Who should wear the 'C' for the Buffalo Sabres in 2022?

There are seven franchises in the NHL that currently do not have a captain, and while most of them have a few obvious candidates, the Buffalo Sabres have one very obvious name, along with a few that could be surprise choices. Dylan Cozens is young and may one day wear the 'C', Owen Power will develop into the leader of this D group and potentially the whole team one day, but the next captain of the Buffalo Sabres will be a piece that they acquired when they traded away their last captain, Jack Eichel. 

Alex Tuch grew up a huge Sabres fan, so when he was included in the deal from Vegas, he showed outward signs of joy, and his arrival to his hometown team breathed new life into a struggling franchise, becoming a leader within the group instantly. The Sabres have the NHL's longest playoff drought, but with Tuch and breakout star of 2021 Tage Thompson leading the way, along with a plethora of prospects, the future may finally look bright for this once hapless franchise.

Tuch is at the perfect age to lead this team going forward, as he is now 26 and mature enough to lead, while also young enough to grow with this Sabres franchise team into the future. If this team continues building, Tuch could remain a Sabre for life, and if that's the case, it's very clear that he's the man to lead this organization out of obscurity right into a new, successful era in Buffalo history.

There are other names in play, but given all the factors involved, these other players will likely settle for an 'A' and help build this team, as Tuch is the clear leader and future of the Sabres, and will be supported by the entire locker room, franchise and city whenever he officially gets the 'C'. 

Photo Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports