Buffalo Sabres Opponent Outlook: New York Rangers

Picture this: one of the NHL’s most-watched rookies facing off against one of the league’s top goaltenders.

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That’s likely what we’ll get when the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers face off this season, with Jack Eichel and Henrik Lundqvist in the mix.

One of the changes made in the Rangers system this offseason: goaltending. While Lundqvist remains the top guy – and likely will for the forseeable future – the Rangers traded Cam Talbot to the Edmonton Oilers, along with a 7th-round draft pick in 2015, for a trio of 2015 picks.

They then traded forward Ryan Haggerty to the Chicago Blackhawks, picking up netminder Antti Raanta. He’ll be expected to back up Lundqvist this season. The Rangers also acquired the rights to Magnus Hellberg from the Nashville Predators this offseason, swapping a 2017 6th-rounder for the goalie’s rights.

The other major trade the Rangers put through over the past few months: sending Carl Hagelin and a pair of 2015 picks to the Anaheim Ducks, picking up Emerson Etem and a draft pick in exchange. The Rangers then re-signed Etem when free agency hit, and he’s poised to make his Rangers debut this coming season.

Other newcomers to the Rangers organization are Raphael Diaz, Viktor Stalberg and Jarret Stoll. Brian Gibbons, Matt Lindblad and Jayson Megna also signed with New York this summer.

Another player who signed with the Rangers: former Buffalo Sabres forward Luke Adam. He was placed on waivers on September 27, likely with the intention of beign sent to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.

Returning to the Rangers are several players who re-signed with the team this summer: Derek Stepan – arguably the biggest signing of the summer for the Broadway blues; Mat Bodie, Jesper Fast, J.T. Miller, Dylan McIlrath, Oscar Lindberg and Marek Hrivik.

Leaving the Rangers organization: Matt Hunwick, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Chris Mueller, who signed with the Anaheim Ducks.

Last season, the Rangers finished atop the Eastern Conference withÂ 113 points and 53 wins (53-22-7). They went 25-11-5 at home and 28-11-2 at home, making itÂ to the Eastern Conference Finals before being ousted in seven games by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Rick Nash led the Rangers with 69 points last season, while Derick Brassard had 60 points, including a team-high 41 assists. Stepan notched 55 points (16-39).

Last season, the Rangers won all three meetings against the Buffalo Sabres, outscoring the team 11-2 and outshooting them 115-70. They won 6-1, 3-1 and 2-0 in the three games, respectively.

Brassard and Martin St. Louis led the Rangers last season with four points each against the Buffalo Sabres, each notching a goal and three assists. Nash also had four points, including a pair of goals. Mackenzie Skapski had 44 saves against Buffalo last season, including 24 in his NHL debut. He’s still with the Rangers organization and will begin the year with Hartford.

For the Sabres, no player had more than one point against the Rangers last season.

The Rangers and Sabres will face off three times this season, but they won’t see each other until 2016.

The teams will hit the ice at Madison Square Garden on January 25th in a 7:30 pm game that will be televised nationally on NBCSN. They’ll then face off in Buffalo on April 8 before closing out the season series in Manhattan on April 2, one of the Sabres’ final games of the season.

Next: Sabres Opponent Outlook: Detroit Red Wings

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