Sabres Surging Early

The Sabres have once again had a hot start to begin the regular season. They currently sit in 4^th place in the EHE with a 6-2-2 record through 10 games, which is all too familiar. Last season, the Sabres began the year with a very similar 5-2-3 record through the team’s first 10 games, however they ended the season in 30^th place, with a dismal 27-47-8 record, with only Calgary finishing below them. Is this hot start a mirage, or do the Sabres have what it takes to be a competitive team in the EHE?

Well, the biggest difference is the off-season additions. Roberto actively went out to find talented players to help bolster the Sabres depth and chances at being competitive. So far, his signings have been paying off, as both Kevin Shattenkirk and Semyon Varlamov are playing tremendously for the Sabres. Emergence of young stars Auston Matthews, Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois from within the system also gives the Sabres a great young core to continue to build around. Perhaps Matthews’ recent play comes with a slight grudge, as he finished 3^rd in Calder voting behind Philadelphia’s Connor Brown and LA’s Zach Werenski, something that didn’t sit well with Roberto. “I thought they got it wrong. No disrespect to Connor or Zach, who both had great seasons, but I truly believe Auston deserved to win that award. Both Connor and Zach played on much better rosters, had more ice-time and Auston still outproduced them. While his +/- was significantly worse, that is a team stat, and we finished as one of the worst teams in the league. If you look at their stats from last season, you’ll see what I mean. I really believe he deserved to win.”

On Fire: Auston Matthews leads the Sabres in Scoring through the team's first 10 games

Personal vendettas aside, the Sabres look like a much better hockey club this season, one which has much more depth than teams in the past. Since being appointed GM of the Sabres, Roberto has yet to make the playoffs, and it looks like he is trying to change that, as early as this season. “Our rebuild has come along nicely. I’m very happy with what myself and the rest of the front office staff has been able to do to this roster in the time we’ve been here. This season will be used as a measuring stick for our club. I want to see how well this team can perform. We’ve solved our issue in goal and we’ve gotten better on defense. Now it’s just a matter of playing well and seeing how we compare to the league’s best”. Ironically, the Sabres next game comes against the Blue Jackets, who have been pegged as early Stanley Cup favorites. With a roster that includes the likes of Shea Weber, Erik Karlsson, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, there’s a reason people believe they are the best team in the league.

“This will be a big one” Said GM Roberto “What Andrew has done in Columbus is remarkable, he has built a powerhouse that looks like it will be Cup favorites for many seasons. We will see what our club can do against a very good squad. I’m looking forward to it.”

While the Sabres look to be in much better shape than they have been in the past, they are sticking to the plan of building through the draft, as they own 14 draft picks for the 2019 entry draft. “The draft is important. Continually having an injection of young players coming in not only keeps a team competitive for many seasons, but it also helps with the cap. I also know that picks and youth are highly valuable around the league, and if we see an opportunity to use that to our advantage we will. For now, however, we are staying the course and watching this young Sabres team grow.”

Building Through the Draft: Brady Tkachuk and Miro Heiskanen are just 2 of Buffalo's many talented prospects