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2017-18 Primer: Buffalo Sabres

October 7, 2017 at 11:19 am CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

With the NHL season now underway, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in 2017-18.  Next up in our team-by-team primers is the Buffalo Sabres.

Last Season: 33-37-12 record (78 points), eighth in Atlantic Division (missed the playoffs)

Remaining Cap Space: $5.88MM per CapFriendly

Key Additions: D Victor Antipin (Magnitogorsk, KHL), D Nathan Beaulieu (trade, Montreal), F Seth Griffith (free agency, Toronto), G Chad Johnson (free agency, Arizona), F Jacob Josefson (free agency, New Jersey), F Jordan Nolan (waivers, Los Angeles), F Jason Pominville (trade, Minnesota), F Benoit Pouliot (free agency, Edmonton), D Marco Scandella (trade, Minnesota), D Matt Tennyson (free agency, Carolina)

Key Departures: F William Carrier (expansion, Vegas), F Tyler Ennis (trade, Minnesota), F Marcus Foligno (trade, Minnesota), D Cody Franson (free agency, Chicago), F Brian Gionta (free agency, unsigned), D Dmitry Kulikov (free agency, Winnipeg), G Anders Nilsson (free agency, Vancouver)

[Related: Sabres Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Player To Watch: F Evander Kane – Kane has been a player who has tantalized at times and mystified at others (and not for the best of reasons).  When he’s on, he is among the more dominant power forwards in the league but when he’s off, he can be really off.  Add to that the fact that he has had some off-ice issues in the past and you have a player who has garnered a lot of attention over the years.

Mar 5, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Evander Kane (9) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsKane now finds himself in a contract year.  Will that be enough to sufficiently motivate him to play at his best for an entire season?  If so, not only will he benefit with another big payday in the months to come but the Sabres will be that much stronger of a team with another dominant player to play alongside Jack Eichel.

On the flip side, if his mercurialness continues, Kane’s name is certain to come up in trade speculation, especially if Buffalo is on the outside of the playoffs looking in as it will be fair to question if they will want to commit to the 26-year-old long-term.  Given what he can do when he is on his game, Kane will undoubtedly garner a lot of interest should he be made available.

Key Storyline: Turnover was the theme of the offseason in Buffalo.  Not only did they bring in a new GM in Jason Botterill, they also replaced Dan Bylsma with rookie head coach Phil Housley.  And on top of that, half of their lineup on opening night wasn’t with the team when the season ended back in April.  That’s a lot of changes in a short period of time.

The big question here, naturally, is how will everything come together?  If the players adapt quickly to Housley’s more up-tempo system, the Sabres have the firepower to stay in the thick of the playoff race.  Botterill handed goaltender Robin Lehner another short-term ‘prove it’ contract and when he’s on, he’s a quality NHL starter.

If they struggle though, they could be a team to watch for on the trade market.  Of the 13 forwards on their opening roster, only three are signed beyond next season so with that many short-term and expiring contracts so there is still potential for even more turnover beyond the changes that have already been made.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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