Do we get out of the bottom 8 this year?

[Snippit]

The Sabres have not finished outside of the bottom 8 since 2012.

That's 6 straight years of being in the bottom 8 teams in the league.

Is this finally the year where we make it out of the bottom quarter?

Click to read more...

 

[Zman5778]

It's going to be close.

Ottawa, Montreal, Detroit and Vancouver are comfortably worse than us.

We're in that next group with the Isles, Rangers, Hurricanes and Coyotes.

And that doesn't account for a possible surprise crap year (Vegas? Ducks? Flames? Oilers? Blackhawks? Panthers? Wild? Avs?)

 

[TehDoak]

I'll give it a solid maybe. We could improve 15 points and still be out of the bottom 8 based on last years standings.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Yes.

 

[Sabre Dance]

I'll give it a solid maybe. We could improve 15 points and still be out of the bottom 8 based on last years standings.

Last year was last. Team is different.

 

[Dreakon13]

I'm going to be bold and say Yes. Though the easy and safest answer is to bet against us.

 

[Gabrielor]

Yes. Tough to say how much further though.

 

[TheStorm]

Gonna have to say no until I start seeing them win actual regular season games

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Yes. This team will be closer to a playoff spot then a top 5 pick.

The 18-19 Sabres are probably the best Sabres team since 2007. Not that its saying much but I cant remember a Sabres iteration that had elite talent up front and on the blue line.

 

[sabrebuild]

Yes. This team will be closer to a playoff spot then a top 5 pick.

The 18-19 Sabres are probably the best Sabres team since 2007. Not that its saying much but I cant remember a Sabres iteration that had elite talent up front and on the blue line.

This team is better than the playoff iterations? Okie dokie.

 

[Sabre the Win]

85 to 90 points should get us out of the bottom 8 which is what I am hoping for because if not I am starting up the fire housley campaign.

80 points and I will hold judgement but no less than 80 points.

 

[jc17]

I feel like the easy pick is no, we don't get out of the bottom 8, but I don't think its a lost cause.

The numbers say we don't but there are always surprises, like vegas

 

[OkimLom]

Right now I have:

Ottawa, Detroit, Montreal, Arizona, and Vancouver as worse teams most likely. IMO, looking at everything with this team, We might be better than NYR and Carolina. There will probably be a team or two that drops significantly. Hopefully our main guns stay healthy all year. At best I think we're in the 9th-10th worst team in the league.

But even then, I haven't seen enough sustainability of the little things that lead to puck possession and other aspects of the game that better teams do, vs NHL caliber teams. We almost had to go to OT vs an ECHL level team, because once again, we started to crack under the pressure of the other team coming back, and that had more to do than just goaltending. Of course, this is preseason, and we may or may not need to read too much in to that. There's a lot left unanswered, and I don't believe we have a coach on the bench that can bring out the best from this team with their decisions. I think it hampers what these guys can do.

I voted no because there's not enough known about this team, other than we're faster (which helps, but isn't everything). There's not enough to have a concrete answer. We will have injuries to our guys. I'm not sure if we're deep enough in talent to lose one of our big pieces through the year to sustain good play. Could I see the talent carrying us past the bottom 8, yes, but a lot would need to go right.

 

[Myllz]

I sure as hell hope so. They're certainly capable of doing it, but we'll have to see how they play as a team. I'll go the optimistic route and say yes.

 

[Derg12]

We're still a lottery team, but I would believe jumping out of the bottom 8 is a realistic goal. Whether they get there is another story as it's a milestone that's heavy on the optimism.

I need to see them play throughout October to get a feeling on points expectations - right now, I'd be satisfied with 75ish points. We'll see if that holds up.

 

[Buffaloed]

Sabres are going to the Super Bowl!

 

[Phil McKraken]

Right now I have:

Ottawa, Detroit, Montreal, Arizona, and Vancouver as worse teams most likely. IMO, looking at everything with this team, We might be better than NYR and Carolina. There will probably be a team or two that drops significantly. Hopefully our main guns stay healthy all year. At best I think we're in the 9th-10th worst team in the league.

I could see the Sabres finishing ahead of the Blackhawks and the Avs too, not because they're better but because they can beat up on the Sens, Wings and Habs all season long while the competition in the Central is terrifying this year.

 

[Icicle]

Playoffs

 

[GellMann]

Yes. This team will be closer to a playoff spot then a top 5 pick.

The 18-19 Sabres are probably the best Sabres team since 2007. Not that its saying much but I cant remember a Sabres iteration that had elite talent up front and on the blue line.

The 09-10 team won a division and had 100 points.

The division must have been weak...but you really think we're getting 100 points? Or the 96 of the following year?

I mean I'd love it, but I can't imagine expecting it

 

[Yatzhee]

I don't see the Sabres as a bottom 10 team this year. Multiple reasons as to why, but to summarize, youth + new attitude + goaltending.

 

[Dingo44]

No surprises in who voted for which choice in this poll.

I voted Yes.

 

[Jamie Walker]

No surprises in who voted for which choice in this poll.

I voted Yes.

I concur!

 

[Jamie Walker]

this team has seen a major change; player wise, and attitude wise. I expect them to be fast, dangerous, deep, and physical. in short.... playoff +

 

[Snippit]

No surprises in who voted for which choice in this poll.

I voted Yes.

Eh it's not like predicting a bottom 8 is an unreasonable take for the team that finished in last place in 3 of the last 5 years.

 

[pigpen65]

Easily. You can't discount how huge it is that this team is almost completely clear of the Tim Murray stink.