Exactly.
No offense to Tavares, but Buffalo doesn't need that type of player in a veteran leadership role. They have scoring talent all over the place, the NHL club, their pipeline. They were a top 3 scoring team last season, the coach openly stated prior to this seasons start scoring wasnt an issue, defensive play across the roster was. Since Ja. 1st, guess which team is #1 in fewest goals per game allowed? The Buffalo Sabres.
What they need is the complimentary veteran leadership pieces that match with their talent, not more talent that doesn't bring those additional tangibles. They sacrificed their run and gun style for 2 reasons. 1st, to allow the goalies to mature at the NHL level, anyone paying attention can see UPL has arrived, with Levi getting a taste then sent to Rochester to bolster that maturation in net philosophy, and 2nd to get the team playing a 200 ft game, and as most teams that play the Sabres since Jan. 1st are finding out, it's much harder to get prime scoring chances against the Sabres these days.
This proves Granato's philosophy is working, even if it sacrifices 1 more season of playoff appearance. Adams and Granato stated their goals very clearly early on 3 seasons ago, to set up the Sabres for longterm success. Most Sabres fans have had a hard time digesting that after all they've been through with the failed first rebuild attempt and the merry-go-round of 1st time GM's and Coaching staffs, but they are stacked up and down the organization with talent, this management and coaching staffs goals are working. It's why moving Middlestadt was easy to do without hindering those goals. They are such a young team, and they are starting to figure it out. They will be harder and harder to play against as time moves forward.
Tavares is a great player, but not at all what the Sabres need.