It is definitely a general consensus that the Buffalo Sabres had a lot of problems last year. In contrast, goal scoring not one of them. With JJ Peterka out the door, here’s how they can help replace that offence, and use it as a strength for the team in 2025-26.
Sabres Offence in 2024-2025
The Sabres scored a total of 265 goals last season. JJ Peterka had 27 of those tucks. So let’s start on how situationally the Sabres can replace that offence. While finishing tenth in total goals, their power play was terrible, ranking 24th in the NHL at 18.8%. In watching pre-season games this year thus far, one thing is clear, the power play has drastically changed. Some things stay the same, Tage Thompson on his one-timer side, for example. But, we noticed a more systematic change. Early on, there appears to be significantly more movement while inside the zone than there was last year .
The Sabres had 229 power play opportunities last year and scored 43 goals on those chances. If the Sabres can increase their power play percentage to 22%, which would have been good enough for just 16th in the NHL, that would give them seven more goals on the power play. Assuming they have a similar number of power play opportunities as last year. That accounts for seven of the 27 goals Sabres fans are hoping to replace.
Young Player Breakouts
Zach Benson and Jiri Kulich. The Sabres are looking to both of these players to take big steps up offensively this season. Benson will be in his third full year, and Kulich will essentially be in his second. They combined for a mere 25 goals between the two of them. We think one key catalyst might be an explanation for an explosion in that combined number. They might be playing with Thompson. Moreover, the idea being Thompson is so dynamic, he can help carry those two players to more success.
The top line for the Sabres in a pre-season game featured Benson and Thompson on the wings with Joshua Norris as centre. It seems likely that either Benson or Kulich will be on that top line, and potentially still both. If they can breakout and have ten more goals a piece than they did last year, that would account for 20 goals. That combined with a league average power play would account for all of the goals JJ Peterka scored last season. But there’s still more parts of the equation to consider.
Josh Norris for a Full NHL Campaign
Norris spent almost all of his time with the Sabres last year injured. He played in only three games and scored once. Norris will be at worst, the Sabres second-line centre. And has a clear case to be the starting centre. The only argument against it is to let Kulich play 1C, so he can have Thompson on his wing. In any sense, this is great if you want to have more balanced offensive lines, but when you need a goal, need a push, Norris is the best centre on this team.
Concerns with Norris almost always come down to injuries. He’s a fantastic player, and he knows how to find the back of the net. If he can stay healthy, he will almost certainly be a 20-goal scorer, and likely a 30-goal scorer if he can approach a full season of games played. He was acquired for Dylan Cozens, and some other pieces were involved as well. Cozens scored 11 goals for the Sabres last year before getting traded. Norris will most definitely eclipse that number if healthy. If he can score 22 goals, that’d give the Sabres ten extra goals they didn’t get from their second-line centre last year.
Depth Considerations
While the talking points above mostly concern the top six, let’s look at the bottom six and see where the Sabres can improve. First off, Jordan Greenway. Greenway played in just 34 games last year and scored three goals. At the top of the year, he played with Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker. And they looked fantastic. McLeod and Zucker would go on to have 20-goal seasons, while Greenway watched most of the year from the press box. If Greenway can get back to playing a significant part of the season, it feels likely he’d be able to get up to an above replacement level of goals.
One think that might help with that is a new acquisition, Josh Doan. Doan played in 51 games with the Utah Mammoth last season, and he looked great. He should be a part of the lineup fulltime this year. He’s looked great in training camp and preseason so far. If he can stay healthy as well, him and Greenway are a massive step up in terms of depth than the Sabres had last season.
Lastly, we have to talk about Jack Quinn. Quinn has struggled, no doubt about it. This is a make or break it contract for Quinn. Only on a two-year deal, if he can’t perform, there might be some doubts about keeping him at the NHL level. Injuries have plagued the young man, but he played all of last year and has spent the offseason healthy. He scored 15 goals last year, many in the ladder parts of the season, if he can play a more consistent two way game and find that dynamic offensive touch he had as a rookie, the Sabres could be in for a treat.
All of these reasons and players should be why a boosted Sabres offence can make up for what the top performers from last season can’t repeat.
Main Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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