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Buffalo Sabres: Who will be their fifth and sixth defenseman?

By Robert Berger

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Phil Housley of the Buffalo Sabres speaks to the media following practice at Citi Field on December 31, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The team will take part in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Years Day against the New York Rangers. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Phil Housley of the Buffalo Sabres speaks to the media following practice at Citi Field on December 31, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The team will take part in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Years Day against the New York Rangers. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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With the consensus (here, here, and here)being that the Buffalo Sabres have their top 4 defenseman set: Zach Bogosian, Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Marco Scandella; there will be 4 defenseman battling for the final 2 spots in the lineup.

Due to injuries, instability, and overall poor play the Sabres had a revolving door at defense last season. 11 defenseman played more than 10 games with 2 more defenseman getting ice time. That can be contrasted with the 8 defenseman that suited up for the Sabres the last time the team made the playoffs.

In addition to the inconsistency in the lineup, the defense has slowly declined over the past 3 seasons in terms of GA/60 (goals allowed per 60 minutes of hockey) at even strength. Last season the Sabres were fifth worst in the league. Corsica Hockey had the Sabres defense rated as the fourth worst in the league last season.

Additionally, the same trend has persisted with the team’s points by defenseman. The points have steadily dropped in each of the last 3 seasons. In 2017-18, the Sabres had only 2 top defenseman in the top 30 defenseman point leaders…in the Atlantic Division.

Not all is doom and gloom for Phil Housley’s squad though. The Hall of Fame defenseman will be bringing back a healthy Zach Bogosian and have added the first overall pick in last year’s draft. The goaltending situation has also improved with the departure of Robin Lehner and Chad Johnson and the addition of Carter Hutton.

We have already reviewed Nathan Beaulieu, so let’s take a look at Jake McCabe, Matt Hunwick, and Brendan Guhle.

Who do you think will be the 5th and 6th defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres? Let us know in the comment section below.

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