Buffalo Sabres prove the goal is to reinforce, not rebuild
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres have officially ended the ongoing fan debate as to whether they should have kept winning or have kept losing for a higher draft pick.
It took them 80 games, but the Buffalo Sabres won four games in a row for the first time in their 2021-22 campaign. And while much of the Sabres faithful felt the team was better off losing to secure a higher lottery selection, the Sabres proved they only need reinforcement.
Gone are the days of sputtering on high draft picks who fail to live to expectations. Something the Sabres grew notorious for over the past decade with countless picks. No, after standing at 16-8-3 since March 2nd (35 points), they no longer have any need for even a top-ten pick.
Buffalo Sabres prove they do not need high draft picks
Perpetual losing is a punch in the gut to the team morale, faith in the head coach and management, faith from team ownership, and faith from the fanbase. And it would just mean the team would likely once again try to start off with a clean slate.
Something that has not worked over the past decade. So why keep making the same mistake?
Instead, head coach Don Granato has gotten the best out of his current roster. A roster he and Kevyn Adams realize can beat anyone.
They are beating the lower-echelon teams handedly, as they showed earlier today against the New York Islanders. And in March and through the first part of April, the Sabres further showed they can hang with the NHL’s best teams.
Besides, the Sabres practically have a solid list of reinforcements looking to join the NHL ranks permanently. Jack Quinn, J.J. Peterka, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will make the permanent jump – assuming the organization re-signs Luukkonen.
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Further, look for Adams to re-sign most of who he has. If the Sabres can win with the current roster, the time has also come to keep that roster intact. Something is brewing in Buffalo, and the Sabres have proven, time and again over the past two months, they no longer need to bring in high draft picks.