Buffalo Sabres looking D-lightful
The Buffalo Sabres for the past few years have been on the outside looking in when it comes to post season success. They have either just missed opportunities or fallen short in the 1st round. New ownership, new outlook, new ideas. Last season the Buffalo Sabres finished tied 5th in 5 on 5 goals scored and have an All Star goaltender in Ryan Miller. Say what you want about Miller and being consistent but he is one of the leagues best goaltenders and last year had little depth in front of him to keep his numbers where they should be. That is in the past.
Some may be looking at the Sabres Defensive depth as a log jam or overkill but I say it is the solution to a problem that has led to their limited success. They can score goals and all they have really lost in this off-season is under achieving Tim Connolly. Sure he’s been injured a ton and has sick hands bit when it comes to post season it is my opinion that he just isn’t who you need to make a difference. They have maintained if not built up their scoring depth and stacked their D from top to bottom with bodies to spare. In one of the most exciting off seasons of my lifetime they have added on the D side Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff. Bing and boom we should call them. Because with those simple moves it give the team the punch and puck moving capabilities they need right there. And it offers the young Tyler Myers, Mike Weber, and Marc -Andrea Gragnani great players to learn from. And hoping that players like Andrej Sekera can go against weaker lines as a depth D-man he should continue to enjoy his offensive output.
I am uncertain if Darcy Regier intends on moving more bodies on the team but as they sit now the Sabres have just cleaned up an area they had their biggest weak point. And while this Deffensive rebuilding has gone down I am sure it has only further motivated Ryan Miller. Miller is a hungry goaltender and very driven. He will be striving to become the best he can be and reach new levels with the Sabres. Have a stable and deep D corps in front of him will only make him better and minimize some risk. I look for the Sabres to keep all their depth and cover for injury. Someone up top has seen exactly what they need to turn the corner and fixed it pronto. They may need one more scoring piece but I think that will come in time and there is no need to rush that. Kudos to the Sabres front office and Darcy Regier. This is only the begin of very exciting times for Sabres fans.
I will steal a line from Tom Petty that sums up this break in the summer till 1st faceoff. Indeed “the waiting is the hardest part”.
