The Sabres will have to pick a new captain before the season begins after trading their captain at last year’s trade deadline.
Forward Kyle Okposo, 36, spent 7 1/2 seasons on the Sabres, scoring 103 goals in 516 games. He spent the final two seasons as team captain until he was traded at last season’s NHL trade deadline to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Calle Sjalin and a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick. The conditional pick was turned into a fifth-round pick after the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup.
With the 24-25 season right around the corner, the Sabres have no captain, but they have some options. The most obvious choices are defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and forwards Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.
Rasmus Dahlin
The Sabres drafted Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall draft pick in 2018. He has 436 games played in a Sabres uniform, and last season had a career-high 20 goals.
As far as we can tell, the 24-year-old defenseman is a fan favorite and well-liked in the Sabres locker room, so why not pick him to be the 37th captain in franchise history?
Tage Thompson
Tage Thompson has played 331 games with the Sabres and could be a good choice for the next player to be Sabres captain, but I have a few questions.
Thompson, 26, had a rough season according to his expectations. He played 71 games last season and had 56 points. This comes a season after the forward had 94 points in 78 games.
I get it; stats aren’t the most significant factor for a captain, but will he return to form under new head coach Lindy Ruff? The last thing the Sabres need is a captain who isn’t sure about his ability and has another down season.
Alex Tuch
This brings us to Syracuse native Alex Tuch.
Tuch, 28, has been with the Sabres for three seasons after coming over from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the return for forward Jack Eichel.
He is well-liked by the fans, and I’m sure it would be a lifelong dream of his to be named captain of the team he grew up watching.
Honestly, it could be any of these three players, and I would be happy. I would consider Dylan Cozens, but we will find out soon enough.