jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres |
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Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007
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The way some people talk it was as if there were Cup aspirations this year. The stated goal was to basically sneak into the last spot in the playoffs. Obviously for numerous, various reasons we won't, but I don't see the huge regression that others see.
I see good in this team this year I see:
Eichel, to me is better than I could've hoped for his second year once he got healthy. I was thinking 70 points at the top end 30-40. But he's almost a ppg player despite playing hurt for 20 odd games.
Reinhart is more of an enigma. His point totals have increased, but he does seem to disappear for stretches. But he's 21 years old.
Risto made a big leap, especially with his gap control. He's deadly on the PP. Still has more to learn. Hopefully they can get his ice time down so he can be used more effectively.
Lehner. The biggest knock on him was "can he play 55-60 games." Yes, and his numbers held up all year long. Including his SV% which after a rough few weeks is down to .920, still good for 8th with Crawford among starters. He has his faults, but the 2 main things we needed from him were: play a starters schedule and keep your numbers up. He did both.
McCabe has been up and down. Mostly up.
Okposo is basically as advertised. I never really bought the "he's not a power forward" or "he can't stay on his skates" bullpoop.
ROR had basically the same season as last year, same TOI, close in points, spread between PP and 5v5. Playing all those minutes and was only a -1 on a team that's collectively -32. He's killer on the dot 2nd in the league with guys who have taken at least 1200, (he's taken 1728) at 57.9%, behind Bergeron at 59.8%. It should also be noted that Duchene went 62.4% with just over 1000 FOs.
Kane scored about as many goals as I was hoping for in about half the season. Not a peep from him off-ice wise.
If, before the season started, you told me that Moulson would get 14 goals, I'd tell you to GTFO.
Some of the kids have come up and played well enough. Maybe not great, but they didn't look out of place exactly either.
With some of the talent on some of the teams the Sabres are currently number 1 in the league on the PP duking it out with Toronto and Washington all year long. You have to go all the way to the Flyers at 14 to find another team out of the playoffs.
There was bad too. but we all know what the bad is, and it's been beaten to death so many times so many different ways, so I'm not going to go into it in this space.
Ultimately we will come up short of the pre season goal. A full off season, hopefully, with a new coach and a system that lets his big guns loose. A few additions on the blueline, and stay relatively healthy next year. With the talent that we have upfront and the couple guys on the blueline, plus the additions, THIS WILL BE A PLAYOFF TEAM NEXT YEAR. BOOK IT.
- Wetbandit1
Solid post
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