I owe Jason Zucker an apology. While the Sabres newcomer hasn’t scored yet, his four assists in seven games leading up to Monday show he’s been a solid fit with the team. I also want to give Ryan McLeod some credit—he’s been a great addition with three goals so far.
I had a feeling McLeod might have a breakout season after being stuck in a more limited role with the Edmonton Oilers. Lately, McLeod and Zucker have really stood out, especially with the Sabres finding their scoring rhythm.
However, there are three players who need to be reassigned or traded if the Sabres want to improve quickly and strengthen the team.
Zach Benson
Zach Benson hasn’t made the progress I expected, and to be honest, it seems like he’s taken a step back. As of Monday afternoon, he has zero points and a minus-4 rating, with his play looking uninspired.
However, let me be clear—I’m not suggesting that general manager Kevyn Adams should trade Benson, as that would be a terrible move. Instead, I believe Benson is a player who could benefit from being reassigned to a lower league to gain more experience before returning to Buffalo.
On the bright side, whenever I point out a player’s struggles, they often seem to turn things around. Hopefully, the same will happen for Benson.
Jiri Kulich
Jiri Kulich does have one goal in five games, but beyond that, he hasn’t contributed much. I’ll give him credit for being physical, winning faceoffs when needed, and his impressive 94.1 on-ice save percentage at even strength.
Kulich is a talented player, and I’d like to see him stay in the Sabres system since he’s close to being NHL-ready. If this were still the 2022-23 season, I’d be fine keeping him in Buffalo. But for 2024-25, we need more proven experience on the team. Like with Benson, I think Kulich should be reassigned to make room for a veteran addition.
That said, this comes with a bit of an asterisk. In Kulich’s case, it’s more like a “gone for now” situation. I’d be okay with him spending some time in the AHL before returning to the NHL when the Sabres need him.
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Connor Clifton
Connor Clifton has impressed me this season, which makes it tough to include him on this list. However, I’m frustrated with how the Sabres have used him so far, as he’s averaging less than 15 minutes of ice time.
Sure, he’s had 10 giveaways in seven games, and that’s not great, but there are plenty of positives: four takeaways, 18 hits, two points, and an even rating. Plus, his 11.4 percent on-ice shooting percentage and 52.0 Corsi For at even strength are solid numbers as of Monday afternoon.
That said, if the Sabres aren’t going to give him a bigger role in what’s been a solid season, why not trade him while his value is high? Maybe I’m missing something, but Clifton could be a great trade asset to land the top-six forward I keep talking about.
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