Offseason Outlook: Buffalo Sabres
With the offseason underway for a number of teams, and the rest to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: F
Calling the Buffalo Sabres' season anything but an utter disappointment would be too generous.
It's not that they were expected to take a gigantic leap forward in a single campaign, it's that they took a step backward despite adding Kyle Okposo in free agency and Dmitry Kulikov via trade, seeing Rasmus Ristolainen develop into a durable, productive defenseman, and having a healthy Robin Lehner for the majority of the season.
Jack Eichel missed the first six weeks of 2016-17 with an injury, during which time the Sabres struggled and never recovered. He ranked 10th in the NHL in points within the four-plus months after he returned, but the rest of the team couldn't keep the club afloat in his absence and didn't do enough to complement him when he came back.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Evander Kane put his off-ice issues behind him, leading Buffalo with 28 goals, and it was Eichel who generated the most controversy away from the rink, reportedly presenting the Sabres with an ultimatum whereby his desire to sign an extension supposedly hinged on the dismissal of head coach Dan Bylsma.
Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray were fired the next day, about three weeks before Jason Botterill was given the GM duties.
Eichel's injury undoubtedly impacted the offense, but a Sabres club loaded with talent up front (including Eichel, Kane, Okposo, Ryan O'Reilly, and Sam Reinhart) tied for sixth-worst in the NHL with only 2.43 goals per game.
The Sabres did produce with the man advantage, boasting the most effective power play in the NHL during the regular season, but they offset that with the sixth-worst penalty kill.
It was a flawed, top-heavy roster that wasn't utilized properly, and Buffalo ultimately failed to meet the reasonable expectations of contending for a playoff spot.
Free agents
The Sabres have more than a few decisions to make on their roster for next season, but the club's core will be largely unaffected.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | '16-'17 Cap Hit ($M) | '16-'17 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dmitry Kulikov (D) | UFA | 26 | 4.333 | 5 |
| Brian Gionta (F) | UFA | 38 | 4.25 | 35 |
| Cody Franson (D) | UFA | 29 | 3.325 | 19 |
| Marcus Foligno (F) | RFA | 25 | 2.25 | 23 |
| Zemgus Girgensons (F) | RFA | 23 | 1.15 | 16 |
| Johan Larsson (F) | RFA | 24 | 0.95 | 11 |
| Taylor Fedun (D) | UFA | 28 | 0.6 | 7 |
| Cody McCormick (F) | UFA | 34 | 1.5 | Retired April 2016 |
Lehner proved he can handle a heavy workload, playing more games (59) than he ever had in an NHL season, so he's earned a raise.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit ($M) | '16-17 SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Lehner (G) | RFA | 25 | 2.225 | .920 |
| Anders Nilsson (G) | UFA | 27 | 1 | .923 |
2017 draft picks
The Sabres have eight picks in the coming draft, including a couple of relatively early selections acquired from other clubs.
Buffalo holds the eighth overall pick, and will also have an additional second-rounder thanks to the Chris Stewart trade with the Minnesota Wild, as well as a third-rounder obtained in the Mike Weber deal with the Washington Capitals.
The Sabres traded away their fifth-round choice for Nilsson last July.
| Round | Pick Total |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 (8th overall) |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 6 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 |
Summer priorities
The Sabres must do the following this summer:
1. Hire a head coach
Botterill's first major task will obviously go a long way in determining how the Sabres fare early in his tenure.
Bylsma wasn't the right fit in Buffalo, but a more progressive-thinking coach could help the team maximize its speed and skill.
Botterill worked with both Rick Tocchet and Jacques Martin in Pittsburgh, but whether either of the former NHL bench bosses is right for this roster is far from certain.
Finding a coach that suits the team's skill level is one thing, but the Sabres will also need to find one who can keep the ear of - and earn the trust of - young players.
Speaking of which ...
2. Sell Eichel on the new direction
Aside from the all-important top item on Botterill's list, he and the other key decision-makers in the organization need to make sure they're on the same page with Eichel, who'll be entering the final year of his entry-level deal.
Whether Eichel's satisfaction has anything to do with the coaching hire is anyone's guess, but no one in the club's front office wants any further rumblings of unhappiness from the budding young superstar, nor does the club want to risk him turning down a contract extension and bolting as a free agent.
Botterill is a bright, experienced executive with a championship track record, so his hiring is a good start in the Sabres' quest to convince Eichel that he should stick around in western New York for the long haul.
3. Upgrade the defense
Despite Ristolainen's progress this season, Buffalo's defense ranked 19th in the league, allowing 2.82 goals per game.
Aside from his contributions, no Sabres blue-liner contributed significantly on the offensive end, with Jake McCabe collecting only 20 points to rank second behind Ristolainen among Buffalo defensemen.
Kulikov's season was derailed by injury, and he's not normally an offensive defenseman, but five points in 47 games is still far too few. He's a pending UFA, so Botterill and company might just decide to cut bait.
2017-18 Outlook
The Sabres need to get back on track next season, but it's going to take time for the new regime to make its mark.
At the very least, Buffalo has to improve upon the setback of 2015-16 and get back into the postseason hunt. That's not an unrealistic expectation considering some of the pieces already in place.
Eichel and Reinhart should continue to develop, while Kane, O'Reilly, and Okposo have to replicate their solid 2016-17 seasons for the Sabres to have a shot at a postseason berth.
Lehner has proven he deserves an extension, and, if gets one, he'll need to justify it with another solid, healthy campaign.
Whether or not the new regime requires Eichel's blessing, the incoming executives will have their work cut out for them in terms of turning Buffalo into a perennial winner.
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