Buffalo Sabres Roundtable: Building Next Season’s Roster
By Tim Redinger
Flickr Creative Commons: Dale Gillard
Patrick Helper, Staff Writer
It’s a very unpopular thought that I’m about to share, but not everyone can be all sunshine and rainbows. The Buffalo Sabres should not make a big roster move this season. They shouldn’t be looking to become a playoff team next year because they are not ready. The Sabres in my opinion will be a lottery team next season, and that’s ok.
Building a winning Stanley Cup contender takes more than two really bad years. Yes, the money is there to spend and a shiny new head coach will call Buffalo home, but the Sabres do not need to be making moves left and right during the NHL Draft or after.
They need to allow this process to happen naturally. Forcing the win now issue will only create tension in a young locker room and will do nothing more than push the front office into a corner.
Adding Ryan O’Reilly would be about the only “big” move Buffalo should explore. The Colorado Avalanche forward has been the subject of many rumors is seasons past. However even that I’m not sure is the best move for the future. I’m not willing to trade away a bunch of players and a high pick at this point in time.
The Sabres could very well be next year’s Calgary Flames, but they do not need to spend money and chase players yet. They need to continue to add talent little by little and once they have the right mix of young experienced kids and top level veterans we will see the promise of a Stanley Cup caliber team start to take shape.
There are a lot of fans and media type out there holding their breath for a giant roster move by the Sabres, but I can’t help but wonder if part of that is people being sick of watching bad hockey and getting caught up in a big maybe.
If Buffalo comes out and does make a big move, then good for them. I’m just a fan of a team sitting here giving my two cents. After all the goal remains the same; bring a cup to Buffalo. When push comes to shove it’s my job to be a fan it’s the Sabres job to find a way to win.
Is standing pat and being content with the roster that Tim Murray has built the best decision for the franchise at this point? What harm in their is in getting into the playoffs, to get experience for the young players?
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