Buffalo Sabres Roster: What The Offense Is Missing
As the Buffalo Sabres press on towards next season and progress further into the offseason, this is a premier time to take a look at what they have in place already and what they are lacking. With the three aspects of the roster (offense, defense, and goaltending) all having strengths and weaknesses so far, I am going to take an in depth look at each individually, starting with the offense.
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The Buffalo Sabres offensive players (more specifically forwards) includes the following players:
Nicolas Deslauriers (grinder), Marcus Foligno (power forward), Brian Gionta (playmaker), Zemgus Girgensons (power forward), Evander Kane (sniper), Johan Larsson (two-way forward), Tyler Ennis (sniper/playmaker), David Legwand (playmaker), Cody McCormick (grinder), Jamie McGinn (power forward), Matt Moulson (sniper), Ryan O’Reilly (two-way forward), and potentially Jack Eichel (sniper) and Sam Reinhart (playmaker).
To the average hokey fan, that is a very well balanced lineup and to be honest it truly is a very balanced offense. There are the scoring players, the playmakers, and the more gritty and defensive players. The unfortunate issue with the lineup as it sits is the lack of a number one center.
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Every single top level hockey team that has won the Stanley Cup in the past has had a distinct and/or seasoned number one center; a player like Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar, Pavel Datsyuk, Patrice Bergeron, etc. The Buffalo Sabres do not have a proven number one center on their roster.
The player that is basically cemented to be the number one center next season is Ryan O’Reilly (as it was hinted at by Coach Dan Bylsma at the NHL Draft). Though O’Reilly has not played as a top line center in the past, he does have the potential to play a great top line shutdown center role. He can produce at least 50 points per season, which is not first line numbers, but he will be winning face-offs, killing penalties, and shutting down the oppositions top players in lieu of the point production.
The Buffalo Sabres made their selection for their future top line center at the draft this year in Jack Eichel. Eichel is a top end scoring player that has a similar style to Ryan Getslaf and John Tavares. He can produce when he is needed and hopefully can develop that skill to the NHL pace of things.
The reality of next season is that the rebuild is in the upswing and winning games is at the forefront of the team’s goals. Without a top line center, the offense will be reliant on its wingers to do all of the work. Though that task is not an impossible one, as players like Alex Ovechkin and Rick Nash can run an offense well, Buffalo has no proven top line wingers.
Yes Buffalo has Evander Kane, but he is still yet to prove he is a consistent elite scorer in the NHL. He can score for sure, but it remains to be seen if he can be the go-to player for points every night.
As Jack Eichel develops his skills in the NHL, he will eventually fill this need that the Buffalo Sabres lack.
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