The Buffalo Sabres officially put their playoff drought behind them this season by reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, for fans set to watch the Stanley Cup Finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes, they will be reminded of two players who were expected to help turn the franchise around but failed to do so.
There is no question that fans remember Jack Eichel, who was the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and spent six seasons in Buffalo before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021. He has gone on to have great success with the Golden Knights and is chasing his second Stanley Cup.
This year, though, Eichel will be facing former Buffalo Sabres teammate Taylor Hall, who had a much shorter tenure than Eichel but not one that Sabres fans easily have forgotten. He joined the Sabres prior to the 2020-21 season on a one-year deal.
However, he didn't even last the full season and played only 37 games before being traded to the Boston Bruins right before the trade deadline. He was expected to help improve the offense, but managed only two goals and a +/- of -21 during his time in Buffalo.
It is worth noting that the first goal came in the season opener and was the first goal the Buffalo Sabres had that season. It would end up being a power play goal that Jack Eichel also recorded an assist on.
Taylor Hall found his scoring touch immediately after leaving Buffalo
What made things even more frustrating was that he immediately found his scoring touch in Boston with eight goals in only 16 games after being traded.
Since that trade, Hall played two more seasons in Boston before joining the Chicago Blackhawks, then being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes last season. This past season, Hall had 18 goals and 30 assists for the Hurricanes, but improved his performance in the playoffs with five goals and 11 assists in just 13 playoff games.
The Buffalo Sabres clearly look to be on the right path after the season they had, putting the drought era behind them. Unfortunately, they are going to be reminded at least one more time, watching the Stanley Cup Final, of what could have been.
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