided Attribute: Versatility

Versatility is the thing Jost has brought the most to the Sabres, whether it’s playing center or wing or being able to play third-line and kill penalties. Lafferty has a more dynamic skate and a bigger shot and can play center or wing and kill penalties as well. The only thing he can’t do is play third-line center.

Jost has enough offensive instincts to cover a lineup void for a few games. Lafferty doesn’t offer quite the same, though his usage could free up Peyton Krebs to be that player. However the Sabres go about it, it’ll take a bit more of a shakeup than the old plug-and-play approach they had with Jost.

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Eric Robinson

Provided attribute: size

Okay, that’s going a bit too far, because Eric Robinson is only 6’2″ but plays big. Beck Malenstyn, at 6’3″ is not only a perfect replacement, but probably an upgrade. Given that Malenstyn is taking Girgensons’ fourth-line left wing spot, the missing “size” really lies in depth.

Whether Krebs, Lafferty or Aube-Kubel are the extra forwards, their insertion into the lineup will add speed, not size. As for play-calling, only Brett Murray or prospect Anton Wahlberg provide the heavy, imposing play. Again, not a huge disadvantage for the Sabres, who are moving in a different direction with their bottom of the table.

Erik Johnson

Attribute provided: Murder Penalty

If there was one area where Johnson started to improve last season, it was on the penalty kill. The unit struggled for the first half of the season before things started to come together. After being traded at the trade deadline, the Sabres relied on Owen Power and Connor Clifton on the penalty kill. A rotation of Rasmus Dahlin, Henri Jokiharju and Bowen Byram filled the second-line minutes.

With Mattias Samuelsson back and expected to take over a prominent penalty kill role, the Sabres will have to adjust to using two left-handed defensemen on one of their top units. Johnson’s absence means Clifton is the only regular right-handed defenseman in that role, which is fine but not ideal.

Eric Comrie

Attribute provided: Positivity

If you’ve ever met Comrie, you know he’s a great person to be around. Even in a tough situation as Buffalo’s third goalie, Comrie kept a positive attitude and stayed on track. He was honest in his responses about his frustrating lack of opportunities, but his demeanor suggested he was very understanding and supportive as a teammate.

James Reimer found himself in a similar situation last season in Detroit, but his play and injuries made him the primary backup goalie for most of the season. If the Sabres introduce him the same way Comrie did, it will be interesting to see how he handles being pushed aside and getting passed by Devon Levi at times throughout the season.

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Brandon Biro

Attribute provided: Organizational reliability

Biro was a staple in the Sabres organization as a member of AHL Rochester. His name was the first one mentioned when a call-up was needed thanks to his positional versatility and reliability in all situations. Biro signed with the Seattle Kraken this summer and is headed to one of the AHL’s top teams in Coachella Valley, leaving the Sabres looking to replace their former top call-up.

Matthew Savoie

Attribute provided: top prospect

Savoie played less than four minutes in his NHL debut, so what could he have brought to the Sabres that they’ll miss?

The answer is hope.

As with any top prospect, their biggest value-add is the “yeah, but look what’s coming” narrative within the organization and among fans. However, not all top prospects succeed, and those who do aren’t necessarily key NHL players.

Without Savoie, and the longer it takes Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund to reach the NHL, no one will be talking about a pool of top prospects. The top prospects play in the NHL in their first year, and the best of the best who don’t play in the NHL make their way to the NHL in their second year.

Savoie, Kulich and Ostlund are in their third year since being drafted. Rosen is in his fourth year. Nine players in the 2022 first round have already played extensively in the NHL. Nearly half of the players in the 2021 first round have already established themselves in the NHL.

By losing Savoie, the Sabres have undermined the hope and enthusiasm generated by a promising prospect. It remains to be seen what else they will miss.

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