Buffalo Sabres Lineup Prediction

Buffalo Sabres head coach Ted Nolan and the front office have a decent crop of players, veterans and rookies alike, but what does that mean for this season?

Forget the names Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. Forget that there is another draft coming up in 9 months, forget it all, because it’s likely we may not see either of them in blue and gold. We may not be Stanley Cup ready, but we are getting there.

Sep 26, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart (23) during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at First Niagara Center. Leafs beat the Sabres 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, there is some serious talent coming out of junior leagues and from across the ocean, but with who the Sabres brought in this offseason, add in the depth in Rochester and other prospects all over the world, it is completely in the picture that Buffalo doesn’t tank.

My reasoning is simple, the team doesn’t want to drop another whole season and burn another year in a contract that they could have used elsewhere. Why waste it?

Tim Murray did a massive overload to the roster, and while he may have not struck a ton of gold, I feel like he has began to strike luck.

Adding players like Brian Gionta, a veteran who could very well captain Buffalo this season; Josh Gorges, who adds playoff experience, and a decent support system in all areas of the ice; Andrej Meszaros, again another veteran who can lead a great defensive pairing with almost anyone. While bringing back Matt Moulson, a likely top two-line candidate and Cody McCormick, this team is adding strength and discipline, which can equal success.

Granted it was 34 years and a completely different game ago, Herb Brooks was considered crazy and the US men’s Olympic team was never thought to come out on top. But through a solid lineup and a conditioning like no other, they earned gold on top of beating the top Soviet Olympic team.

Now I am not saying that the Buffalo Sabres will mirror that of the 1980 Miracle, but we can definitely change somethings from last year to now.

That being said, when the season begins next week, this is what I believe will be the lineups

Forwards:

LW                                           C                                     RW

Matt Moulson                        Tyler Ennis                    Brian Gionta

Cody Hodgson                 Mikhail Grigorenko           Chris Stewart

Marcus Foligno                    Sam Reinhart*                Drew Stafford

Nicolaus Deslauriers      Zemgus Girgensons            Patrick Kaleta

Notes:

Sam Reinhart will get his stint in the NHL, where he will play the standard 10 games before he will get assigned, so his “try-out” will get extended, so that’s why I have him on the third line along with Foligno and Stafford. Foligno can dig the puck out of the corners, giving the line the physical edge. He can also push the puck to the front of the net to Reinhart or Stafford, who can either assist or put it away. That’s why the asterisk is there.

I firmly believe that we can have a scoring fourth line. Deslauriers can be a physical force, Girgensons will be a staple to the last line, it is in no way a demotion to the last line and we all know the story about Kaleta, he’s the agitator but he can also chip in a few goals. Kaleta may not leave the fourth line often, but if he produces he may get the bump, granted he returns from injury.

The top two lines will be in constant change, some players will go hot, others will go cold, it happens. So if Stewart or Gionta run a cold streak, I would expect Stafford (should he continue his stride from last season) see some time in the top lines.

Defense:

Josh Gorges                  Tyler Myers

Andrej Meszaros          Rasmus Ristolainen

Mike Weber/Jake McCabe Mark Pysyk

Notes:

A very young defense all around, aside from Meszaros and Gorges, but a top defensive pairing with Gorges and Myers is a very exciting pairing. His former pairing with Montreal Canadiens P.K. Subban is enough to teach him how to let someone shoot/score and chip in every once in awhile, it takes the pressure off of Myers to be an offensive defenseman and just let him go.

I solely believe that by pairing Meszaros with Ristolainen, you allow a seasoned guy to train and advance a player like Risto, and just when he is rolling and playing out of his mind, you can ride that into the postseason, or swap out Meszaros at the deadline for a very suitable left pairing to Risto to strengthen that second line.

Granted this dream comes true, with these players, I believe that we can ride a low spot into the playoffs, even if we flame out in the first line.