Buffalo Sabres - 8th - 66pts
Total Salary = 50,287,056$
Cap Space = 6,412,944$
The Plot:
The Buffalo Sabre's have played decent hockey most of the season with only a few minor setbacks but the team is still looking just average and is under performing. On paper the Sabre's have a really talented team up front but have a mediocre defense on the back end. Lindy Ruff is one of the best coaches in the league and his accountability approach appeared to have stopped working. Not getting much sucess after calling out Jochen Hecht and Maxim Afinogenov at the start of the season. Buffalo needs it's big stars to step up in the stretch so that they can hold onto 8th and the final playoff spot. Derek Roy and Jason Pominville have been impressive to date and have kept the Sabre's alive while Thomas Vanek their top goal scorer sits out for a month with a broken jaw. Drew Stafford is on pace for a career year with 37pts and Ales Kotalik has performed up to par. Tim Connolly the often injured but extremely talented star missed most of the season with an injury but has returned and has carried the weight lost left by Vanek's injury with a point per game. Maxim Afinogenov has been a complete bust this season with only 12 points and the Sabre's have been baffled to what has happened to the once elite winger. The Sabre's have a pretty decent back two lines, with Adam Mair and Patrick Kaleta provide grit and intensity to their lineup. Paul Gaustad adds a bit of offensive punch as well as toughness. The Sabre's resident enforcer Andrew Peters adds that extra protection for their stars. Overall there front line-up could use a bit of a jump and maybe some experience, since most of the veterans are on the blue line. The Sabre's still feel the loss of Briere and Drury so they need that extra jump.
Buffalo's blueline looks good on paper but really isn't as competitive as it should be for an offensive team. Jaroslav Spacek leads the way with 26 points and provides a nice shot and crisp passes from the point. Veteran Teppo Numminen is starting to show his age offensively and has turned into more of a defensive defenseman who provides leadership and heart. Toni Lydman is struggling to acheive last years totals and the team needs him to step up not only offensively but defensively as well. Craig Rivet adds toughness and grit to the blueline and recently has discovered an offensive touch. Rivet and Henrik Tallinder provide most of the defensive reliability to the team but the squad still could use some help. Andrej Sekera has done well in his 2nd NHL season and looks to have an offensive upside to him that could be developed more. Brian Campbell's departure still haunts the backend and they really need a stud defenseman. They also could use another defenseman with two way capabilities.
In net the Sabre's are safe for a long time with Ryan Miller who has really stepped it up down the stretch and provides everything they want and need from a goalie. Miller who looked shakey at the start of the season looks to be in top form and is almost a shoe in for the US 2010 Olympic team. In behind him the Sabre's have veteran Patrick Lalime who has been fairly reliable tthis since and is reliable to play in stretches to give Miller much needed breaks.
Major Injuries:
Thomas Vanek - Broken jaw out till mid March.
Key Prospects:
1. D Mike Weber - Buffalo Sabres
2. G Jhonas Enroth - Portland Pirates
3. D Marc Andre Gragnani - Portland Pirates
4. LW Tim Kennedy - Portland Pirates
5. D T.J Brennan - Montreal Juniors
6. C Paul Byron - Gatineau Olympiques
UFA's:
Maxim Afinogenov
Tim Connolly
Ales Kotalik
Andrew Peters
Jaroslav Spacek
Teppo Numminen
Mathieu Darche
Tyler Bouck
Matt Ellis
Colten Fretter
Colin Murphy
Players On The Block:
RW Maxim Afinogenov - Maxim has had a few trying seasons with the Sabre's and the once prolific scorer has suffered from Samsonov Syndrome and has dropped off the map. with and emabarassing 12 points this year and frustrating give aways the Sabre's management has officially run out of patience. Although there really isn't a line up for his services I'm sure their are a few teams who would take a risk for the playoffs to add an offensively gifted forward with flair to spare. 3.3MIL$ is hard to swallow though for a player who may or may not show up. Ether way a change of scenary is much needed.
C Tim Connolly - there has been many rumors and its hard to believe that the Sabre's are interested in shopping Tim Connolly but the Sabre's management now have a phobia with loosing star players for nothing as they did with Brian Campbell, Daniel Briere and Chris Drury. Tim Connolly is a free agent this summer and unless he signs for under 3MIL$ by the deadline they could possibly offer him out in a deal to bring in some extra offensive or defensive help. Connolly is attractive to some but he is injury prone so his value is low and as long as the Sabre's star Thomas Vanek is sidelined don't expect a deal.
LW Dylan Hunter - The once highly touted prospect has rapidly dropped down the rankings and the Sabre's could be willing to part with him. Hunter who used to be an offensive threat has now turned into a 3rd liner with a scoring touch. Unable to crack the Sabre's line-up their best option may be to trade him while he still has some value. He's due at the end of the season for a raise higher than 566K$ and the Sabre's might want that space for another young prospect with higher talent.
Team Needs/Wants:
The Sabre's will definatly be a buyer unless they hit a major bump down the stretch. I believe they will squek in the playoffs under Lindy Ruff's guidance and Ryan Miller's heroics. The Sabre's still need a few more peices to the puzzle and add a little depth. The D could use a highly talented two way defenseman and on forward they could add an extra body that can score or a veteran player whose not afraid to call out his teamates.
Possibly Targets:
Vaclav Prospal - Prospal could be availiable for the deadline if the Tampa Bay Lightning decide to dump some cap space. Prospal is still able to put up the numbers and can be a nice compliment to the Sabre's top line. He also has two way play and can fill in on the top line and benifits from playing increased minutes. The Sabre's have a lot of cap space and would have space for a defenseman too.
Mark Recchi - Mark Recchi could provide some extra depth and leadership for the Sabre's down the stretch. Recchi still has a bit of game left in him and can play a 2nd line role down to a 4th line checking role. Recchi's leadership could be valuable to a team who needs a push and he might be able to kick Afinogenov into playing harder. Recchi is easily affordable and would provide that missing scoring depth and two-way play missing without having to break the bank.
Derek Morris - The Phoenix Coyotes are getting ready to hit seller mode and Derek Morris is most likely availiable because he is an UFA this summer. Derek Morris has shown he has offensive talent but at the same time hes ateady in his own end and his presence would be much appriciated by the Sabre's. He would easily command the first defence pairing with Jaroslav Spacek.
Tomas Kaberle - Rumor has it Kaberle has Buffalo on his list of 10 teams he'd be willing to be traded to and would be exactly what the Sabre's need to go forward and take the next step to be a playoff contender. Kaberle can easily make or break a game with his play defensively and offensively and is under contract for the next couple of years which is good because Jaroslav Specek is up at the end of this season leaving the Sabre's with no real offense. The Sabre's could also put together a decent package for the Leafs with picks and prospects they've developed and acquired over the last few seasons.
Mark Bell - This is a longshot but the Sabre's could use some depth and Mark Bell would be extremely cheap and for next to nothing. The Maple Leafs are dying to get rid of him for anything because his taking up valuable cap space from the minors while becoming a free agent this summer. the Sabre's coule easily get him for less than a 5th round pick and Mark Bell still can provide some secondary scoring is a due a second chance in the NHL.
Keith Tkachuk - Keith Tkachuk is that veteran guy who will make some noise in the dressing room so that Lindy doesn't have to. Tkachuk also adds a bit of grit and an offensive touch around the net. The guy can still score and could help out on the 2nd or 3rd lines. The Sabre's would have to get in line for Tkachuk and most likely over pay but it may be worth it. Darcy Regier may not be too interested in a rental player though.
Jordan Leopold - The Sabre's need offensive help and Leopold could benifit from more ice time and could help them out offensively while still being ok defensively. Leopold is quick and still can play the body adding some depth. Leopold has a easily digested salary and most likely wouldn't be too pricey.
The Final Word :
The Buffalo Sabre's are a good team still recovering from some losses while waiting for the next batch of superstars too develop. The only problem is that if they want to succeed now they might have to sacrifice some of their future for a rental. Darcy Regier would definately like to avoid that situation so look for him to take players with contracts over rentals. The Sabre's need some help on the backend and that should be the priority but they also would like to stock up in case of the match of firepower against the Bruins. Regier might be more willing this time around to trade some of his UFA's at the deadline instead of loosing them for nothing as it haunts them still. They will be buyers for sure at the deadline and expect some moves be it minor or large.
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