Sep 25, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; A general view of the pucks used for warm ups before a game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Columbus Blue Jackets at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
For the next couple of days, all eyes are on the biggest stage in the NHL for the summer, and that is the 2015 NHL Entry Draft – where the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers are set to take the two biggest names entering the professional hockey world since Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
For teams like the Buffalo Sabres looking to rebuild, it is much more than just the draft that is fueling the organization – and with free agency right around the corner after the draft, we gathered the collective heads once again for a SabreNoise round table – to discuss what options we think the Buffalo Sabres are going to take, or need to take come July 1st.
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There are definite needs the Buffalo Sabres can address within free agency. The team isn’t going to be challenging Los Angeles or Chicago for a Stanley Cup anytime soon (at least two seasons away). But they can give teams at the bottom of the playoff race a run for their money.
The Buffalo Sabres can afford to be much better next season – and if you are out of the playoffs, you still stand a really good chance at drafting high – as the first three draft positions are lottery eligible positions now.
So with that – here are the opinions of the collective brain trust on what the Buffalo Sabres need to do with their team when the free agency window opens up.
Just a reminder – each slide is the writers words, not mine – the italics at the bottom of each slide are my comments on the writers thoughts!
Next: Melissa Kania, Editor - SabreNoise