One major network predicts Buffalo Sabres will end playoff drought
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres aren’t far from sitting in one of the two wild card slots as we dive deeper into the season’s second half.
The Hockey News recently evaluated each of the Atlantic Division’s top four teams and they made a gutsy prediction, believing the Buffalo Sabres to make the playoffs. Thanks to their high scoring output and improved goaltending, this prediction isn’t so far-fetched, even if Buffalo is, at best this season, a middle-of-the-road team.
But that’s better than they’ve been in the past decade, sans a season or two. No, they aren’t a consistent team, but thanks to their youth, the Sabres are more likely to outpace older opponents as the season wears on, especially thanks to their long break between games – February 1st through February 11th.
The Hockey News has the Buffalo Sabres just making the playoffs
Adam Proteau of The Hockey News cited the Sabres five-game win streak that included triumphs over the NHL’s best teams like the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets. Even more impressive, they did this on the road with two different goaltenders in the net, showing the league they can win games whether they place Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Eric Comrie, or Craig Anderson between the pipes.
Proteau also mentioned the possibility of the Sabres further surprising the league and deviating from Kevyn Adams’ plan that they would pull off a blockbuster deal. While this team has proven capable of winning without a big trade, plus the fact they would do well to re-sign their own talent before bringing anyone in, the NHL is all about smokescreens this time of the year.
More. 3 players the Buffalo Sabres could trade at the deadline. light
They listed the Sabres current cap space – $18.2 million – and young talent like Jakob Chychrun and Timo Meier as potential trade candidates. Of course, such a trade (or two) would spark interest among the fanbase. But at this point, I highly doubt they will trade for anyone from the outside before inking their own players to long-term extensions.
Article Source: KEEPING UP WITH THE NHL’S ATLANTIC DIVISION: TOP FOUR by Adam Proteau
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