Season Preview: Buffalo Sabres
Major Additions: Jocelyn Thibeault
Major Subtractions: Daniel Briere, Chris Drury, Dainius Zubrus, Ty Conklin, Martin Biron*
Analysis
Yes, Biron was lost a year ago, not over this summer. However, the first full season for the Sabres without him will place additional pressure on Ryan Miller. While he seems more than capable of handling that pressure, this team now lacks a fail-safe in goal should Miller be injured.
Of course the loss of co-captains and offensive leaders Drury and Briere remain the most obvious change, though the Sabres are perhaps the one team in the league that is well-suited to handle such losses without missing a step. Obviously the team has taken a step backwards, and it’s anyone’s guess how players like Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy and Maxim Afinogenov will handle the pressure of being the main show instead of the supporting cast. No one doubts the farm team can fill the ranks with capable players, but leadership on and off the ice now falls squarely on the shoulders of players without much experience in such roles.
Personally, I barely see this team slowing down, let alone stumbling. Think back to the days just after the lockout, when Buffalo chose to ice what was then considered a weak, inexperienced, sub-par roster because of their unwillingness to spend up to the salary cap. Sure worked out well for the team. There’s a reason that Lindy Ruff is the longest-serving coach in the league, and those predicting a big fall from the Sabres are about to discover what that is.