Four top-six F's; one top-four D ... out. That's a rough way to start the season. Not out of boosterism or blind allegiance, but instead from a pragmatic stance, I hope the Sabres make the best of this. (What's the alternative; mail in the season?) The team has too many prospects that are currently NHL-ready. Let's give some of them some meaningful ice time and really find out what they've got. If things go according to plan then TM may be a buyer in late Feb. The currency would help them at that point. Of course, if we find out that there's more AHL than NHL in the pool then it's best to find out quickly. The injuries suck, but considering that the team is at the HARD part of the rebuild, there is actually a silver lining.
I'll reiterate: I think the Sabres will be in the playoff hunt in early April. Gratifying to see Moulson have a good start - he needs it more than the Sabres do. And the Sabres need him to at least somewhat play up to his contract. The most interesting player to watch, IMO, is Jake McCabe. The future success of the Sabres relies on the future success of their blueliners. (Their O will be in very good shape.) If they have two top-four D then that'll take the heat off TM to make a big trade. It is going to get very expensive for any team that wants to buy D. If McCabe emerges then they have a future top-four in Guhle in the org. and the makings of a solid D-Corp. McCabe is key. (I am not saying that Jake is a future top-four. I'm saying he has that potential. If he does emerge then it makes it a lot more likely that Buffalo becomes a SC contender.)
Defensive D are underrated and usually fly under the radar. The leafs are lacking one right now, it brings calm and peace of mind to the goalie knowing he's not alone and someone has his back. McCabe was invited to play for the US last year, haven't seen much, but that says something.
The young Sabres faced adversity in this new season. Losing Eichel could have created as much psychological damage as did the prodigious drop in talent with his high ankle sprain. They then went on a long roadie to Western Canada. Those road trips are not easy for healthy veteran teams. They then blew a 3-0 lead in PHL. All in all I am very pleased with how this team has responded. They could have withered under this, but have decided that's not their style. They still have a ways to go, but if they're at .500 when Jack returns ... well, good things could ensue.
Tough match up to be pitted in Ottawa on Hockey Fights Cancer night. Anderson has been playing lights out and it's hard to not want him to win. Against the Sabres, I'll make an exception. In any case the two teams entered the third with the Sens up 1-0. The Sabres spent much of the period fending off OTT's PP. Therefore, the 2-1 victory feels all the more sweet.
Jack Eichel (ankle) is still skating on his own, but he could join his teammates soon. "Jack has now skated a seventh time I believe," coach Dan Bylsma said. "After the first couple times he's ramped up to probably his third level of skating. For Jack, there's about seven. Hopefully, you'll see another level of participation from him in short order. Hopefully, that means we're progressing." He will reach the six-week mark on Wednesday for an injury that was initially slated to sideline him for six to eight weeks.
Jack Eichel practiced with the Sabres for the first time since his high ankle sprain. That's exactly 6 weeks since the injury. They projected then that he'd miss 6 to 8 weeks. He should, barring any aggregation to the injury, be back by the Dec. 9 tilt against the Caps. I'm going to be in Raleigh for the Dec. 15 game against the Canes. Hopefully Jack will be completely back in form by then. The team has a glut of good bottom six F's in Buffalo and Rochester. I expect TM is trying to parley 1or 2 of them into a more elite F, or a steady young D. For 2017 I would not mind shipping the first round pick (with lottery protection) in a package with someone - if it's a high return.
Sabres? Jack Eichel may play Tuesday against Senators... BUFFALO, N.Y. ? Sabres centre Jack Eichel declared he?s cleared every hurdle in recovering from a sprained left ankle, and coach Dan Bylsma said there?s a possibility the centre will make his season debut at Ottawa on Tuesday. ?We?ll see,? Bylsma said Monday, giving no guarantees that Eichel will play against the Senators. But Bylsma noted he was impressed by how the player performed during consecutives days of rigorous practices. ?Jack looks good on the ice,? Bylsma said. ?It was a big test for him yesterday and seeing how he came in today was a big step for whether we?re going to see him tomorrow.? Eichel practiced with his expected linemates, Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart, and also assumed his familiar role on the team?s top power-play unit. (SN) _____________________________________ Hope the best for him... sounds too me like he's ready.
It's a touchy injury - and one he obviously has not had prior experience with. I hope he does not come back too soon just to reaggravate it. The Sabres sure do need to get some scoring though.
Sabres? Jack Eichel to make season debut Tuesday vs. Senators... It?s official: Jack?s back. Jack Eichel, the second overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft and cornerstone of the Buffalo Sabres franchise, will make his season debut Tuesday against Ottawa. Eichel suffered an ankle sprain in the pre-season, which has kept him out of action since. ________________________________________
How thin and depleted is Buffalo's D? With Kulikov, Bogosian, and now Gorges, out, the Sabres have made an emergency call up with Brendan Guhle from Prince George of the WHL. Guhle was the 51st pick of the exceptionally deep 2015 draft and came close to making the Sabres after his first two training camps. All Sabres fans have high expectations. At 19 he is ineligible for the AHL. Still, doesn't calling up a player from Canadian Juniors indicate that the team has some, uhmm, organizational deficiencies?
