Buffalo Sabres: Training camp roster breakdown

At this point, the Buffalo Sabres offense can only improve. In terms of production, the Sabres have been in the bottom 3 in the league in goal scored the last 3 seasons, including being the only team in the league that failed to score 200 goals last season.

The bad news is that the Sabres are starting this year without past offensive leaders Evander Kane and Ryan O’Reilly.  Kane left in a midseason trade to the San Jose Sharks, and Ryan O’Reilly, O’Reilly left in the trade to St. Louis that brought in Berglund, Sobotka, and Thompson.

Jason Botterill has attempted to replace their offense with the addition of forward Jeff Skinner. Skinner has eclipsed 20 goals 6 times in his career and has accumulated more than 250 shots in 5 different seasons.

The top six for the Sabres is set in terms of who they are but not necessarily who will skate on which line. The top centers will be Jack Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt. Mittelstadt is gearing to have a breakout season and is another Calder hopeful in addition to Dahlin. Sam Reinhart (who still needs to be resigned)will be on the right wing with Eichel and veteran Kyle Okposo will be on the second line with Mittelstadt.

The question will be where to place Skinner and Sheary. Skinner is clearly the most talented of the two however Mittelstadt can benefit from a big producer on his wing, especially since Sheary declined substantially last season and is more of an uncertainty than Skinner.