As part of NHL.com’s 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Buffalo Sabres. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the “NHL Fantasy on Ice” podcast.
MORE FANTASY COVERAGE: Top 250 rankings
NOTES: These fantasy projections (for 82-game season), a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua, have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside for this season. The below totals are safe estimates and do not necessarily indicate each player’s ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of NHL.com top 250 rank.
[Sabres 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Rasmus DahlinD — Ranked 13th in the NHL at the position in points (53) and tied for ninth in goals (13) last season. He should continue to be a workhorse for the Sabers (led them with 24:01 per game; 19th in NHL) and is ranked among NHL.com’s top 20 fantasy defensemen for this season.
NHL.com point projection for Dahlin: 50
Tage ThompsonC — Buffalo’s no. 1 center had NHL career highs in points (68 in 78 games), goals (38; 19th in NHL) and assists (30) last season. Thompson’s shooting percentage (15.0; T-19th, minimum 200 shots on goal) could regress based on his NHL career average (10.9), but his top-line spot with valuable wings Jeff Skinner and/or Alex Tuch and combination of size (6-foot-7) and finishing ability make him a fringe top 100 overall fantasy option.
NHL.com point projection for Thompson: 55
Video: BUF@CAR: Thompson buries Skinner’s nifty feed
Owen PowerD — The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft had three points (two goals, one assist) and was plus-3 during his eight-game trial last season. Power is expected to play on the second pair and see power-play time in his first full season. He’s ranked among the top 30 fantasy defensemen and the second highest-ranked rookie in NHL.com’s top 250 behind Seattle Kraken center. Matty Beniers.
NHL.com point projection for Power: 44
Alex TuchRW — After being acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, Tuch had the highest points-per-game average of his NHL career (0.76; 38 in 50 games) with Buffalo. Tuch has a solidified first power-play role with the Sabers and is a fantasy sleeper candidate who can realistically lead them in points this season with strong coverage of hits (338 in 305 NHL games).
NHL.com point projection for Touch: 56
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Other BUF players to consider in fantasy: Jeff Skinner, LW; Victor Olofsson, RW; Peyton Krebs, C/LW; Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukonen, G; Jack Quinn, RW; JJ Peterka, RW
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