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Buffalo Sabres: Players looking to have a turnaround season

By Robert Berger

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 01: Zach Bogosian #47 of the Buffalo Sabres skates during the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field on January 1, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 01: Zach Bogosian #47 of the Buffalo Sabres skates during the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field on January 1, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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buffalo sabres conor sheary addition
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 20: Conor Sheary #43 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center on March 20, 2018 in New York City. New York Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Conor Sheary

After a career year in 2016-17, Conor Sheary regressed significantly last season. All of his traditional statistics dropped, including an almost fifty percent drop in points, and he saw reduced ice time at both even-strength and on the power play. His playing time was diminished even more in the postseason, playing less than 10 minutes in 3 games.

"“When people were saying he couldn’t do it, he found a way. That sort of determination and compete and work ethic something we’re looking to bring to our group.” – Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill"

The undrafted left wing will be filling a different role in Buffalo than he did during his 3 seasons in Pittsburgh. Sheary brings playoff experience to Buffalo after playing in 57 postseason games in 3 seasons with the Penguins including scoring the game winning overtime goal in game 2 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final against the Sharks. Kyle Okposo is the only other Sabre amongst the top 6 forwards that have played in the postseason.

The good news for the Sabres is that this season is the proverbial contract year for Sheary. The longstanding hope for players in their contract year, the last year of the current contract, is that they will explode with big numbers as they yearn for the elusive big number, big term deal. If not, Sheary’s contract will be easily tradable if the season goes sideways for the Sabres.

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