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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael Pachla: How difficult will it be for the Buffalo Sabres to make the playoffs?
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homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Aug 13 @ 1:49 PM ET
They had the worst middle 6 in hockey last year. Should improve this year, it almost has to, but by how much? Average doesn't make the playoffs.
- Lunaion

with eichel
skinner
casey
cozens
reinhart
dahlin
montour
risto
miller
joker
mccabe
vesey
johansson
olofsson
e-rod


time for boys to be men


on paper this is not an average roster

there is no excuse not to compete for a playoff spot this season
RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Aug 13 @ 1:52 PM ET
Can Mitts + Sam + X be an average second line? It's an open question, despite people being certain Sam can carry a line.
- Lunaion


Samson Reinhart is a God amongst men. Resistance is futile. Just jump on the bandwagon before it's too late.
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Aug 13 @ 1:52 PM ET
I think it’s almost impossible to have a bottom 5 roster with Eichel and Dahlin entering his prime on it.
- sbroads24

this roster is much better then
blue jackets
flyers
red wings
sens
habs


on par with
canes
islanders
panthers
devils
rangers
and honestly pens


only rosters better in the east as a slam dunk IMO is bolts, leafs, bruins and caps
jcragcrumple
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Reluctant bridge jumper; 6th round OHL draft pick, YT
Joined: 04.04.2016

Aug 13 @ 1:55 PM ET
The best players in the league are worth around 8-10 points in the standings.

A good Mitts vs Bad Mitts might be worth 3-5

It’s important, but I think being over stated.

- sbroads24


A 2nd line where everyone gets at least 50 points is worth way more than 1.5-2.5 wins. I don't have stats to back that up, but I believe it
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Aug 13 @ 1:55 PM ET
Samson Reinhart is a God amongst men. Resistance is futile. Just jump on the bandwagon before it's too late.
- RhinoFan

IonSabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL
Joined: 03.10.2013

Aug 13 @ 1:59 PM ET
Can Mitts + Sam + X be an average second line? It's an open question, despite people being certain Sam can carry a line.
- Lunaion


It remains to be seen, but Sam did make Mitt's line better when he spent time on it.
I think the key is player X ... and think Vesey might be good there as he is a go to the net kind of player...which Mitts seemed to gel with similar type players at the WJU20 18 months ago.

Hopefully Johansson can gel with Jack and Skins on their right side.

A top 6 of:
- Skins-Eichel-Johansson
- Vesey-Mitts-Rhino
Would be decent I think, and leaves a 3rd line of
- Olofsson-ERod-Sheary

Certainly better than last year. Good enough for WC? I still don't think so...but a good step in the right direction
Der Kaiser
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I Know Nothink ... NOTHINK!
Joined: 07.27.2007

Aug 13 @ 2:03 PM ET
Agreed
- cabin


Hello Cab
IonSabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL
Joined: 03.10.2013

Aug 13 @ 2:08 PM ET
A 2nd line where everyone gets at least 50 points is worth way more than 1.5-2.5 wins. I don't have stats to back that up, but I believe it
- jcragcrumple


In your scenario, as individual players, they should each contribute in that range... an aggregate of say 4 - 6 wins...8 - 12 points feels about right.
Lunaion
Joined: 05.23.2016

Aug 13 @ 2:09 PM ET
It remains to be seen, but Sam did make Mitt's line better when he spent time on it.
I think the key is player X ... and think Vesey might be good there as he is a go to the net kind of player...which Mitts seemed to gel with similar type players at the WJU20 18 months ago.

Hopefully Johansson can gel with Jack and Skins on their right side.

A top 6 of:
- Skins-Eichel-Johansson
- Vesey-Mitts-Rhino
Would be decent I think, and leaves a 3rd line of
- Olofsson-ERod-Sheary

Certainly better than last year. Good enough for WC? I still don't think so...but a good step in the right direction

- IonSabres


It did look promising, and then they promoted Sam for some reason and never had anything resembling a 2nd line again.

I'm rooting for Sam. If he can anchor a 2nd line that is capable of taking 50/50 zone starts and put up league average offense, the season will be much more fun to watch.
RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Aug 13 @ 2:16 PM ET

- homiedclown


RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Aug 13 @ 2:18 PM ET
It remains to be seen, but Sam did make Mitt's line better when he spent time on it.
I think the key is player X ... and think Vesey might be good there as he is a go to the net kind of player...which Mitts seemed to gel with similar type players at the WJU20 18 months ago.

Hopefully Johansson can gel with Jack and Skins on their right side.

A top 6 of:
- Skins-Eichel-Johansson
- Vesey-Mitts-Rhino
Would be decent I think, and leaves a 3rd line of
- Olofsson-ERod-Sheary


Certainly better than last year. Good enough for WC? I still don't think so...but a good step in the right direction

- IonSabres


Have come around. I like this. I would consider switching Vesey and Olo pretty quickly if Olo was putting the puck in the net.
SabresFaninIndiana
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Bananaville, IN
Joined: 12.16.2009

Aug 13 @ 2:28 PM ET
this roster is much better then
blue jackets
flyers
red wings
sens
habs


on par with
canes
islanders
panthers
devils
rangers
and honestly pens


only rosters better in the east as a slam dunk IMO is bolts, leafs, bruins and caps

- homiedclown

the devils could surprise if they can fit it all together and Cory stays healthy
IonSabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL
Joined: 03.10.2013

Aug 13 @ 2:40 PM ET
Have come around. I like this. I would consider switching Vesey and Olo pretty quickly if Olo was putting the puck in the net.
- RhinoFan

Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Aug 13 @ 2:43 PM ET
Crags - roster post:

Guys that should be better then last year.

Eichel hitting his prime
Sam showing some promise in the middle of last year
Dahlin is 19 and gonna be a beast
Mitts getting his feet wet last year, added muscle and conditioning
Tage cant be worse
Skins another year with eichel and hopefully no ankle Injuries
Pilut a year older
Goaloffson a regular NHL guy


This are internal moves that should boost our team significantly


Bufsaints8
Season Ticket Holder
Buffalo Sabres
Location: TN
Joined: 07.20.2012

Aug 13 @ 2:44 PM ET
this roster is much better then
blue jackets
flyers
red wings
sens
habs


on par with
canes
islanders
panthers
devils
rangers
and honestly pens


only rosters better in the east as a slam dunk IMO is bolts, leafs, bruins and caps

- homiedclown


I would agree with this...so 2 of those teams will join the Caps and take Metro playoff spots leaving the Sabres battling 4 other teams for 2 wild card positions. Also, Montreal might be in a position to push for a wild card as well. That 5-6 teams for 2 spots. IMO I would consider that very difficult to get into the playoffs this year with this roster. Also, I think that is okay. 2020-21 however, is a make or break year for GMJB.
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Aug 13 @ 2:45 PM ET
with eichel
skinner
casey
cozens
reinhart
dahlin
montour
risto
miller
joker
mccabe
vesey
johansson
olofsson
e-rod


time for boys to be men


on paper this is not an average roster

there is no excuse not to compete for a playoff spot this season

- homiedclown



👍

They need to start hot and gain some momentum and confidence.

Play to ot and get some loser points.
Paulfromny
Joined: 07.02.2013

Aug 13 @ 2:47 PM ET
I think they'll make it with room to spare. I say that because the run into November last year needed a top coach to sustain it in the face of what other teams were doing. Housley may have been worst in league last year, I believe Krueger is top 10.
hehateme
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 04.11.2017

Aug 13 @ 3:03 PM ET
this roster is much better then
blue jackets
flyers
red wings
sens
habs


on par with
canes
islanders
panthers
devils
rangers
and honestly pens


only rosters better in the east as a slam dunk IMO is bolts, leafs, bruins and caps

- homiedclown


say whaaaaaaaaaaaaa

We don't have a 2nd line center...
Pairo11
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Cancel my subscription to the resurrection.
Joined: 10.15.2007

Aug 13 @ 3:04 PM ET
Ralph better have a secret sauce or they’re franked. Not enough upgrades in talent. Ralph or bust.
jcragcrumple
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Reluctant bridge jumper; 6th round OHL draft pick, YT
Joined: 04.04.2016

Aug 13 @ 3:43 PM ET
Ralph better have a secret sauce or they’re franked. Not enough upgrades in talent. Ralph or bust.
- Pairo11


https://www.hockeybuzz.co...as-A-Shot-Of-Jack/6/99644
Ratsreign
Florida Panthers
Location: Mo can stay awhile, FL
Joined: 10.27.2017

Aug 13 @ 4:04 PM ET
The Atlantic certainly is a tough division,
https://thehockeynews.com...2019-20-atlantic-division.
I think Buffalo will improve under Kruger, he will have them playing as a team. Probably will take a while before it clicks, but I think it will. Maybe a late season dash for 8th. I could see them fighting with the Habs for fifth. The playoff question will be if fifth will be better than metro4. Maybe that could happen if the metro teams take turns beating each other down, while struggling against Atlantic teams. I don't know if they can make playoffs this year. I see them starting slowly and improving as the year passes, and then building off of it into next season and beyond.

FL has been mostly shooting themselves in the foot the last two years. I think Quenneville changes that. The talent is there, it's time now for them to prove it. Boston's top players are getting older, and they may lag a little early in the season after their long playoff run. I can see FL finishing ahead of Boston this year.
"Now it's time to win, and the Panthers are confident their time has arrived."
https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-308487006?tid=290471364

1 TB (EC2)
2 Leafs
3 Panthers
4 B's (WC1)

FL vs TB playoff series finally happens in the second round.
Bufsaints8
Season Ticket Holder
Buffalo Sabres
Location: TN
Joined: 07.20.2012

Aug 13 @ 4:04 PM ET
The Hockey News recently released this article:

https://thehockeynews.com...ur-2023-24-buffalo-sabres

RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Aug 13 @ 4:05 PM ET
I think they'll make it with room to spare. I say that because the run into November last year needed a top coach to sustain it in the face of what other teams were doing. Housley may have been worst in league last year, I believe Krueger is top 10.
- Paulfromny


Not trying to poo poo the take, and I like Krueger, but what makes you think he's a top10 coach? Curious.
Lunaion
Joined: 05.23.2016

Aug 13 @ 4:15 PM ET
Not trying to poo poo the take, and I like Krueger, but what makes you think he's a top10 coach? Curious.
- RhinoFan


I think it's crazy to think that any coach could have sustained where they were at in November.
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Aug 13 @ 4:34 PM ET
I think it's crazy to think that any coach could have sustained where they were at in November.
- Lunaion



Yes, but how much worse could any coach in history fall since the win streak?

This was an epic collapse.
Probably a top 5 buffalo sports let down.
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