La Cosa Nostra
Caporegime
- Jun 25, 2009
- 14,073
- 2,335
There is a lot of excitement around the 2018-2019 Buffalo Sabres, along with some pessimism. Some are excited that are new additions will drastically improve our league worst offense while others think the removal of our all-around 2 way 60 point C will lead to catastrophe. The last 3 seasons, which is the entirety of Eichel and RoRs career here, the Sabres literally scored nearly identical amount of goals all 3 seasons. The most they had scored was 201 goals (twice) and 199 goals (this previous season)
17-18- 199 GF 31/31
16-17 201 GF 26/30
15-16 201 GF 26/30
I won't even mention the previous 2 years, where the team barely could score 2 goals a game. So brass tacks, the Buffalo Sabres have had a bottom 5 offense each of the last 3 seasons. They consistently averaged around ~2.44 GPG. That is simply not good enough. Yes, a poor defense and lack of defensive awareness among forwards is also a reason for a low goal total, it's hard to score when you are hemmed in most of the game. But let's also be real, the talent up front was atrocious. The last 3 years they have played non NHL players or lower tier ones in roles they were not suited for, or deserve simply due to lack of options.
That is not a problem this year. We actually have a log jam at forward where training camp will actually be fun and have a lot of competition for the first time in about 6 years. In prior campaigns, the lineup and roster was virtually set before September arrived. Now, there are so many options that are actually intriguing and skilled that no one has any idea who the 13 forwards will be up here. And not only that, no matter what we are going to have a top young player (or two) starting the season in Rochester when it comes to Nylander, Olofsson, TT, Guhle etc.
So to the question at hand, yes or no is the Sabres offense better? Are they going to score more then 201 goals and if they do how many will they score?
My prediction is Yes, they will score more then 201 goals and this is the best offense we have had since the Lindy Ruff days. I predict 225 goals, give or take 10. I could even see them pushing 3 GPG if everything clicks...Mittelstadt excels at 2C and scores 50+ points, Okposo rebounds, Dahlin and Risto each put up 40+. It really doesn't take anything outrageous to happen for them to average 3 goals a game. With the talent we have all throughout the lineup as long as all of the players play up to their talent and skill set then it is a very possible achievement. I am just happy that we have a team that has the ability to score 3+ goals 4-5 games in a row and also be able to win a game even if we don't score first. The last 6 years the Sabres have been so bad offensively that allowing the first goal was a death knell and pretty much an automatic loss. Now with the forwards we have up front I actually have faith in this team to be able to score 2-3 goals in a row when down a goal.
17-18- 199 GF 31/31
16-17 201 GF 26/30
15-16 201 GF 26/30
I won't even mention the previous 2 years, where the team barely could score 2 goals a game. So brass tacks, the Buffalo Sabres have had a bottom 5 offense each of the last 3 seasons. They consistently averaged around ~2.44 GPG. That is simply not good enough. Yes, a poor defense and lack of defensive awareness among forwards is also a reason for a low goal total, it's hard to score when you are hemmed in most of the game. But let's also be real, the talent up front was atrocious. The last 3 years they have played non NHL players or lower tier ones in roles they were not suited for, or deserve simply due to lack of options.
That is not a problem this year. We actually have a log jam at forward where training camp will actually be fun and have a lot of competition for the first time in about 6 years. In prior campaigns, the lineup and roster was virtually set before September arrived. Now, there are so many options that are actually intriguing and skilled that no one has any idea who the 13 forwards will be up here. And not only that, no matter what we are going to have a top young player (or two) starting the season in Rochester when it comes to Nylander, Olofsson, TT, Guhle etc.
So to the question at hand, yes or no is the Sabres offense better? Are they going to score more then 201 goals and if they do how many will they score?
My prediction is Yes, they will score more then 201 goals and this is the best offense we have had since the Lindy Ruff days. I predict 225 goals, give or take 10. I could even see them pushing 3 GPG if everything clicks...Mittelstadt excels at 2C and scores 50+ points, Okposo rebounds, Dahlin and Risto each put up 40+. It really doesn't take anything outrageous to happen for them to average 3 goals a game. With the talent we have all throughout the lineup as long as all of the players play up to their talent and skill set then it is a very possible achievement. I am just happy that we have a team that has the ability to score 3+ goals 4-5 games in a row and also be able to win a game even if we don't score first. The last 6 years the Sabres have been so bad offensively that allowing the first goal was a death knell and pretty much an automatic loss. Now with the forwards we have up front I actually have faith in this team to be able to score 2-3 goals in a row when down a goal.