Five Things Buffalo Sabres Fans Can Be Optimistic About
Earlier this week, the city of Buffalo – home of the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, Bisons & Bandits – was named America’s Most Miserable Sports City by Forbes.
Here’s the full post from Forbes’ website, which details more of their methodology and the other cities named to the list.
(Cleveland went second, for those who are curious.)
The list takes into account things like championship wins (or more accurately, a lack thereof), relocation of teams (like the Buffalo Braves), etc.
Despite all that, here’s what I have to say: Forbes, by your calculations, Buffalo may have been the most miserable sports city, but we’re on the rise. Things are starting to look up, especially for the Buffalo Sabres – and here are five things, or five reasons, Buffalo Sabres fans aren’t exactly miserable anymore.
5. The Pegulas
No doubt, Terry & Kim Pegula have been a huge part of the resurgence happening in Buffalo and in Buffalo sports.
After all, I shudder to think about where the Buffalo Sabres would be right now without them.
They’ve literally helped the city transform, with the building of HARBORCENTER and all the events that have been attracted to there, and quite frankly, helped keep the Buffalo Sabres right where they belong – in Buffalo.
This was the beginning of a turnaround for the organization – and they’re a reason to be thankful, if not optimistic, and certainly not too miserable.
4. Dan Bylsma
The more I think about it, the more I think Dan Bylsma has been the coach the Buffalo Sabres need.
The Buffalo Sabres need someone who knows how to win, someone with proven successes, to help lead the team in the coaching world the next few years.
Obviously a coach is nothing without his players, but you can’t overstate the importance of having the right coach, and if Bylsma is that right piece, that’s fantastic.
Bylsma is the first Buffalo Sabres coach to have a Stanley Cup win under his belt (albeit with another team) since John Muckler.
3. Young Defense
Alright, so “Young Defense” kind of sounds like it could be a weird rapper name, but in this case, I’m referring to a small group of Buffalo Sabres blueliners.
Among those: Rasmus Ristolainen, whose contract is up this summer; Mark Pysyk, Jake McCabe, Zach Bogosian, and even Casey Nelson who just joined the team this season.
The average age of those five? Just 23. They’re all pretty young, but also proven pretty talented on the ice in defensive abilities.
Just imagine what they could be like in a year, or two, or three, down the line.
That still-pretty-young defense core could be solid for the Buffalo Sabres for years down the line, and I’m excited for it.
2. Sam Reinhart
Sam Reinhart is absolutely another reason that Buffalo Sabres fans can be optimistic, and not so “miserable” as the Forbes piece suggests.
Reinhart just finished his first full NHL season and quite frankly, he looked GOOD.
Really makes you wonder what the next few years will be like. Obviously you never know how a player’s going to turn out, but if this season was any indication, we could be in for a treat.
1. Eich, Eich, Baby
Do I need to say anything more? Of course Jack Eichel is a huge reason for Buffalo Sabres fans to be optimistic.
Obviously.
Next: Sabres Could Be In Caggiula Sweepstakes
In the end, while you can point to a lack of championships, or recent playoff runs, or whatever else you want, to call Buffalo ‘the most miserable sports city in America,’ the fact is that things are looking up. Buffalo Sabres fans still have a lot to be optimistic about, a lot to look forward to, and the coming years are going to be good.