If Toronto Maple Leafs fans are looking for an indication of what their team may look like next season, the Buffalo Sabres could be a fairly accurate representation.
Buffalo (26th overall – 61 points) are still a work in progress under head coach Dan Bylsma, but have a promising group of youngsters headed by rookie Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, who has combined for 37 goals this season. The Leafs are at the bottom of the NHL standings with 52 points (six points behind the Calgary Flames and seven in back of the Edmonton Oilers) and have lost five straight in regulation.
Toronto is where Buffalo was 12 to 18 months ago, in the process of moving out their core group (Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers) to bottom out in pursuit of franchise cornerstones at the NHL Draft. Buffalo reaped the rewards by drafting high and have Ramsus Ristolainen (eighth overall -2013), Sam Reinhart (second overall - 2014), and Jack Eichel (second overall last June) to build around.
The Leafs still has some roster clean up to do this summer, but they have begun to accumulate their group of youngsters, with 21-year-old Morgan Rielly(fifth overall -2012), William Nylander(eighth overall -2014) and Mitch Marner (fourth overall last June). Toronto will likely add another prime talent with a top four pick in NHL Draft in Buffalo three months from now.
Sabres GM Tim Murray has added quality players in their mid-20’s to take the pressure off Reinhart and Eichel while they mature and also be contributors when they are ready to assume leadership roles.
Buffalo followed up his trade of Myers and Drew Stafford to Winnipeg for Zach Bogosian and Evander Kane last January with the acquisition of center Ryan O’Reilly from Colorado and goaltender Robin Lehner from Ottawa just prior to the 2015 Draft. O’Reilly (out with a lower body injury) leads Buffalo in points, while Lehner has played well (.931 save percentage, 2.30 GAA) after missing most of the first half with a high ankle sprain.
The plan for Mike Babcock will likely be to promote youngsters from the Toronto Marlies to the NHL next season, but GM Lou Lamoriello will have to provide them support and cover as Murray did.
There is no evidence that Leafs management has confidence that Jonathan Bernier or rookie Garret Sparks can be their future #1, which means that the Leafs will look to upgrade the position via trade or free agency.
Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri may be pieces that Toronto uses in deals to bolster their blueline after moving out Roman Polak and Dion Phaneuf or to include in a compensatory package if they trade for the negotiating rights of Steven Stamkos if the free agent is interested in signing with the Leafs this summer.
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Forward Milan Michalek was activated from injured reserve on Monday and will see his first action as a Leaf. The 31-year-old winger was acquired nearly a month ago in the trade that sent Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators and has been out with a broken finger.
Michalek will play with Peter Holland and Brad Boyes, who returns after missing two games with an upper body injury.
Garret Sparks gets the start for Toronto and Chad Johnson will be between the pipes for Buffalo.
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The Maple Leafs and Marlies roster maneuvers on Deadline Day have caused a bit of confusion, so the Star’s Kevin McGran did his best to clarify.
Forwards Ben Smith, Zach Hyman, Nikita Soshnikov, Brendan Leipsic and Kasperi Kapanen were all called up on an emergency basis, so all of them can return to the AHL Marlies for the Calder Cup Playoffs, while Colin Greening was recalled before the deadline and is ineligible to play in the post-season.
Garret Sparks, William Nylander and Connor Carrick were called up after the deadline as three of the Leafs four allowed call ups from the AHL, which makes them eligible to return for the Marlies playoff run.
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