Apr 11, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie Anders Lindback (35) looks to make a glove save during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Is the suffering over for Buffalo Sabres fans? Can the team turn the page on one of the worst era’s in team history and start climbing out of the basement of the league and closer to competitive hockey games?
This past season the Buffalo Sabres didn’t win a lot of hockey games. Chalk that up to the team not being very good, and being full of players that weren’t in the long term picture of the organization. A rebuild that was long overdue. General Manager Tim Murray has completed the ugly task however and is now in build up mode – and he has a roster that will be much more competitive next season, but how much more so?
What do the Buffalo Sabres need to do to get themselves closer to the playoffs during the draft and free agency this year? We have pooled the collective minds here at SabreNoise and want your opinions as well. The round table this week addresses the question:
Buffalo will most certainly be taking Eichel second overall. Who would you like the Buffalo Sabres to target in trade or free agency to get,the one or two pieces to contend for the playoffs as early as next season?
Now many people don’t think they are going to contend to be a playoff team next season. More on what I think about this later – but there is no reason to believe the Buffalo Sabres can be better next season, and good enough to challenge for a much higher position in the standings.
Will it be a playoff position – or will they be in on the lottery draw for the top three draft selections in 2016 when they host the draft?
Next: Patrick Helper - Staff Writer
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?
Next: Adam Savard - Staff Writer
Apr 24, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) in the game against the Minnesota Wild during the second period in game five of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Adam Savard, Staff Writer
As next season approaches for the Buffalo Sabres there are more certainties than I can remember over recent years. Tim Murray has plenty of cap space, young talent on the roster and more in Rochester. Fans already know all these players won’t make it to the Sabres. But what one move will be the Earth-mover?
I’ve looked through the upcoming class of unrestricted free agents. There are plenty of veteran defensemen to help our young future develop and learn. While I’d like to see Francois Beauchemin or Johnny Oduya in blue and gold next season, that’s not the spark to jump start the worst offense in the league.
There are two ways to look at the players and picks Murray has available. Young players could be packaged to acquire another top-six forward in the mold of Evander Kane. Or more boldly, Murray could decide he has plenty of depth in Rochester and light future first-round picks on fire for a few years.
Signing a major restricted free agent would do that. Should a team not match an RFA offer, the size of the contract determines how many first-round picks the Sabres would part with. If the contract is large enough it could be up to four first-round picks.
It’s worth it for St. Louis Blues uber-sniper Vladimir Tarasenko, whom will be 24 in December. I would like to see Murray offer Tarasenko a borderline absurd contract, the kind you know he can offer with Terry and Kim Pegula owning the team. I’m thinking somewhere around nine years at $8.5 million per season.
That would give the Buffalo Sabres a top line of Tarasenko and Kane around Jack Eichel. Your second line would be Zemgus Girgensons with Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson. Bring that on, and good luck stopping THAT.
The Edmonton Oilers tried that with Thomas Vanek seasons ago, and it didn’t work out well for them, as the Buffalo Sabres matched the offer. How much different would the Oilers fortune have been if the Sabres were in a position to let Thomas Vanek walk? Does St. Louis have the luxury of matching such a contract?
Next: Jacob Strozyk - Staff Writer
Apr 8, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer (34) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jacob Stroyzk, Staff Writer
As far as next season is concerned, there needs to be a legitimate run made towards the playoffs. That being said, the Sabres need to be aggressive in their free agency strategy, and must acquire a few missing veteran pieces; perhaps by trade.
The free agent market this year will be a little thin with super skilled talents, but the Sabres are not looking for that right now. After the Evander Kane trade, Murray needs to place his focus on the real issue, goaltending.
Anders Lindback is not the premier goaltender that will take Buffalo far into the playoffs, but he would function as a capable backup. A potential move that could be made is in a trade with the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs.
Since they are having a full fire sale in the Leafs organization, that leaves almost anyone up for grabs, including their goaltenders. At points of their careers, both Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer were considered to be solid number one goalie potential. Both have fallen from that grace.
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Bernier I never had faith in to be a starter due to the fact that most of his great games were placed on the shoulders of the LA Kings defense. Reimer never really got a shot at the starting position and his lack of consistent starts inhibited his playing. If the Buffalo Sabres were to make a move for a goaltender, James Reimer for a couple of second round picks and/or one of the less developed prospects in the system would be a good idea.
Additions that could be worth throwing a little extra money their way would be the likes of Mike Green and Cody Franson. Both of these players are veteran blue liners, and Green in particular used to be a top tier offensive-defenseman. Adding Green would boost the offense while also having a new mentor for Rasmus Ristolainen, while adding Franson (who is only 27) would add more defensive depth to an already steady core.
The Buffalo Sabres have plenty of expendable draft picks they have accumulated over the past few seasons and could make a move on a veteran player to help stem the tide of youth, and bring in a goaltender that can win the Buffalo Sabres some hockey games.
April 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (63) celebrates with defenseman Deryk Engelland (29) his goal scored against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period in game one of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Redinger, Senior Editor
There is no reason to believe that the Buffalo Sabres can’t be a very dangerous team next year. The roster is going to have a very different feel towards it. With the addition of Jack Eichel (provided he doesn’t decide to stay in school, and Tim Murray doesn’t lose his mind at the draft and trade the number two pick to get Connor McDavid), Evander Kane, and the rest of the team that is in place – why can’t the Buffalo Sabres be a contending hockey club next season?
With all that being said, I don’t think the Buffalo Sabres are going to need to do anything major this off season to make a splash and add anything drastic this offseason.
1) They were a very poor offensive team. They had a problem shooting the puck, they had a problem scoring goals. How much of the team was actually trying to score goals based on who they were playing with? Most guys were playing to try and get out of Buffalo based on the urging of Ted Nolan.
This created a rift in the locker room, you had guys trying to make the Buffalo Sabres their home, guys trying to cement themselves as leaders in the locker room, and guys that are just skating the end of their careers. The team is going to have a much different feel on the ice next season, and that is going to account for an increased offensive production from players that should be playing at a higher level.
2) Goaltending is another question mark that the Buffalo Sabres should be addressing. But I digress to the comments made by fans and local media types.
We have to trade (insert goalie name here) because he is keeping us in games or winning hockey games we should be losing!
Arturs Irbe did a bang up job with the goalies that he was given with a very bad hockey team in front of them. I am not saying that a better team could change the level of Anders Lindback, but with goalies of the future still developing, why not let Lindback try another season?
Your not going to create major in roads with the this team next year. You might stand a chance at a playoff spot as a dark horse candidate – and you might be very dangerous because guys will be playing, like this years Calgary Flames without a care in the world because the expectations are that you aren’t supposed to win.
Let it ride Tim Murray, because there are two things that will happen with the role of the dice. You will not make the playoffs and be in on next years draft lottery. With three spots up for grabs, your odds of moving up will be better.
If you make the playoffs, your young players, your core of the Buffalo Sabres future are going to get some experience under their belts that will help this team in the long run.
What say you o’ fan of the Buffalo Sabres – what moves this off season will make this team what we really want in Buffalo?
