Sabres Struggle Yet Again as Thompson, Tuch, Levi Only Bright Spots

Heading into the season, the Buffalo Sabres had a renewed hope with head coach Lindy Ruff returning behind the bench. After two games, that hope is already waning. The New Jersey Devils took it to the Sabres in a couple of disappointing performances to begin the season. Despite strong performances from Devon Levi, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch, after assigning grades to each Sabres player, the below-average results worsen things.

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. Friday’s grades were not very good, and Saturday’s look even worse.

All game data via Evolving-Hockey.com

More: Sabres Cough Up Lead, Lose Two to Devils in Prague

Studs

Tage Thompson

Grade: B

Production: B+

Offense: A

Defense: C

Powerplay: B

Penalty Kill: B+

Tage Thompson struggled to post an average performance for the Sabres on Friday against the Devils, but Saturday was much different. Buffalo’s top-line center was at the center of the only offense the team was able to create, posting a goal on three shots. His line dominated the Corsi battle, meaning the shot attempts heavily favored the Sabres when he was on the ice.

It’s the type of bounce-back performance you’d expect from the team’s best forward, and the Sabres will need Thompson to consistently post “B” or better games in 2024-2025 to have success.

Devon Levi

Grade: B-

If it wasn’t for the two third-period rush goals surrendered by the Sabres, Devon Levi was on pace to record an “A” game in his first start of the season. The Sabres put Levi in tough positions all day, giving up rush chances to Devils stars Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, among others.

Levi bailed the Sabres out for two periods and kept his team in the game. Should Buffalo start fixing some of the details in transition and creating more offense, the Sabres should feel good about what they have in net.

Alex Tuch

Grade: B-

Production: C

Offense: A-

Defense: C+

Powerplay: F

Penalty Kill: C-

Alex Tuch’s leadership is not factored into the grading system, but that was on full display as he stepped in to challenge Brendan Dillon after a bad hit on JJ Peterka knocked him out of the game. The rest of Tuch’s performance was solid overall, with some minor blips on special teams.

Tuch was on the ice for New Jersey’s powerplay goal but combined with Thompson to drive offense without Peterka there to help them.

Duds

Jiri Kulich

Grade: F

Production: F

Offense: F

Defense: F

Powerplay: A-

Penalty Kill: N/A

The best moment for Jiri Kulich was taking the ceremonial faceoff as Czech hockey legend Patrik Elias dropped the puck. Kulich was thrust into the lineup due to surprise news of a Zach Benson lower-body injury, and the game did not go well for him.

Kulich will likely be headed for Rochester as soon as the team returns from Prague. He’ll continue refining his game in the AHL until he can confidently force his way into the Sabres’ lineup.

Jack Quinn

Grade: D-

Production: F

Offense: D-

Defense: D-

Powerplay: B

Penalty Kill: N/A

Jack Quinn was only slightly better than Kulich on Saturday. Any opportunity Quinn had to push the puck up ice came after exhausting shifts in the defensive zone. The Sabres are relying on Quinn as the primary source of offense beyond the top line, so he will have to have much better games going forward.

Dylan Cozens

Grade: D

Production: D

Offense: D-

Defense: F

Powerplay: A-

Penalty Kill: D

Dylan Cozens completes the trifecta of the second line in the “duds” column for their poor performance on Saturday. The Devils caved in the line defensively throughout the game, and Cozens didn’t generate the offense he normally does as a result.

The bright spot Cozens has provided is his ability to drive Buffalo’s second powerplay unit, where he looks to be the focal point of the puck movement and playmaking. The first unit took a hit with JJ Peterka’s absence, meaning Cozens could get the first look in his place as the Sabres reset once back in North America.

Previous Sabres Grades: Thompson, Tuch Grade Poorly in Sabres Opener Versus Devils

The Rest of the Sabres Grades

Overall, the grades took a tumble from Friday’s poor showing. Generally, you’d like to see over half of the team recording scores of over 50%. The Sabres will need to display a much more complete performance as a team to generate wins going forward.