Could this Avalanche first-rounder finally unlock the league's best defense?
Photo credit: Photo by Andy Cross / The Denver Post
Former Colorado Avalanche first-rounder Bowen Byram is entering a pivotal chapter in his career with the Buffalo Sabres. Known for his skill and hockey IQ, Byram now has the chance to help unlock what could become the league's best defensive core.
As the Sabres look to strengthen their blue line, all eyes are on Byram to see if he can live up to the high expectations and play a crucial role in the team's pursuit of success.
Bowen Byram is the key to the best defence core in the NHL.
Zach Berta from The Hockey Writers reports that there's no secret the Sabres boast significant talent along their blue line, especially when it comes to offense.
From Rasmus Dahlin, arguably one of the league's top-five defenseman, to Owen Power, a young and emerging puck-moving talent, and Byram, who recently signed a new two-year contract, this group brings serious firepower in the offensive zone.
On the defensive side, Dahlin continues to impress, Power has made noticeable progress despite some struggles, and Byram has flashed moments of strong defensive play. Then there's Kesselring, brought in for his size and physically, who excels at shutting down opponents on the rush and in transition, backed by an impressive defensive IQ that stands out.
"The blue line could be comparable to some of the better teams in the league, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Edmonton Oilers, just to name a few. With all of the talent on defense, they should be a team that could be talked about as a potential playoff team. Right? Not exactly." -Berta
Determining defensive pairings can often be a challenge, but in the Sabres' case, it's relatively straightforward this season. With only two new additions to the blue line, the projected defensive pairs are expected to look like this...
"The Sabres will be running it back with Dahlin and Byram together on the first pair this season. Last season, the pair played 626.2 minutes together and had an expected goals percentage of 53.1%. However, when Byram was away from Dahlin, he was not nearly as effective, so keeping Byram with Dahlin is the right call." -Berta
The Sabres' blue line has the potential to be one of the stronger units in the league, it all comes down to health and how well the new additions mesh with the returning core.
That said, there are still plenty of uncertainties surrounding this group. Their success hinges on several key factors, staying healthy, finding chemistry in the pairings, and continuing their development strides.
I'm optimistic and expecting a strong showing from this defensive unit. Whether they live up to that potential is yet to be determined, but one thing is certain: if things come together, this group could be the one that finally leads the Sabres back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
AOUT 8 | 19 ANSWERS Could this Avalanche first-rounder finally unlock the league's best defense? Do you think the Buffalo Sabres could quietly be on the NHL's best defensive core in the league next season? | ||
| yes | 6 | 31.6 % |
| no | 13 | 68.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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