Buffalo Sabres Team Expectations For 2015-2016

As I scour the internet and look at social media to understand how Sabres fans feel about the team and how they should do next season, I cannot help but notice the overbearing number of people assuming that Buffalo will make the playoffs next year. I am not mocking them in any way because there is always a chance that it could happen, but I want to make a realistic assessment of how the Buffalo Sabres should do next year and what kind of realistic expectations most fans should have for certain players and the team as a whole.

Related – What The Sabres Goaltending Is Missing

Taking a realistic look at both the roster and the development of the players are two of the biggest keys to assessing where the team is at.

The Buffalo Sabres only have six players over the age of 30, so their overall NHL experience is limited; considering the fact that 15 players are 25 years of age or younger speaks wonders for the inexperience the team has as a whole.

Of the players on the roster, there is not too much long lasting chemistry between forwards or defenders. There isn not a single Sabres defenseman that has not been shuffled around the lines to find where he fits best. None of them have had a solid defensive partner to learn with and grow with. There is also still no certainty of chemistry in the top offensive lines.

Ryan O’Reilly

Ryan O’Reilly is without a doubt a two-way center; the kind of player that will stay out of the penalty box, shut down opposing offenses in his own zone, and then contribute on the scoresheet at opportune times. He is not flashy, but he is hard working. With his big contract that he signed with the Buffalo Sabres (the kind of money that Pavel Datsyuk and Joe Thornton get paid) many people are expecting him to put up a 70+ point season.

O’Reilly has never scored more than 64 points in a season. Could he hit the 70 point mark? Possibly, but realistically he won’t go above 65 points, especially next season. Even if he does hit the 60 point mark next season, that would be a great accomplishment considering the circumstances he is in.

He will be playing a top line role (which he has rarely played before) so he will be looked to as the primary source of offense. While playing in Colorado, he had Matt Duchene to run the top line and he was safely allowed the second tier players on opposing teams second lines. He was pushed to keep up by being a primary penalty killer however, so he will add some great value to Buffalo there.

Realistically, O’Reilly will not top 65 points in his first year on the Sabres so to expect more is just unfair to him.

Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart

Yes they are both fantastic prospects and they have great potential having been chosen at the #2 slots in their draft years, but they have different skill sets.

Jack Eichel will be jumping into the NHL after playing college, so he will have played with men before, but not all those men are up to NHL standards. Eichel will for sure make the team, but realistically he won’t be an elite scoring threat right out of the gate. He will most likely be able to score 44 points at the minimum. And I start his low point production there as I compare him to the rookie productions of top scoring centers like John Tavares (24G, 30A, 54P) and Steven Stamkos (23G, 23A, 46P).

I think he will be able to easily manage a third line scoring role with some power play time to start off his career and I believe he can hit a minimum of 44 points. I would love to see him exceed that however.

Sam Reinhart has played a little time in the NHL and he had one of the best development camp showings that Sabres fans have seen in a long time. With Jack Eichel to feed off of, Reinhart will most likely be alongside of him with a similar base point production; around 40 points. Reinhart is not a flashy player, but he has the skill of being in the right place at the right time. Once he has that up to NHL speed, he will be an even bigger scoring threat with Eichel.

Robin Lehner

Robin Lehner was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the 21st overall pick in 2015, and this trade has drawn the ire of a good amount of Sabres fans, and for good reason. Tim Murray traded a pick that turned out to be Collin White for a goaltender that has no proven starting background.

Robin Lehner has only ever been a backup goaltender, and his numbers are less than what many consider average, so why would Murray trade for him?

Lehner is a large goaltender that has speed and vision, but it is his mechanics that are a little out of whack. Does anyone else remember a young goaltender a few years ago that had similar issues (cough cough Ben Bishop)? I like to think he turned into a reliable starting goaltender for years and he was older than Lehner when he got his shot at being a starter (and succeeded at it).

Lehner is not a starter yet, but he will turn out ok. Realistically he will be able to put up a minimum of 27 wins next year, but that number will most likely be a little more. He is young and has a large frame to learn how to tame (kind of like how Ben Bishop had to before he got the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final).

All of these assessments are merely realistic expectations for these players and how they will most likely be able to handle the Sabres situation as it sits.

Realistically as a team the Buffalo Sabres will finish out of a playoff spot and have a record similar to 35-41-6.

The realities of how the team is and how the players will perform point towards a better season than the last, just not one good enough for the playoffs. Can they do better than these realistic expectations of them? Of course. I would love for them to take what I said in this entire article and shove it in my mouth as they crush their expectations to make a playoff push. I honestly do.

Next: Jack Eichel's Possible Linemates

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