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I Cannot See Buffalo Missing the Playoffs Next Year

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CanadianCoyote

CanadianCoyote

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Oct 11, 2020
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Ontario, Canada
Looking at their division...
  • Washington (competing for division lead)
  • Boston (likely competing for division lead)
  • Philadelphia (competing for division lead)
  • NYI (likely competing for division lead)
  • Pittsburgh (probable wild card team)
  • NYR (competitive, but not playoff-caliber)
  • NJ (still rebuilding)
My thinking is Buffalo ends up in with the Rangers as competitive, but not playoff-caliber. They have a good offense, but that back-end is not great, chief.
 
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NotLeddy

NotLeddy

Trust the Yzerscam
Oct 23, 2018
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Well, the way I see Buffalo this season...

Staal pickup was okay, he struggled in the second half of the season and is 35, I think being a 2C is better for him, but I don't know if I expect him to be a huge difference maker. Him and Skinner did not have good chemistry together from what I've seen from Carolina fans.

Eakin and Rieder are junk, shouldn't have been signed. There were better value UFAs available. Still out there though, I think that might be Buffalo's preferred option to go for the Granlunds, Hoffmans, rather than trade for Johnson. They might be a suitor for Killorn though, I do think that would be a good pickup for Buffalo.

Obviously Taylor Hall is still a great offensive top line winger and you don't know what Hall you're gonna get, the Hart trophy winner or him vs Colorado in the playoffs this summer. Wouldn't be too surprised if he bounces back.

Olofsson is not a good 5v5 player, and actually hurt Eichel's offensive impact when they play together last season. He's a power play specialist, I don't want to compare him to Martin Frk, I think Olofsson can reach 40-45 pts in an 82 game season with ample opportunity, I just am not convinced he's a top 6 player on a playoff team.

upload_2020-12-10_10-40-52.png


Skinner needs to bounce back for the Sabres' sake obviously, but kwe're likely not seeing a 40 goal scorer ever again. I do think a fair amount of bounceback is expected given his resume in the NHL, and I do think 20 goals, 50 pts-ish is reasonable. But that contract is hard to live up to.

But they didn't improve their defense enough, and you're just banking on Dahlin taking it to the next level (who hopefully is not in Kruger's doghouse all season) and Miller having a bounceback year. A lot of teams got better defensively, and it being a big weakness last season, they really need to improve there to make the playoffs.

Goaltending is volatile, obviously Hutton can bounce back or Ullmark can continue the strong season at even strength he had last season, but was it a fluke? I like Ullmark, I personally think he'll be another .910 ish starter for them. But to make the playoffs with the proposed division, they'll need to have a lot go their way.
 
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LEAFANFORLIFE23

Registered User
Jun 17, 2010
45,604
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KyleDubasBoyGeniua said:
I don't care how many years in a row they've missed. It's irrelevant now. They have the key pieces to win and Hall will have a huge year of 40 goals. Some depth and goaltending concerns, but those will be overcome with a star core taking the next step. They finally have the right coach in place. Stick with him. Dahlin and Eichel will have their best seasons yet.
Click to expand...

This is a joke right? They haven't got a shot, they have weakest goalie tandem in the east and are easily bottom 5 in the NHL in that area and you can't win if that's the case.

Even NJ, who I do expect them to finish ahead of has Blackwood and Crawford.

The Buffalo Sabres are not a good team, Hall MIGHT pull them out of the bottom 10 but that's as far as that goes.
 

4Twenty

Registered User
Dec 18, 2018
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They have no goaltending and their defense can’t defend well.

Weird that you took a dump on Vegas but are pumping the Sabres tires.
 
JoVel

JoVel

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Jan 23, 2017
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I can easily see them missing. My argument would be that they're the f***ing Buffalo Sabres.
 
SirQuacksALot

SirQuacksALot

A Garibaldi in Kelp
Mar 16, 2010
7,622
846
CanadianCoyote said:
Looking at their division...
  • Washington (competing for division lead)
  • Boston (likely competing for division lead)
  • Philadelphia (competing for division lead)
  • NYI (likely competing for division lead)
  • Pittsburgh (probable wild card team)
  • NYR (competitive, but not playoff-caliber)
  • NJ (still rebuilding)
My thinking is Buffalo ends up in with the Rangers as competitive, but not playoff-caliber. They have a good offense, but that back-end is not great, chief.
Click to expand...

This is where I'm at. Buffalo looks like it should be a better team, and I think a lot of people are eager to see the team in action, but this division contains a lot of good to great teams. This probably isn't their year to make the playoffs, and it's due to circumstances beyond their control.
 
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Halakitlikethat

Halakitlikethat

Registered User
Oct 10, 2013
4,168
3,258
British Columbia
KyleDubasBoyGeniua said:
I don't care how many years in a row they've missed. It's irrelevant now. They have the key pieces to win and Hall will have a huge year of 40 goals. Some depth and goaltending concerns, but those will be overcome with a star core taking the next step. They finally have the right coach in place. Stick with him. Dahlin and Eichel will have their best seasons yet.
Click to expand...
I’ve heard this the last 4 or 5 off seasons . I think it is relevant still as there is losing culture stink on that team . It’s the same thing with Edmonton
 
Tralfamadore

Tralfamadore

Don't Panic.
Sep 25, 2011
8,665
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CanadianCoyote said:
Looking at their division...
  • Washington (competing for division lead)
  • Boston (likely competing for division lead)
  • Philadelphia (competing for division lead)
  • NYI (likely competing for division lead)
  • Pittsburgh (probable wild card team)
  • NYR (competitive, but not playoff-caliber)
  • NJ (still rebuilding)
My thinking is Buffalo ends up in with the Rangers as competitive, but not playoff-caliber. They have a good offense, but that back-end is not great, chief.
Click to expand...

Ya... they're gonna get stomped. The only team on that list I can confidently say they are better than is the Devils.
 
shadow1

shadow1

Registered User
Nov 29, 2008
16,591
5,233
The Sabres offense will be better, after upgrading from Johansson, Sheary, and Vesey -> Eakin, Hall, and Staal.

But last season Buffalo were in the bottom third of the league in goalie SV% (.900), were 30th on the PK, and didn't make any changes on the back end, in net, or to the coaching staff.

I expect them to be better and have a shot at making the playoffs. But you're wearing some pretty rosy glasses if you "cannot see" them missing the playoffs.
 
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John Eichel da GOAT

John Eichel da GOAT

Registered User
Oct 7, 2008
6,486
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I really want it but I dont see it. Eichel/Hall have McDavid/Draisaitl potential on offense, but the defense still IMO is 100% bottom 5 and I'd say 2nd worst behind Detroit. The goaltending is a reflection of the defense and while Ullmark is not awful, he isnt elite either. The PK was god awful last season. How did they they improve that?

I get that a shortened season may be good for them, but in their division are they better than:

Bruins - No
Devils - maybe
Islanders - No
Rangers - No
Flyers - No
Penguins - No
Capitals - No

That is a tough ask to beat out 4 of these teams.
 

LEAFANFORLIFE23

Registered User
Jun 17, 2010
45,604
14,465
John Eichel da GOAT said:
I really want it but I dont see it. Eichel/Hall have McDavid/Draisaitl potential on offense, but the defense still IMO is 100% bottom 5 and I'd say 2nd worst behind Detroit. The goaltending is a reflection of the defense and while Ullmark is not awful, he isnt elite either. The PK was god awful last season. How did they they improve that?

I get that a shortened season may be good for them, but in their division are they better than:

Bruins - No
Devils - maybe
Islanders - No
Rangers - No
Flyers - No
Penguins - No
Capitals - No

That is a tough ask to beat out 4 of these teams.
Click to expand...

Eichel and Hall do not have Mcdavid and Draisatil potential
 
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GIN ANTONIC

GIN ANTONIC

Registered User
Aug 19, 2007
18,880
14,896
Toronto, ON
Are they better than Washignton? No
Are they better than Philly? No
Are they better than Boston? No, until proven otherwise
Are they better than Pittsburgh? No, until proven otherwise
Are they better than NYI? No, until proven otherwise
Are they better than NYR? Probably not but I could see them neck and neck
Are they better than NJ? Yes

It's a tough hill to climb for them to get into the playoffs. Their top 6 is great but a lot of new faces so will they all mesh? Bottom 6 is not good. Defense for the most part is not good. Goalies are not good. A lot will have to go right for them to make the playoffs.
 
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joe dirte

Registered User
Sep 28, 2017
9,430
3,559
CanadianSniper said:
Boston is very clearly better. NYI as well as long as Trotz is coaching. You can make an arguement for NYR and Pittsburgh. I think the only team they are clearly better than is NJ.
Click to expand...
Buffalo has slowly been improving year by year.

And the clock is ticking on Boston. I actually think there is a decent chance they miss the playoffs this year.
 
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