Thompson, Tuch Grade Poorly in Sabres Opener Versus Devils

To reach the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons, the Buffalo Sabres need their stars to be stars. In the season opener against the New Jersey Devils in Prague, Buffalo’s most-used players were some of the most detrimental to the team, which is not a recipe for success. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, in particular, struggled in the first Sabres game of the season.

Last season we implemented the grading system. That way, we can assign letter grades to each Buffalo Sabres player based on game performance. Sometimes our eyes deceive us, so the letter grades are assigned based on statistical computation, taking into account the following factors:

• Production
• Quality of offense
• Quality of defense
• Volume of offense
• Volume of defense
• Powerplay performance
• Penalty kill performance
• Penalties drawn and taken
• Role
• Minutes played

The game grades model is freshly reworked and improved for the 2024-2025 season, to better account for production and more realistically detailing a player doing what they’re asked to do by the coaching staff. Let’s roll into the best and worst of Friday’s game against the Devils.

All game data via Evolving-Hockey.com

Studs

Jason Zucker

Grade: B-

Production: D

Offense: B+

Defense: A+

Powerplay: B+

Penalty Kill: N/A

Jason Zucker logged under eight minutes of even-strength ice time but made the most of it. Despite his heavy defensive zone deployment, the veteran winger was the cleanest Buffalo player in his own end. Zucker padded his quality defensive play with complementary offense, suggesting he probably should’ve played more than he did.

As Buffalo’s oldest player, the limited usage in game one of a long season is respectable, even if undeserved. Zucker was quiet for the Sabres throughout training camp and the preseason, signifying that this may be a result of that rather than a reflection of his play in game one.

Dylan Cozens

Grade: C+

Production: D+

Offense: C+

Defense: B+

Powerplay: B+

Penalty Kill: B+

When the second powerplay unit got going, Dylan Cozens was the focal point of the action. He was great in retrieving and controlling the puck with the man advantage, looking extra dangerous on Buffalo’s lesser-talented unit.

Cozens was also a part of a clean penalty-killing rotation and solid defensively at even strength. In a game where the Sabres only scored one goal, you’d like a little more offense from him, Zach Benson, and Jack Quinn. That said, it was a good all-around game from Cozens, who seems primed to bounce back under head coach Lindy Ruff.

Cozens Powerplay: Top 3 Candidates to Replace Skinner on Sabres Powerplay

Mattias Samuelsson

Grade: C+

Production: D+

Offense: B-

Defense: B+

Powerplay: F

Penalty Kill: B

Usage in the past suggests the previous coaching staff believed Mattias Samuelsson is a top-four defenseman. Ruff has slotted Samuelsson in on the team’s bottom pair, barring an injury.

Samuelsson was Buffalo’s best defenseman Friday, providing stability in the defensive zone with Connor Clifton. Yes, he had easier matchups than Rasmus Dahlin, but the Sabres new assistant captain looked poised while the rest of the team was fighting the puck.

Duds

Sam Lafferty

Grade: D+

Production: F

Offense: F

Defense: A-

Powerplay: N/A

Penalty Kill: B+

It was a quiet game for Sam Lafferty, part of Buffalo’s new energizing fourth line. While linemates Beck Malenstyn and Nicolas Aube-Kubel made their presence known, Lafferty went without a shot attempt or shot block. He also only registered one hit, barely providing a spark for the Sabres.

You’ll typically see a clean defensive game from the fourth line, and Lafferty exhibited that against New Jersey. When the line really gets going, they’ll create dangerous chances on the rush. That did not happen Friday, and the lack of any semblance of offense landed Lafferty as the lowest-graded Sabres player.

More Lafferty: Surprise Sabres Player Who Could Score 20 Goals This Season

Alex Tuch

Grade: D+

Production: C-

Offense: C

Defense: F

Powerplay: A

Penalty Kill: F

It was the first game of the season, and an off-game for Alex Tuch. He was the prime example of a player trying to generate speed but unable to handle the puck clean. Whether it was sending or receiving a pass, Tuch fumbled the puck too much which required a lot of stopping and going.

When the Sabres are at their best, simple zone exits will help the team use their skating ability to generate speed through the neutral zone and back off defenders. Tuch and the top line couldn’t do that against the Devils, and it cost them.

Henri Jokiharju

Grade: C-

Production: D+

Offense: A-

Defense: F

Powerplay: N/A

Penalty Kill: F

Henri Jokiharju is starting the season with Rasmus Dahlin on the Sabres top pair, which struggled defensively in a tough matchup versus New Jersey. Jokiharju may be slightly miscast in the role, but the Sabres can be quick to roll a rotation of Dahlin, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram when the minutes are ultra-important.

The Finnish defenseman helped create offense, but the lackluster play in his own end was not encouraging. He also struggled in a secondary role on the penalty kill, albeit a small sample.

Jokiharju will be an interesting case study this season, as the Sabres didn’t add any help to their defensive group from last season. If he struggles early on, there should be a priority on addressing the position mid-season.

Rest of the Sabres Grades

Bowen Byram

Interestingly, it was Bowen Byram, not Rasmus Dahlin, who logged the most minutes of any Sabres skater. Byram drew praise from Lindy Ruff throughout the preseason, and he looked okay against the Devils, posting a “C” grade in a pivotal role.

Tage Thompson

Okay is also how you could describe Tage Thompson’s play on Friday, although the Sabres expect much more from their top center. Thompson was on the ice for Buffalo’s goal, as it was his shot that was fumbled by Markstrom initially.

He was also on the ice for three of the four goals against and was outperformed by opposing Devils superstars Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. For the Sabres to consider themselves true contenders for the playoffs, Thompson has to play to the level of elite talent in the league. If he falls short, the Sabres are in trouble.