Buffalo Sabers 2024 Player Report Card: Mattias Samuelsson

A new season full of injuries for Mattias Samuelsson.

Total season stats: 1-6-7 in 41 matches played

Age: 24

Contract status: Signed through 2029-30 for $4,285,714 AAV

Man, you can’t help but feel sorry for Mattias Samuelsson. He never seems to stay healthy, due to injuries that have plagued him over the past few seasons. This year was no different.

It all started on November 4, when the Sabers placed Samuelsson on injured reserve with a lower body injury. He was activated a week later and had six healthy games before the injury bug struck again. On November 25, he was injured in the first period of a game against the Devils and did not return to the lineup until the following game. He was ill in December, but only missed one game there.

On January 13, he suffered an upper body injury that kept him out for two games. Then, on January 23, he injured his right shoulder. This one required surgery, sent him on IR and forced him to miss the rest of the season. He was cleared to skate in mid-April.

All told, Samuelsson has played in 41 NHL games this season, averaging 20:30 TOI and scoring seven points and 26 penalty minutes. He’s not an offensive-minded defender, but his only goal all season was a game-winner. The biggest question with Samuelsson is: can he stay healthy?

Samuelsson has a huge contract to fulfill and I think he can do it. The potential is definitely there, and he can play a bigger role on the blue line this season as a potential top 4 defenseman. But the key is…he needs to stay healthy.

Season rating: C