As we give thanks north of the border, Sabres fans give thanks for one man, Taylor Hall. Hall pushed his chips all in on a 1 year, 8M contract with the Sabres this week and really solidified the top 6 with Eric Stall joining the group in mid-September. The question is, is this enough to put the Sabres over the hump?
Offence: The Sabres top 6 can now rival any in the NHL. Eichel and Stall up the middle with Hall, Reinhart, Skinner and rookie sensation Viktor Olofsson to round out the top 6. The bottom 6 is where it gets interesting. Can Mittlestadt and Asplund be difference makers? Can Cozens crack the line up? Can Okposo stay healthy? Can Girgensons ratchet up his nasty play? There is a lot to be hopeful for in Buffalo, but you can’t win on hope.
Defence: Everything runs through the Rasmus’. Dahlin is a year older and is expected to take another step this season. Ristolainen has been the rumour of trade talks for a few seasons now, but I think the Sabres would be looking for the exact same player if they ever moved him. After the big 2, their D gets as limp as Pats D after too many beers. McCabe, Montour, Jokiharju and Miller is as by committee as it gets. Desperately lacking goals from the back end, the Sabres need to get more pucks through from the point and really up Dahlin’s minutes if they want to make a playoff push with this back end.
Goaltending: To me, this is the achilles heel of the Sabres organization. With a glutton of goalies on the current market, you can’t expect to be battling for a playoff spot with Ullmark and Hutton as your 1-2 punch. Their goalie of the future, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is still a few years away and the time is now with Hall on a 1 year deal. Personally, I would move on from 34 year old Carter Hutton, set my sites on Marc-Andre Fleury and call it a day. Ullmark is only 27, Ukko-Pekka is 21 and with 2 years left on MAF’s contract, it could be a nice transition for the Sabres current net issues.
Give us your 2 cents? Are the Sabres a playoff team?
Comments
10 Replies to “Are the Buffalo Sabres a playoff team?”
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Great take on this! The buds have made some great moves since than and I’m looking forward to seeing what the boys can do on the ice next season!
They got to make it at some point eh! Butland picks them every year, law of numbers say he has to be right at some point. What about the Leafs? Can they make the playoffs this year?
Sabres are a playoff team if they get to play the leafs 30 times a yr.. otherwise they have to prove it. I never think of the Sabres as a playoff team before the season starts.. Their history speaks for its self
If they could go back to 2009 then I would agree. Leafs have had Barfalos number lately.
I’d say in 3-5 yrs buffalo may have a team. Hall, being a great asset to the team, but also has been pretty invisible in the past few seasons. Yes a great player, but seems he’s already hit his pinnacle.
Both goalies at the moment don’t seem to have what it will take to get the job done, but then again, look at what , robin lehner. At one point pretty much washed up, totally turned his life and game around to come out on top. So I guess it will come down to defence. Lol. Good luck.
They have to make the playoffs this year…Eichel isn’t going to stay patient forever. Hall could put up huge numbers beside Jack this season, reminiscent of his 2017-18 season. Surprised they didn’t upgrade at G, that could come back to haunt them. Nice write up dummies!
well they’ll make the playoffs before the Habs will lol
Great read!
The Sabres bottom 4 is a limp as the Pat’s D
😂😂
I love the Fleury proposal, makes sense, but he’s still 36, probably better than Hutton.
Looking forward to more rumors, stats & one liners 👍👍
Sabres are one even semi hot, goalie away from playoff contention
That Atlantic division continues to be the god damn best
Get a goalie and we will talk. Should be able to do it with a wacky goalie market this off season