Buffalo Sabers 2024 Player Report Card: Victor Olofsson

As was likely, Olofsson’s final season in blue and gold quickly ended in failure.

Total season stats: 7-8-15 in 51 matches played

Age: 28

Contract status: Waiting for UFA

Victor Olofsson’s time with the Buffalo Sabers has almost certainly come to an end, following a disappointing season for both the 28-year-old Swedish forward and the team as a whole. Olofsson spent much of the season in the press box healthy, and in the 51 games he played in, he only managed to accumulate 15 points.

A tough season was expected, as the Sabers unsuccessfully attempted to trade Olofsson last summer. Since that didn’t come to fruition, and given the forward’s performance and usage early in the season, the next step seemed to be a deal at the NHL trade deadline in February. But this too proved unsuccessful. Now Olofsson’s contract expires this summer and both sides are expected to walk away as he seeks a new NHL contract elsewhere.

It’s an unfortunate end to Olofsson’s time in Buffalo, and I think he can definitely be a useful third or fourth line forward on another team. His best career season to date came in the 2021-22 season, when he scored 49 points in 72 games, then followed that up with 28 goals the following season. If he’s used effectively and surrounded by players who can help him succeed, he can get back to those kinds of numbers. It just won’t happen in Buffalo.

If this is indeed the end, Olofsson’s career with the Sabers will have seen him collect 182 points (90-92) in 314 games over six seasons in the NHL. He had 63 points in 66 games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans during the 2018-19 season.

Olofsson is currently representing Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Czechia.

Season level: D-