Zach Bogosian
28 yrs. old
6'3" 221 lbs.
2008, 3rd-overall (ATL)
Acquired in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets, February 11, 2015

Career stats: 552 games | 49 goals | 121 assists | 170 points | -82


Dependent upon how things shake out at camp, 28 yr. old veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian will probably be the first one to hit the ice as a d-partner for Buffalo Sabres rookie phenom Rasmus Dahlin. That is, of course, if nothing happens to Bogosian along the way, which unfortunately is always a possibility.

Bogosian, a third-overall pick in 2008, was drafted for his size, skating ability and skill and was thrown right into the fray in Atlanta as one of the Thrashers top defensemen for the 2008-09 season. However, in what would become a harbinger of things to come, Bogosian left a game vs. the Philadelphia Flyers on October 28, 2008 with a broken leg and would miss a big chunk of his rookie campaign. Outside of the 2009-10 season where he would miss only one game, Bogosian was injured for huge chunks for most of the ensuing eight seasons playing in only 424 of a possible 622 games.

Last year because of injury Bogosian's season didn't start until December 1 and it ended 18 games later as he and the rest of his season was done in by a hip injury. Bogosian underwent hip surgery in early February and with a 4-6 month recovery time now past, he's ready to go for the upcoming season.

Other than the 21 games he played for Buffalo in 2015 after being acquired as part of the Evander Kane trade, Bogosian has been the butt of jokes concerning his injury problems and/or his play. However, people tend to forget that he had a good first full (for him) season for Buffalo in 2015-16. Bogosian and the Sabres seemed to be on the rise and that season he took rookie Jake McCabe under his wing with the duo forming a very solid second-pairing. McCabe scored four goals and 14 points in his first full season and lead the team with a plus-6 rating.

Much has been said about the hiring of Phil Housley as coach of the Sabres and what he'll be able to do for mobile defensemen like Bogosian. Housley likes active defensemen who can join the rush and at last year's training camp he said (via Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times,) "[Bogosian] can be part of the rush. I can definitely see him pinching down walls and keeping pucks in, and when you say that, it means you have to get up ice.” Housley also noted that the veteran defenseman was "doing all the right things out there" while helping the young players.

The young player Bogosian might be helping this season is Dahlin, at least until the 18 yr. old Swede gets acclimated enough to take on a top-pairing role.

Dahlin can do everything that Housley wants without a hitch and can do so at top speed but what he and the team might need is a player that can hold the fort while he's getting up ice. During the first Prospects Challenge game that guy was Will Borgen who was said to be punishing players throughout the 6-4 win while Dahlin was busy scoring two goals and adding an assist. Bogosian can play that role. It's something he did for Dan Bylsma when he was the Sabres coach for two seasons, but it's not something he was thrilled with.

As a veteran who's never made the playoffs in his 10-year career, and as a player who's missed a lot of time due to injury, one would think that any role, especially alongside a franchise defenseman would suit him moving forward. Bogosian's spent a lot of time either injured or playing for bad teams but this Buffalo team offers a lot of upside and a reduced role may actually keep him on the ice more.

Sure, Bogosian has the skill set to be the one jumping up into the play and he should have enough veteran experience to pick his spots more judiciously, but at least to start, he may be the one watching Dahlin take control of the ice on offense. It's not to say that he won't be activated, but moreso Bogosian will be expected to cover for the rookie as he gets a feel for the North American game at the NHL level.

One should have every reason to believe that Bogosian will take on that role and relish helping Dahlin, just as he did with McCabe. And who knows, if they click real well and he stays healthy, Bogosian has enough skill and skating to ride shotgun with Dahlin in a top-pairing role.

However, maybe it's best to entertain more modest goals for Bogosian like a 70-game season in a second-pairing role for a team that's a playoff contender for at least a good portion of the season. And even that might be asking too much.


Building the 2018-19 Buffalo Sabres roster:

LW, Conor Sheary / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LW, Jeff Skinner / C, Casey Mittelstadt / RW, Kyle Okposo

LHD, Marco Scandella / RHD, Rasmus Ristolainen
LHD, Rasmus Dahlin / RHD, Zach Bogosian

G, Carter Hutton