Sabre Noise
Fansided

Three key players for the new-look Sabres turnaround

By David De Cristofaro

BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 16: Henri Jokiharju #10 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on as Jack Eichel #9 celebrates his third goal of the game to give Buffalo a 3-2 lead during the third period of play against the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center on November 16, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 16: Henri Jokiharju #10 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on as Jack Eichel #9 celebrates his third goal of the game to give Buffalo a 3-2 lead during the third period of play against the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center on November 16, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
HAMILTON, ON – JANUARY 16: Jack Quinn #22 of Team Red skates during warm up for the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team White at FirstOntario Centre on January 16, 2020 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
HAMILTON, ON – JANUARY 16: Jack Quinn #22 of Team Red skates during warm up for the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team White at FirstOntario Centre on January 16, 2020 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Which players will help the Buffalo Sabres head in the right direction in 2021 and lead them to the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The NHL and NHLPA have agreed on a 56-game season with 23-man rosters, and the Buffalo Sabres are ready to make some noise in a realigned East Division. With training camp approaching and a new season set to begin on January 13th, the Sabres are looking to make the playoffs in 2021 for the first time since 2011, nine seasons ago- The longest drought of any NHL team.

The team has made some big changes since last year’s disappointing end, missing the NHL restart and the expanded playoffs and increasing team Captain Jack Eichel’s frustrations.

Only a couple of months later and the club has a new look, with Kevyn Adams at the helm as the new GM, he has been steadily rebuilding the organization and improving the team with an active approach to the offseason.

Jack Quinn

Among those include additions such as Jack Quinn, whom the team selected with the eighth overall pick in October’s NHL draft as well as the top free agent on the market, Taylor Hall, to surround Eichel. These three players are key to the Sabres turnaround.

At age 19, Jack Quinn was actually considered one of the older players in the draft with 1st-year eligibility- But also one of the top natural scorers. The versatile forward had a breakout year and was second in the league scoring with 52 goals and 37 assists last year in a COVID-shortened season with the Ottawa 67’s.

Quinn forwent AAA to go right to the CCHL and OHL, and his puck skills allow him to both keep defenders off their game while extending possessions on the offensive end of the ice. His intelligence and foresight for playmaking will allow him to make an immediate impact both directly, as well as for his teammates.

Home/Sabres News