Are Times Changing in Buffalo?
Mike's question this week focuses on a team who bore the brunt of our mocking humour last season, the Buffalo Sabres.
"The Buffalo Sabres are pretty much a whole new team, do they have what it takes to make the playoffs next season?"
So far in the post season, Buffalo have been planning ahead for the future and their picks appear to have been wise ones. They smartly selected hot prospect Sam Reinhart 2nd overall at the NHL Draft in Philadelphia. This young centre has put up impressive numbers for Kootenay Ice in the WHL and he gives the Buffalo franchise new talent to be excited about! In the last few years, they have been without a stand out player, but in Reinhart they have a potential superstar in waiting and they have constructed a great sounding board in which to build the team around him.
Brendan Lemieux, son of former Montreal and Colorado winder Claude was also selected 31st overall which gives them another future star to work around because on his heritage alone, he is a reason to get excited. But aside from youth, Buffalo has also made another sensible free agency signing in former Montreal captain, Brian Gionta. This man has always been a solid 1st/2nd liner and he will be an invaluable resource for this team, particular as a mentor to the younger players.
The only real surprise has been the re-acquisition of Matt Moulson, who played only a half season for Buffalo last season before being traded to Minnesota. Moulson had made it clear he had no wish to play for the Sabres during their dismal season last year- but now he has inked a five year deal worth $25 million. Secretly I wonder if the same problem will emerge again because Moulson is a player who desperately wants to win and Buffalo cannot guarantee this for immediately.
I do not expect Buffalo to start making a killing immediately in the 2014/15 season but I have faith that their win-loss rate will steadily increase. The hockey world may have laughed at them last year, but new GM Tim Murray is preparing for the years ahead and his gambles could well be cleverly played!
"The Buffalo Sabres are pretty much a whole new team, do they have what it takes to make the playoffs next season?"
So far in the post season, Buffalo have been planning ahead for the future and their picks appear to have been wise ones. They smartly selected hot prospect Sam Reinhart 2nd overall at the NHL Draft in Philadelphia. This young centre has put up impressive numbers for Kootenay Ice in the WHL and he gives the Buffalo franchise new talent to be excited about! In the last few years, they have been without a stand out player, but in Reinhart they have a potential superstar in waiting and they have constructed a great sounding board in which to build the team around him.
Brendan Lemieux, son of former Montreal and Colorado winder Claude was also selected 31st overall which gives them another future star to work around because on his heritage alone, he is a reason to get excited. But aside from youth, Buffalo has also made another sensible free agency signing in former Montreal captain, Brian Gionta. This man has always been a solid 1st/2nd liner and he will be an invaluable resource for this team, particular as a mentor to the younger players.
The only real surprise has been the re-acquisition of Matt Moulson, who played only a half season for Buffalo last season before being traded to Minnesota. Moulson had made it clear he had no wish to play for the Sabres during their dismal season last year- but now he has inked a five year deal worth $25 million. Secretly I wonder if the same problem will emerge again because Moulson is a player who desperately wants to win and Buffalo cannot guarantee this for immediately.
I do not expect Buffalo to start making a killing immediately in the 2014/15 season but I have faith that their win-loss rate will steadily increase. The hockey world may have laughed at them last year, but new GM Tim Murray is preparing for the years ahead and his gambles could well be cleverly played!
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated and may take a while to appear. This is because the authors are busy/lazy/away.