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We bid the 2014-15 season, adieu |
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One thing we learned, maybe even confirmed last night, concerning the 2014-15 edition of the Buffalo Sabres, is that the team lacked talent, especially top-end talent, to run with the big dogs. It's nothing against the players, but when they stepped into the ring with the Pittsburgh Penguins last night en route to a 2-0 shutout loss to finish the season, they were severely outclassed.
The Pens were in must-win mode, preferring to keep their playoff hopes in their own hands rather than put it in the hands of the Boston Bruins who would hit the ice a half-hour later. You could see it from the way Sidney Crosby was locked in--how he was chippy and in overdrive--and how it filtered down to the rest of the team. With all the attention paid to Crosby centering the first line and Evgeni Malkin the second line, the doors opened up for third line center Brandon Sutter who ended up scoring the only two goals of the game.
Although the Sabres were gamers, they just didn't have the talent. As has been true since mid-December, they might catch a quality team napping and win, or have a goalie steal a game but when they met a team with superior talent, the outcome was a given. And every team in the league save for the post-trade deadline Arizona Coyotes, had superior talent this season. That the Sabres won as many games as they did this season, especially after the deadline, is rather remarkable.
You might say that head coach Ted Nolan isn't "an X's and O's guy" or you might promote a theory that his success is directly related to his goaltending, but it's been painfully evident the last two seasons that the teams on the ice wearing the blue and gold were lacking a crucial ingredient to success--talent. When looking at this team line by line, pairing by pairing, all were playing a notch or two above their talent-level. Except for, maybe, Tyler Ennis.
Ennis hit the 20-goal mark for the second straight season, which is saying a lot as he's played for Buffalo teams over the last two seasons that challenged the modern mark for goal-scoring futility. It was the third time the 5'9" 169 lb. Ennis hit the 20 goal mark. As for Ennis' linemates, Matt Moulson has top-six skill but is best suited to the second line at this stage of his career. Even though his production can be directly related to the talent around him, his ability to finish in close quarters shouldn't be questioned. The other first-line player, Johan Larsson has top-nine talent who's tenacity and solid skill-level might eventually land him in a top-six role or at least have him looked at as a viable fill-in there.
For comparisons sake, Pittsburgh iced their top-three of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Hornqvist vs. Buffalo's top-three of Tyler Ennis, Matt Moulson and Johan Larsson. That was the talent discrepancy between the two clubs at the end of this season. And Pittsburgh's not even considered an elite team at this juncture.
Things will improve immediately and prohibitively next season with Evander Kane occupying the top-line left wing slot. Should the Sabres land Connor McDavid, by the end of the season those two should be 2/3 of a top-line with the rest of the players falling into their proper slots.
But, that's the future.
For now we'll say goodbye to the 2014-15 season by saying thanks to this group of players, many of whom won't be in Buffalo next season and thanks to a coaching staff who may not make it either. They were given the unenviable task of throwing their bodies over grenades so that those behind them could move forward. Through it all they remained true to themselves and true to their competitive nature.
Much respect.
For posterity's sake the final lineup for last night's game vs. Pittsburgh:
Matt Moulson, Johan Larsson, Tyler Ennis
Marcus Foligno, Mikhail Grigorenko, Brian Gionta
Nick Deslauriers, Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe
Matt Ellis, Cody Hodgson, Patrick Kaleta
Tyson Strachan, Zach Bogosian
Andrej Meszaros, Rasmus Ristolainen
Nikita Zadorov, Chad Ruhwedel
Anders Lindback
Matt Hackett
The injured:
Cody McCormick (lower body, Jan. 13; injured reserve) – 39 games
Josh Gorges (lower body, Feb. 15; injured reserve) – 27 games
Evander Kane (shoulder, Feb. 15; injured reserve) – 27 games
Zemgus Girgensons (lower body, Feb. 26; injured reserve) – 21 games
Chad Johnson (lower body, March 6) – 18 games
Jerry D’Amigo (upper body, March 23) – 10 games
Mike Weber (sports hernia, April 3) – 5 games
Andre Benoit (upper body, April 10) – 2 games
Call-ups:
Mark Pysyk
Tim Schaller
Jake McCabe
Andrey Makarov
Nine-game look: Sam Reinhart
Those from the roster traded away:
Tyler Myers
Chris Stewart
Drew Stafford
Brian Flynn
Torrey Mitchell
Joel Armia
Jhonas Enroth
Michal Neuvirth
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