Speculation: What year do the Sabres make the playoffs?
- Thread starter EichHart
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haseoke39
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- Mar 29, 2011
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I would say the retool started with Gaustad (in the sense that we try to change out the core) and the rebuild started with Lindy getting fired (in the sense of trying to tank).
I would say we make the playoffs 2015-16. I think with all the youth we have and the ages we have them at, this will not be a slow rise to competence. When it hits, it will be fast and electrifying, much like the '06 Sabres coming out of nowhere.
I would say we make the playoffs 2015-16. I think with all the youth we have and the ages we have them at, this will not be a slow rise to competence. When it hits, it will be fast and electrifying, much like the '06 Sabres coming out of nowhere.
enthusiast
cybersabre his prophet
- Oct 20, 2009
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EichHart
Registered User
So we have no 1st liners yet the ones we draft this year and next will all be impact players in there 1st season while being 18 years old and take us into the playoffs? I guess if we get 2 of Reinhart/McDavid/Eichel I can see that happening.
Push Dr Tracksuit
Gerstmann 3:16
- Jun 9, 2012
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It's gonna be a while 2017 at the earliest
You suck through 2015
You put the roster together in 2016
Give it through 2017 for the rosters gel, might squeeze in with a late season push
Perennial playoff team begins in 2018
You suck through 2015
You put the roster together in 2016
Give it through 2017 for the rosters gel, might squeeze in with a late season push
Perennial playoff team begins in 2018
enthusiast
cybersabre his prophet
- Oct 20, 2009
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Yeah, I expect Grigorenko, Reinhart, and 2015 1st to be playing at a high level. Still, they won't be playing the same system, and won't necessitate a high end offense.
Djp
Registered User
This all depends on:
1. who Buffalo gets in 2014 & 2015 and when those player plays in the NHL
2. what trades/free agents signing happen and when.
the earliest i think if everything goes to plan they make it as an 8th seed in 16/17.
1. who Buffalo gets in 2014 & 2015 and when those player plays in the NHL
2. what trades/free agents signing happen and when.
the earliest i think if everything goes to plan they make it as an 8th seed in 16/17.
FamilyGuy716
Registered User
Chad Thundercock
Slayer
Surprising run in 15-16, it's hard to consistently miss the playoffs when over 50% of the league makes it
Zman5778
Moderator
Selanne00008
Registered User
Voted 16-17 as well. But if I had go lean one way or another I'd be leaning more towards 17-18.
DazedandConfused
thanks tips
thefifagod
I'm The Survivor
- Jul 3, 2008
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Well, as currently constructed, 50% of the East make it and 57% of the West does, which is a joke. Agreed with your overall points though, I think we'll have a decent chance of making it in 15-16, mostly because I believe Murray will add via free agency or trades in the Summer of 2015 as our core should be in place at that point. If we don't, then I'd lean towards 16-17.
phosphene*
Registered User
La Cosa Nostra
Caporegime
- Jun 25, 2009
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15-16. If we add back to back top 2 picks and hopefully a top 8 pick from the Isles and are able to add Callahan etc I see us making it in time for the 2016 playoffs.
Too much depends on the rest of the league.
If a couple teams continue to get bad, or some get worse overall, our chances should increase.
If a couple teams continue to get bad, or some get worse overall, our chances should increase.
TossinSauce
Avatar by Rob Paxon
No sooner than 2017 I believe. Need to give the youth a few years to grow.
cramdizzl
cram it
As early as 15-16, but most likely 16-17. The base for our future team is already set IMO, we just need a few offensive studs to top it all off. By 15-16, Myers, Hodgson, and Ennis will be in their primes, and players like Risto, Girgs, Pysyk, Larrson, and maybe Grigs will begin to make impacts. At that point I suspect Rochester will be overflowing with new additions like Compher, Fashing, and Baptiste. By 16-17, we'll really know if this prospect pool is as good as we think it is now.
I dont think we'll be anywhere close to the playoffs in 15-16.
I'm expecting a top 3 pick next year and the year after that. All the people saying 15-16 are overly optimistic imo.
I'm expecting a top 3 pick next year and the year after that. All the people saying 15-16 are overly optimistic imo.
Tim Murray will be aggressive, the top picks this year and next have immediate impact and we squeak into the playoffs in 2015-2016. Nothin wrong with thinking positive!
haseoke39
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I mean, think about it. 2015-16 isn't about all your young players having hit their stride yet. But it's about having all the pieces of a perennial contender finally in a lineup together, and several of them a few years into their development. It's not that McDavid/Eichel is going to singlehandedly push us into the playoffs. But it's the accumulation of a bunch of players who've now got a mix of seasoning in this league.
If McDavid/Eichel is putting up 60 points, if Reinhart is putting up 50 points in his second pro season, there may even be a guy from the Isles pick, depending on how high it is, who's ready to jump in and pretty immediately contribute to the offense, if Hodgson and Ennis are still here being 50 point guys, if Girgensons is bordering on an elite 3rd line shutdown guy by that point, if Ristolainen is growing in his third full year of pro hockey, if Myers is finally a consistent top pairing Dman, if Zadarov is on the roster and playing decent top 4 minutes, if Pysyk has emerged as a top 4 guy, that's 5-6 real good players up front, a top 4 that's a few years into its development on the blueline, you've basically got the gang together and a few of them aren't even really considered young players anymore.
If that's a core that you expect to win cups with, I think it's entirely reasonable to hope that they can sneak into 8th in their early years. The defense will have 2+ years of development on the youngest forwards, so really the only completely raw guys are up front, and we've seen many, many times how easily top forward draft picks can translate to the NHL. It doesn't take a young forward years to acclimate. Hell, some of them hit their peak by age 22 anyways in terms of scoring. If this is a cup winner when Eichel is 22, I don't see why it can't be a low playoff seed when he's 19 on account of his inexperience.
I'm just saying, 2015-16 is entirely plausible, if these kids are as good as we hope they are.
If McDavid/Eichel is putting up 60 points, if Reinhart is putting up 50 points in his second pro season, there may even be a guy from the Isles pick, depending on how high it is, who's ready to jump in and pretty immediately contribute to the offense, if Hodgson and Ennis are still here being 50 point guys, if Girgensons is bordering on an elite 3rd line shutdown guy by that point, if Ristolainen is growing in his third full year of pro hockey, if Myers is finally a consistent top pairing Dman, if Zadarov is on the roster and playing decent top 4 minutes, if Pysyk has emerged as a top 4 guy, that's 5-6 real good players up front, a top 4 that's a few years into its development on the blueline, you've basically got the gang together and a few of them aren't even really considered young players anymore.
If that's a core that you expect to win cups with, I think it's entirely reasonable to hope that they can sneak into 8th in their early years. The defense will have 2+ years of development on the youngest forwards, so really the only completely raw guys are up front, and we've seen many, many times how easily top forward draft picks can translate to the NHL. It doesn't take a young forward years to acclimate. Hell, some of them hit their peak by age 22 anyways in terms of scoring. If this is a cup winner when Eichel is 22, I don't see why it can't be a low playoff seed when he's 19 on account of his inexperience.
I'm just saying, 2015-16 is entirely plausible, if these kids are as good as we hope they are.
stokes84
Registered User
I think Murray will pull off a blockbuster in the next year which will speed up the process. It won't be as long as some think.
He likes to cite the trade they made for Pronger in Anaheim. We have a ton of assets. I wouldn't be surprised if our top pick this year gets packed for something huge.
He likes to cite the trade they made for Pronger in Anaheim. We have a ton of assets. I wouldn't be surprised if our top pick this year gets packed for something huge.
