Brian Gionta’s Return To The Buffalo Sabres Lineup Is Essential
Brian Gionta is the Buffalo Sabres current captain and he was yet again elected to the position by his coach this year. Through the preseason Gionta was one of the most evident leaders, especially while playing with rookie sensation Jack Eichel. Gionta was initially brought in to Buffalo to be the leader of the young players that were developing, but now with all of these kids being on the roster his job really starts. Brian Gionta is the kind of player that keeps his team united and focused, and the Sabres need that now.
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The Buffalo Sabres are 1-2 through their first three games, and honestly it has been a real enjoyment to watch all of these games so far. They have their defense tightening up, their offense rolling out, and the goaltending not terrible. But at times, I find myself wondering why they sometimes look like chickens without heads. The reason that this comes about is a lack of organization at times, and it’s understandable to see that with a new team.
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What the Sabres are truly missing right now is their leader; their captain Brian Gionta. Gionta is the kind of player that will keep his team unified and motivated no matter what the situation is. With the Sabres already grabbing their first win at the hands of the power play and Jack Eichel, they are on a bit of an upswing. This is where Brian Gionta’s leadership will come into play.
Now that his team has assembled their bearings a bit without him in the lineup, he needs now to keep them focused and prepared to turn this one win into a series of two or three. Winning one game and losing a bunch is not an option for the Buffalo Sabres this year, so Brian Gionta’s job is going to be to keep his team in line and ready for the next series of games.
The captain of a team is not just a figurehead, they are the player that defines what the team stands for as a whole. The kind of player that the captain of each team is exemplifies what the coach wants from his team as a whole. For example, Alex Ovechkin is a hard working offensive minded player, and his coach expects his team to follow his example and work just as hard; Dustin Brown of the LA Kings is a rough and tough power forward with a chip on his shoulder, and that is what his coach wants from his teammates as well. Brian Gionta is the player that defined determination and unity, and that is coach Bylsma’s ultimate message for this season.
Brian Gionta’s return is coming soon, and when it happens, the Buffalo Sabres will only benefit as a whole from having him in their lineup. His slight scoring touch and his overall leadership skills are only going to make this team better, faster.
Next: Sabres Return Brenden Guhle to Juniors
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