With a top-six forward still a big-time need for the Buffalo Sabres, is there anyone in the current lineup capable of landing at least top-six productivity?
Finding that one last top-six scorer has been a hot topic for the Sabres since NHL free agency kicked off. Lately, we’ve named several avenues that they could take for such a player, including signing someone like Daniel Sprong, calling up a prospect who may be ready to take the next step like Jiri Kulich, or even pulling off one more big trade for an established forward who can put up top-six numbers.
But maybe general manager Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff believe that a top-six-caliber forward is already in the lineup, or slated to be a major part of the lineup? So, which players can be that final piece to the puzzle and complete the Blue and Gold for what should be an optimistic outlook for 2024-25?
1 - Jack Quinn
Jack Quinn will line up in the top-six this season, so the Sabres already see him as a potential top-six scorer. But it’s also fair to say Quinn hasn’t proven himself as someone who can perennially line up in the top-six on at least most of the NHL’s 32 teams, and that’s why he’s included here.
Last season, JJ Peterka was in the same situation productivity-wise. But after a 28-goal season, he’s more than shown us that he’ll put up at least solid productivity this year, and he could also wind up as Jeff Skinner’s ultimate replacement. For Quinn, it’s a different story heading into the 2024-25 season.
He would be much further ahead, and perhaps a shoo-in as a top-six player had he not gotten hurt both in the summer of 2023 and again in the early spring of 2024. Still, he finished with nine goals in 27 games with a 16.1 shooting percentage, and if he even keeps that number steady, Quinn will be an impact player on the second line.
2 - Zach Benson
No, 30 points and 11 goals don’t scream top-six on any of the league’s 32 teams, not even the 2023-24 Chicago Blackhawks or San Jose Sharks. But not only did Zach Benson’s numbers from his rookie year essentially mirror that of JJ Peterka’s from 2022-23, between March 12th to April 15th last season, Benson put up some gaudy stats, including five goals and 12 points in those 17 contests with a 20.8 shooting percentage.
While Benson could work his way into the top-six if not the top line at some point for the 2024-25 season, chances are better that he at least starts the campaign on the bottom-six. Likely on the third line along with projected linemates Ryan McLeod and Jordan Greenway, but don’t be surprised if Benson lights up the scoreboard early next season.
If so, the Sabres didn’t just find a top-six scorer for 2024-25; they found someone who could routinely take care of the top-six for, oh, I don’t know, maybe another 10-15 seasons.
3 - Ryan McLeod
Ryan McLeod has just 32 goals in 219 games, but when the Sabres first traded for him, I listed one major reason behind the low-scoring output, so we shouldn’t be too worried about it. Slated to be on the third line this season, there’s a good chance McLeod will team with either Zach Benson or Jason Zucker and Jordan Greenway regularly, and doing so means he will see his scoring output increase substantially.
Further, with Dylan Cozens coming off of a down season, there’s always a chance the newcomer in McLeod scores and makes enough plays to supplant the former in the lineup. While there’s a strong chance Cozens bounces back in 2024-25, it still doesn’t mean McLeod can’t get hot enough to at least record some top-six minutes as well. Should it occur, the Sabres landed yet another top-six scorer.
