The Buffalo Sabres are off to a very slow start to the 2017-18 NHL season. But there are still a few reasons for optimism.
After the disaster that was last season, the Buffalo Sabres believe that they have nowhere to go but up in 2017-2018. Although their slow start is not what they wanted, they have many reasons to stay positive.
With the record the Sabres had last season, there are only two ways to look at this one. The first is that it will be yet another disaster. There is, however, a second way to look at it – there’s no way to go except upwards.
The second option is the one the Sabres should be concentrating on now. They have young talent, some new faces, and a different general manager and coach this season. Things, inevitably, are already starting to look different for them.
But some might ask- Is that difference something good? However, this is the wrong question. The real question should be- When will these differences become something good?
There are three reasons the Sabres should believe in themselves this season. Let’s take a look at what they are.
1. Jason Pominville
The 34-year-old Jason Pominville was part of a package deal for Buffalo over the offseason. With the average age of the Sabres being only 26, one might wonder how he fits in. The answer- quite nicely.
In the three games he’s played so far with the Sabres, he’s already managed to score two goals and add an assist. One of those goals came on the power play, which the Sabres desperately need help in.
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Last season, while with the Minnesota Wild, Pominville put up 13 goals and 34 assists for 47 points. During his time there, he transitioned from the role of goal-scorer to more of a play-maker.
With players such as Jack Eichel and Zemgus Girgensons, they have their goal scorers set. What this team needs is a playmaker to put it all together. Give the new addition time to work, and the results might just be shocking.
2. Marco Scandella
6’3” and nearly 210 pounds, defenseman Marco Scandella is a presence easily recognized on the ice. He’s not your typical “shut down defenseman.” However, there are other reasons he will help this team out of their slump.
Scandella isn’t easy to play against because of his physique. He’s not afraid to finish his hits, and they definitely have their impact on the opposition. This is an element the Sabres are missing in their roster. Or rather, this was something they were missing. also fits in with the young core at age 27. His speed and physicality are what makes him the perfect addition to this roster.
He also fits in with the young core at age 27. Scandella’s speed and physicality are what makes him the perfect addition to this roster. The Sabres need more guys like him.
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3. New Coaching, New System, New Sabres
It’s a call that undoubtedly takes a lot of guts to go through with. However, the Sabres were able to recognize that they needed a change, badly. And they took advantage of the opportunity for a rebuild, not only by trading for key players but also by firing and hiring some new faces.
Buffalo parted ways with general manager Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma. Sometimes, it’s not that the managers or coaches themselves aren’t good enough. What sometimes happens is that their specific systems or styles aren’t in line with what a particular roster needs.
If a coach that’s set on the idea that finesse is the only way to win but the roster is more of a physically skilled group, the system simply won’t work. Not that specific situation, but a similar thing happened between the Sabres and Bylsma.
With Jason Botterill as the new GM, the Sabres were able to make a huge move that encompasses two-thirds of this list of reasons to remain optimistic. That was a change that had to be made and worked out in the team’s favor.
Now that they have Phil Housley as the new head coach, he too needs time to be able to prove his worth, just as Botterill began to do in the offseason. The team will need time to get used to a new coaching system, but once they do, they will look much better than what they’re used to.