Sabres season preview: Thompson scoring

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The 2023 24 NHL season starts Oct. 10. With training camps underway, NHL. com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today, the Buffalo Sabres. Coach: Don Granato fourth season Last season: 42 33 7; fifth place in Atlantic Division, did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs3 KEYS1. Next gen goalieThe Sabres may have found their cornerstone goalie, Devon Levi. The 21 year old signed a three year, entry level contract after two seasons at Northeastern University and made 31 saves in his NHL debut, a 3 2 overtime win against the New York Rangers on March 31. Levi was acquired in the trade that sent forward Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers on July 24, 2021, and developed quickly to form a tandem with Ukko Pekka Luukkonen. He's 5 2 0 with a 2. 94 goals against average and. 905 save percentage in seven NHL games and poised to give stability at the position unseen since Ryan Miller was traded to the St Nick Swaney Jersey. Louis Blues on Feb. 28, 2014. 2. Tage ThompsonThe 25 year old forward could be Buffalo's first 50 goal scorer in 29 seasons, when Alexander Mogilny and Pat LaFontaine scored 76 and 53 goals, respectively, in 1992 93. Thompson had NHL career highs in goals 47 , assists 47 and points 94 in 78 games last season after getting 68 points 38 goals, 30 assists , also in 78 games, the previous season. The Sabres scored 3. 57 goals per game in 2022 23 third in the NHL led by Thompson, Alex Tuch 36 goals , Jeff Skinner 35 and Dylan Cozens 31. "My focus isn't whether or not I beat my points and goals from last season, am I helping my teammates?" Thompson said. "If you do those things the rest will take care of itself. "3. ExpectationsThe stakes are up with no playoff appearances in 12 seasons. Buffalo had 91 points in 2022 23, the most since 96 in 2010 11, the last time it made the postseason. Levi, Thompson, Skinner, Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin 73 points; 15 goals, 58 assists and Owen Power 35 points; four goals, 31 assists , with continuity under Granato, are in place to end the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. "Those expectations are raised from within our group," Thompson said. Will the young Sabres make the playoffs? ROSTER RUNDOWNMaking the cutThe door is open for 19 year old forward prospects Matt Savoie and Jiri Kulich with Jack Quinn out for the start of the season following June 28 surgery to repair an Achilles tendon injury sustained during training. Savoie's chances of making the roster may be slimmer after Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams on Thursday said he's week to week with an upper body injury sustained three days earlier at Buffalo's Prospects Challenge finale. Imaging revealed what Adams called the "best case scenario" and there's a possibility Savoie could be on the ice near the end of camp Mikael Granlund Jersey. Savoie can either make the Sabres roster or return to the Western Hockey League. He had a career high 95 points 38 goals, 57 assists in 68 regular season games for Winnipeg and 29 11 goals, 18 assists in 19 games to tie for second in the playoffs. Kulich's nine points seven goals, two assists in seven games helped Czechia win silver at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. He had 46 points 24 goals, 22 assists in 62 games and 11 points seven goals, four assists in 12 playoff games for Rochester of the American Hockey League, his first pro season in North America. Most intriguing additionDefensemen Erik Johnson, 35, and Connor Clifton, 28, each signed free agent contracts to provide leadership, experience and cover after the Sabres allowed 3. 62 goals per game seventh most and were 28th on the penalty kill 73. 0 percent last season. Johnson is a Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. His presence helped teach them how to win, a lesson yet to be learned in Buffalo. Biggest potential surpriseJordan Greenway had seven points two goals, five assists in 45 games for the Minnesota Wild before he was traded to Buffalo on March 3. The 26 year old forward begins his first full season playing for Granato, his coach with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under 18 team from 2013 15. Greenway's final season in Minnesota was impeded by an injury to his surgically repaired shoulder that kept him out of training camp. He scored four goals in 17 games following the trade and had an NHL career high 32 points six goals, 26 assists in the 56 game 2020 21 season. The Sabres are counting on that potential. Ready to contributeJJ Peterka is a 21 year old forward poised to be another major player in the core group Kirill Kaprizov Jersey. He had 32 points 12 goals, 20 assists in 77 games as a rookie last season and a team high 12 points six goals, six assists in 10 games for Germany at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, tied for second in the tournament with Czechia forward Dominik Kubalik Ottawa Senators. Germany reached the final for the first time since 1930, losing 5 2 to Canada. Fantasy sleeperPeterka, RW undrafted on average in fantasy He only scratched the surface in a secondary role for the Sabres last season and is part of their potent young forward core, which includes Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt and prospects Savoie, Kulich and Zach Benson. Peterka has breakout potential this season, should be prioritized in keeper and dynasty leagues and could follow in the footsteps of elite NHL skaters who were born in Germany e. g. Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stutzle, Moritz Seider. Pete JensenPROJECTED LINEUPJeff Skinner Tage Thompson Alex TuchJJ Peterka Dylan Cozens Casey MittelstadtJordan Greenway Peyton Krebs Victor OlofssonZemgus Girgensons Tyson Jost Kyle OkposoMattias Samuelsson Rasmus DahlinOwen Power Connor CliftonHenri Jokiharju Erik JohnsonDevon LeviUkko Pekka LuukkonenInjured: Jack Quinn Achilles tendon NHL. com Editor in Chief Bill Price contributed to this report Related Content Sabres trying to get long term contracts done with Dahlin, PowerSep 21, 2023NHL Eastern Conference training camp storylinesSep 20, 2023

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