Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff will be a busy man throughout training camp. There are several critical decisions to make and a limited amount of time to make them with just four preseason games in a six-day span beginning Sept. 21.
The incredible strength of the Eastern Conference also leaves the reigning Atlantic Division champions with a limited margin for error. They don't want to dig themselves an early hole similar to last season, which required one of the best runs in NHL history to get back on track.
So, ensuring the Sabres' lineup is a well-oiled machine as quickly as possible is paramount, and it puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Ruff and his staff. Let's analyze some key questions that'll need to answer before the Oct. 1 season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Who will be the Sabres' first-line center?
Ruff would like to play Tage Thompson on the wing, which would help mask some of the superstar's weaknesses defensively and in the faceoff circle. Unfortunately for the Sabres, nobody's been able to step up in recent years to fill the void in the middle of the top line.
Josh Norris and Jiri Kulich have both been given the opportunity, but Norris has been unable to shake his longstanding injury issues and Kulich's offensive game was a bit slow to level up before he missed most of last season with a blood clot.
Those two players will probably be in the mix during camp once again, and it's possible prized prospect Konsta Helenius will also be given some looks alongside Thompson and Zach Benson, who should be ticketed for a first-line role after signing a long-term contract extension.
While it'd be great for the Sabres if one of those three players proves capable of bringing stability to one of the most important roles in hockey, it's far from a guarantee. Thompson centering Benson and Josh Doan still feels like the path of least resistance for Buffalo's top line.
Which top-nine Buffalo forward could be the odd man out?
As it stands, the Sabres have 10 centers and wingers to compete for nine spots on the top three lines during camp. It's still possible that changes if Buffalo pulls off a blockbuster trade for Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, a deal that would likely include a roster forward.
If that doesn't happen, someone will have to skate on the fourth line unless an injury pops up. The two most likely candidates are Noah Ostlund and Jason Zucker. (The Sabres could also start Kulich with the AHL's Rochester Americans if he needs more time to get back to full speed, but whether that's an option won't be known until practices get underway.)
Ostlund makes the most sense simply because of his defensive acumen. He'd have no problem handling a steady dose of D-zone starts alongside Beck Malenstyn and Peyton Krebs (or Sam Carrick). It would hinder the offensive development Buffalo hopes to see from him this season, though.
Zucker could also slide down to the fourth line, which would decrease his ice time at age 34 and give him more of a power-play focus. That said, he's an impending unrestricted free agent and would surely prefer a more prominent role to prove his value.
Who emerges as Owen Power's partner on the second pair?
The Sabres finally seemed to find an answer to his previously never-ending question last season with Bowen Byram, but his departure reopens the discussion. Michael Kesselring, another suggested solution in the past, is also gone after being dealt to the San Jose Sharks.
Olen Zellweger, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks and quickly signed to a three-year contract extension, is the logical answer. His defensive issues, which mostly stem from his undersized 5-foot-10 frame, make it less of a certainty, though.
Ruff may want a more defensively minded partner for Power, who could then try to unlock another level in terms of puck carrying and offensive-zone impact. Conor Timmins and Louis Crevier, who arrived in the Byram trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, are the options in that regard.
Ultimately, the Sabres may opt for a committee approach, with Zellweger joining Power in offensively focused situations and Timmins or Crevier jumping on the second pair to protect leads. But a Crevier breakthrough or Zellweger defensive improvement could change the equation for Buffalo.
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