After four straight rough seasons, the Buffalo Sabres need to make some progress in the 2017-18 season. A new general manager and head coach should help.
The Buffalo Sabres have some of the best fans in hockey. Despite their team not making the postseason since the 2010-11 season, Buffalo is consistently one of the NHL’s top media markets. That makes it all the more disappointing the Sabres can’t seem to do anything right.
After tanking for Jack Eichel in 2014-15, the Sabres started a rebuild. However, it was operated by the wrong people. Tim Murray was a failure as a general manager and Dan Bylsma didn’t work the same magic in Buffalo that he did with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This offseason, the Sabres decided to restart the rebuild. Leading them behind the bench will be Hall of Fame defenseman and Buffalo legend Phil Housley. In the front office, former Penguins general manager Jason Botterill will get the nod after helping his team win back-to-back Stanley Cups.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. It took the Chicago Cubs over 100 years to win a World Series. The Sabres’ rebuild will not take place overnight. However, for the first time in recent history, it feels like Buffalo is on the right path.
Offseason Review
The two biggest changes the Sabres made this season were at head coach and general manager. Among the restricted free agents they re-signed were Robin Lehner, Evan Rodrigues, Zemgus Girgensons and Johan Larsson. Also, the Sabres acquired defenseman Nathan Beaulieu from the Montreal Canadiens. On a shallow blue line, he should be an immediate contributor.
Perhaps the biggest transaction the Sabres made involved the Minnesota Wild. For Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno (along with a draft pick), Buffalo received defenseman Marco Scandella and a familiar face in Jason Pominville. They also corrected a wrong from last offseason by bringinb back old friend Chad Johnson as their backup goalie. Benoit Pouliot, bought out by the Edmonton Oilers, should be a nice rebound candidate.