DYLAN WEBB
Special to the Leader
As they have time and time again, Sabres fans are hoping that this will be the year it all comes together.
Last year ended in a disappointing last place finish when many expected the season to be a step in the right direction. As a result, everyone from fans to ownership felt it was time for big changes to be made if it meant seriously contending for a playoff spot.
Star centre Jack Eichel very loudly voiced his displeasure with the culture that was being fostered in Buffalo, one of simply being content with playing the game.
“I think guys want to win,” Eichel said this past April in an interview with the Buffalo News, “but there’s a difference between saying you want to win and actually wanting to win and putting the work in and dedicating your life to it.”
In a bold move by ownership, both head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray were let go along with veteran captain Brian Gionta. To replace Bylsma, the Sabres turned to a legend of the franchise: hall of fame defenseman Phil Housley. As an assistant coach, he has spent the past four years turning the Nashville Predators defensemen into one of the most feared units in hockey.
Now, with young pieces to work with, such as Jake McCabe and Rasmus Ristolainen, the same kind of defensive revolution may be on the horizon.
In the front office the Sabres went with Jason Botterill, a former assistant general manager who was a key figure in the Pittsburgh Penguins sustained success over the past decade. Getting to work quickly, Botterill dealt the Sabres 2017 third round pick to the Montreal Canadians for former first round pick Nathan Beaulieu. Coming off his best season in the pros, Beaulieu’s fast paced offense friendly style should find a nice home in Housley’s new system.
Botterill wasn’t done with the trade market yet, and in a surprising move dealt wingers Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis along with a 2018 third round pick to the Minnesota Wild. In return the Sabres received defenseman Marco Scandella and former captain Jason Pominville, along with a 2018 fourth round pick. Scandella has had problems in the past involving dirty hits, being suspended twice during the 2014-2015 season. Should he keep his game clean, he will bring a powerful body to the back end of the line up. Pominville returning is going to be a feel good story for the season, as well as providing a veteran face in the clubhouse to lead the younger players through the season.
Botterill’s next big task was finding the diamonds in the rough of an arguably weak draft class. And with the eighth pick in the draft he may have found a shining jewel.
Despite falling a fair way down the board in the first round, 18-year-old Casey Mittelstadt is arguably the best American to come out of this draft. With a quick stick and a fierce competitive drive, after a bit of work in University of Minnesota he should be pro-ready sooner rather than later. The other notable pick came in Finnish goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Before you start learning how to pronounce that, he will most likely need a bit more time to build his skills overseas. Give him a couple years, however, and he very well may be challenging Robin Lehner for the top goalie spot.
The Sabres open the season on Oct. 5 against the Montreal Canadians on the road.