With the NHL season now just underway, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Next up is a look at the Buffalo Sabres.
Last Season: 25-45-12 record (62 points), eighth in the Atlantic Division (missed the playoffs)
Remaining Cap Space: $618K per CapFriendly
Key Additions: F Patrik Berglund (trade with St. Louis), D Rasmus Dahlin (draft), F Remi Elie (waivers, Dallas), G Carter Hutton (free agent, St. Louis), D Matt Hunwick (trade with Pittsburgh), F Conor Sheary (trade with Pittsburgh), F Jeff Skinner (trade with Carolina), F Vladimir Sobotka (trade with St. Louis), F Tage Thompson (trade with St. Louis)
Key Subtractions: D Victor Antipin (free agent, Magnitogorsk, KHL), D Justin Falk (free agent, unsigned), D Josh Gorges (free agent, unsigned), G Chad Johnson (free agent, St. Louis), F Jacob Josefson (free agent, Djurgardens, SHL), G Robin Lehner (free agent, NY Islanders), F Jordan Nolan (free agent, St. Louis), F Benoit Pouliot (free agent, unsigned), F Ryan O’Reilly (trade with St. Louis)
[Related: Sabres Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: F Jeff Skinner – After a summer fueled with trade speculation, Carolina finally gave up on Skinner, moving him to Buffalo for a collection of future assets. While going to a team that finished in the basement of the league last season wouldn’t normally be viewed as a positive, it was a good landing spot for the 26-year-old as he gets to play with a high-quality center in Jack Eichel.
From Buffalo’s standpoint, Skinner represents a significant upgrade on the left wing compared to recent seasons. They’re certainly hoping that this will allow Eichel to take a key step forward offensively while it’s reasonable to expect Skinner to build on his 49-point output from last year as well.
That would bode quite well for Skinner as he’s in the final year of his contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. He’ll be one of the younger players to hit the open market if he makes it there and a strong showing would certainly boost his negotiating leverage around the league if he doesn’t re-sign with Buffalo. While the Sabres have a lot to play for as they look to work their way back to respectability, Skinner himself has plenty at stake in the 2018-19 season.
Key Storyline: Last year, Buffalo struggled defensively, to put it lightly. They allowed nearly 33 shots per game and received below average goaltending from Lehner and Johnson. While they tried to address their deficiency between the pipes this summer, they turned to Hutton who is coming off of a career year but has yet to play more than 40 games in a single season. Can he be the answer in goal and if not, will youngster Linus Ullmark be able to pick up the slack? The early returns are promising but we’re still in the first week of the season.
On the back end, not much work was done as GM Jason Botterill wound up shaking up the forward group instead. Adding Dahlin is great for their long-term hopes as he’s pegged to be a franchise piece when he develops but how much of an impact can he have this season? Can he alone turn what was a poor defense corps into a playoff-caliber one? Even with his upside, that’s a lot to put on a first-year NHL player.
Even with their improved depth up front, that alone isn’t going to change Buffalo’s fortunes overnight. They’ve made improvements in goal and on the back end but are those enough to get back into the playoff hunt?
Overall Outlook: While Colorado went from dead last two years ago to a playoff spot last season, it’s hard to see Buffalo doing the same. There is a distinct top-three in the Atlantic and the Sabres aren’t anywhere near that level. Even a Wild Card push seems iffy at this point. They will be better and should be able to move safely out of the basement in the division but more work needs to be done before they can truly become a postseason threat.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They need a number two center behind Eichel to take pressure off of him.
Trade with the Rangers who are obviously rebuilding. Send Mittlestadt for Zibanajed who is only 25 and signed to a very cap friendly contract and also add a veteran D man like Ryan or Shattenkirk if Rangers absorb the cap hit to keep Buffalo under the cap!
Middlestat isn’t going anywhere.
Yes he is. Da Rangers! Makes sense! Let’s get it done Gorts.
It actually makes no sense. If the Rangers wanted to unload Zibanejad, they’d probably be able to net a 2nd round pick and a mid-tier prospect. He is currently making $5MM, which is something Buffalo wouldn’t be able to afford (they currently have less than $750k in cap space).
Your scenario is implausible anyhow. The combination of Berglund and Mittelstadt will anchor the middle two lines. They may swap when one guy is on a hot streak but I doubt Botterill tinkers with the roster with external players until March.