Sabres Season Preview: There's light at the end of the tunnel
For the first time in years, the Buffalo Sabres have legitimate reasons to be optimistic.
Sure, the Sabres posted the NHL's worst record for the second straight season in 2014-15, and sure, they missed out on the first overall pick for the second consecutive year. But despite those struggles and yet another stroke of bad luck, optimism is now the prevailing sentiment in Buffalo.
The Sabres have an experienced new head coach (Dan Bylsma), a talented new phenom (Jack Eichel), a new first-line center (Ryan O'Reilly), a dynamic new winger (Evander Kane), and a new starting goaltender (Robin Lehner).
General manager Tim Murray completed the club's transformation at June's draft, landing Lehner and center David Legwand in a trade with the Ottawa Senators, and adding O'Reilly and forward Jamie McGinn in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
Kane and defenseman Zach Bogosian arrived in a February trade with the Winnipeg Jets. Kane will make his highly anticipated regular-season debut with the Sabres this fall after missing the final three months of 2014-15 with a shoulder injury.
Eichel isn't Connor McDavid, but he's already turning heads in the preseason. He should find a home in Buffalo's top six with Zemgus Girgensons moving from center to right wing.
The Sabres have no shortage of exciting forwards but injuries to the top defensive pairing, Bogosian and Josh Gorges, will be a major test early on if their ailments extend into the regular season.
In the long run, though, fans in Buffalo can take solace in the fact the Sabres are finally headed in the right direction.
Projected Depth Chart
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Evander Kane | Ryan O'Reilly | Tyler Ennis |
| Matt Moulson | Jack Eichel | Zemgus Girgensons |
| Johan Larsson | Sam Reinhart | Brian Gionta |
| Marcus Foligno | David Legwand | Jamie McGinn |
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| Josh Gorges | Zach Bogosian |
| Mike Weber | Rasmus Ristolainen |
| Matt Donovan | Cody Franson |
| Jake McCabe |
| G |
|---|
| Robin Lehner |
| Chad Johnson |
X-Factor
Lehner's adjustment from his previous role as a Senators third-stringer to a Sabres starter will be worth monitoring as the season progresses.
The 24-year-old had a campaign to forget with the Senators in 2014-15, suffering a concussion in February and falling out of Ottawa's goalie rotation following Andrew Hammond's emergence late in the year.
Murray believes Lehner is ready to take on the bulk of the workload in the Sabres' crease.
"I think he's a No. 1 goalie," the GM told NHL.com's Dan Rosen after acquiring him at the draft. "I think he becomes a starter."
Lehner's career numbers - a 30-36-13 record, a 2.88 GAA, and a .914 save percentage - aren't exactly eye-popping, but he's played only 88 NHL games over five seasons.
He'll have more responsibility than he's ever had in 2015-16, and his play will impact the progression of the Sabres' rebuild.
Player to Watch
While the hype train surrounding Eichel is justifiably traveling full steam ahead, last year's second overall choice shouldn't be forgotten.
Sam Reinhart didn't do much in his nine-game trial with the Sabres last season, but he posted nearly an assist per game (46 in total) and 65 points in 47 contests upon returning to the WHL's Kootenay Ice.
The 19-year-old excelled at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championships, tying for the tournament lead in goals (5) and points (11), scoring the eventual championship-winning goal, and leading Canada to the gold medal.
He may not become a dominant NHL center right away, but Reinhart will again have a chance to claim a spot in the Sabres' bottom six out of training camp.