How the Buffalo Sabres can improve in the offseason

Well it’s almost the end of March which means we’re approximately one month away until the end of the NHL regular season. Even though the Buffalo Sabres will be missing the playoffs for a 11th straight season, there’s a real optimism for this team that hasn’t been there in a very long time.

But there is always room for improvement. This is how general manager Kevyn Adams can further build his roster in the upcoming offseason to end this long playoff drought.

Buffalo Sabres must build around core while improving goaltending, defense

Goaltending will be the number one priority for the Sabres in the offseason. Kevyn Adams brought in Craig Anderson to keep the ship afloat. When he first signed, it didn’t look like the smartest transaction, but now, it would be great for Anderson remain with the Sabres. That’s if he doesn’t retire.

Buffalo already has Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the pipeline and he should be in Buffalo to start next season. If they can’t resign Anderson, it’s possible the Sabres could bring in a veteran goalie such as Marc Andre-Fleury or Braden Holtby to help out Luukkonen. We’ll see who the team brings in but I think goaltending is the number one priority for Buffalo.

Getting better defensively is where the Sabres can also improve in the offseason. Rasmus Dahlin has been very good recently and the team has young players such as Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson and Casey Fitzgerald who are getting a feel of the league.

Then there are stellar prospects. Owen Power and Ryan Johnson will be getting a taste of the NHL as well. Buffalo should bolster their defense because it does need to get better.

They have the prospects. And even though they haven’t played a game in the NHL yet, it would be nice to see them bring in some players who can not only help out the young guys, but help the team in general.

Lastly, they need to build around the core players. I think the core players are good enough to help this team become better. You look at the names like Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs and other players.

They are doing a lot better with this group of players and not repeating what they did when they had Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. There are some good names out there in the free agency pool.

The question is: Can Buffalo bring them in? We’ll see what happens but Sabres fans should feel really good going forward and hopefully they can improve during this offseason.