I Cannot See Buffalo Missing the Playoffs Next Year

[The Burdened]

this is the most important season since 2007 for the Sabres.

if they can make it, that means the group clicked and they have a really great shot at re-signing Hall and keeping the group together.

if they still can't get it done even with the biggest UFA signing in franchise history, Hall bails, everything falls apart, a certain player may say "f*** this. I'll never win here. I want out" and they might be looking at another rebuild.

 

[HaNotsri]

We have no back up goalie and Ullmark as a "starter"
D is at best suspect
Lost one of our most useful forwards in Larsson, now Lazar/Eakin will have to carry the defense unless Eichel plays 300 minutes a night.

You need ok goaltending and defense to make the playoffs unless you have outstanding forwards. We don't have any of that.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

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.

I can. I'm a huge Sabres fan for 50 years. One word. Goalies.

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

I can. I'm a huge Sabres fan for 50 years. One word. Goalies.

D as well. You can throw Hellebuyck in there and you still have only Dahlin who hasnt figured it out defensively yet and a bunch of blah in front of him. This team has no chance of playoffs.

 

[HockeyFan100]

I see this thread every year and they never make it.

 

[Langdon Alger]

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.

Hall will score 40 goals in a 56 game season?

 

[Regal]

We have no back up goalie and Ullmark as a "starter"
D is at best suspect
Lost one of our most useful forwards in Larsson, now Lazar/Eakin will have to carry the defense unless Eichel plays 300 minutes a night.

You need ok goaltending and defense to make the playoffs unless you have outstanding forwards. We don't have any of that.

The top 6 could be one of the best if everyone plays their best and stays healthy, but that's not usually how it goes.

 

[HaNotsri]

The top 6 could be one of the best if everyone plays their best and stays healthy, but that's not usually how it goes.

I'd say its a among the ten best in the league.

Defense is in the bottom ten due to lack of actual defensive ability and goalkeeping could be the worst in the league.

Forward depth is a question mark as well.

 

[Tryblot]

It's the annual HF "predict Pittsburgh misses the playoffs THIS time" thread.

At some point, they'll be right. Ignore the fact they were wrong 99% of the rest of the time.

Have they played in the playoffs in the last two years? Sure, they made it, but they weren't remotely competitive.

 

[dma0034]

Sabres have had the talent the last two years to make it. Problem is they don't have a great system or consistency. Dahlin and Joker will both have to put it completely together before I see them making it. Taylor Hall doesn't provide enough offense to offset the poor backend. I hope I'm wrong

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Well, the way I see Buffalo this season...


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.

I'm not going to argue with your larger point, but I find this assessment odd. Olofsson had 42 points in 54 games in his rookie year in the NHL. I get that playing with Eichel probably inflated his points a little, but there were only 10 players with more PPGs than him this past season, and all of them played more games than him. That says something about his shot and goal-scoring ability. Whatever his defensive issues, he can clearly produce offense I think.

 

[FerrisRox]

How is Boston clearly better? Pasta and Marchand are not expected to be ready until mid Jan

So, the start of the season?

 

[al secord]

They're probably not getting out of that division.

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

Have they played in the playoffs in the last two years? Sure, they made it, but they weren't remotely competitive.

In their defense, they did go back to back 4 and 5 years ago. Lets not pretend like Crosby and Malkin have completely fallen off and are done. They could easily bounce back and do it again.

 

[bobholly39]

I'm only sold on Washington and Philly being better in that group.

There's a difference between looking better on paper - and who executes better within season at making the playoffs.

You said Boston is due for a big regression. Sure, maybe - I don't disagree per se. But they are president's champion (and were so comfortably last year). That's a huge drop to miss playoffs.

Pittsburgh. Miss the playoffs? They haven't missed once in the Crosby/Malkin era. And anytime they were close or on the verge of missing - either Crosby, Malkin - or both - went on a such a scoring spree and put the team on their back to ensure it wouldn't happen. I'm sorry but not a single team in the NHL has a better track record at not missing playoffs - and to me they're 100% in. Making the playoffs for a team with Crosby/Malkin is an extremely low bar.

NYI - I agree on paper aren't anything special, maybe even behind Buffalo. But 2 years in a row they qualified, and went to final 4 last year. They're a team that keeps surpassing expectations. You don't discount that.

NYR has a new goalie with a ton of promise - are adding Lafreniere who could have an impact in year 1 - have Zib and Panarin who both had insane seasons last year - and had an overall great season last year despite slow start. They have a lot going for them. Not sure if they will put it all together this year or not - but if they do, they're probably a contender.

You said you're only sold on Washington and Philly, so I won't comment on those.

I can see Buffalo finally doing well this year too - but you seem to be selling other teams short way too quickly. This division is going to be an absolute killer.

 

[Krewe]

it is easily more likely the sabres miss the playoffs than make the playoffs. They have been a bottom feeder team for a decade and 5 of the teams in their division are arguably contenders

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I hope they surprise that division. But it would be bitter sweet... I've been hoping for a battle of the QEW playoff round for years and now it's not only more unlikely we match up, but theres probably no fans allowed.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Buffalo will easily be last or 2nd to last in their division.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Starting off slow is not their issue, were they not the best team 15-20 games in the last 2 years.

Did you read the part that said it's a 56 game season and not 82.

 

[ACC1224]

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.

Who in their division will they make the playoffs over?

 

[Habs Halifax]

So, the start of the season?

You deleted the part that said .... or early Feb. We don't know cause those predictions were made back when they had surgery. Have you heard any new news on them? I haven't. Are they ready for camp which is early July?

There is questions there no matter how anybody spins it

 

[Golden_Jet]

Did you read the part that said it's a 56 game season and not 82.

I did , so if they get a hot start like the last 2 years, it could really help them obviously on a shorter season, as less games to drop to bottom third again.

 

[Byron Bitz]

this is the most important season since 2007 for the Sabres.

if they can make it, that means the group clicked and they have a really great shot at re-signing Hall and keeping the group together.

if they still can't get it done even with the biggest UFA signing in franchise history, Hall bails, everything falls apart, a certain player may say "f*** this. I'll never win here. I want out" and they might be looking at another rebuild.

If that player says that they will still get a kings ransom for him and Hall leaving would open up cap space, a good GM could get them back on track pretty quick.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Who in their division will they make the playoffs over?

The divisions aren’t set in stone yet, they might move some teams around.

 

[Martin Skoula]

I'd focus on smaller steps first, like trying to have 0 top prospects bust this season.