Flaws in the team were exposed along the way and within the next four weeks Sabres' management will supposedly huddle and begin the process of addressing them, whether it be through trades around, and on, draft-day and/or through free agency.
One area that was exposed in the Flyers series was the lack of a shut-down d-man partner for Tyler Myers on the top-pairing. Philadelphia's forecheck may be the best in the league and turnovers by the Sabres' rear-guard were instrumental in Buffalo getting bounced in the first round.
Another is the lack of a true #1 center, a problem they overcame to get into the playoffs, but lack of a talented pivot up-top also was instrumental in the Sabres' demise.
An area of need, one that's was obvious ever since goalie Martin Biron was shipped to Philly at the 2007 trade deadline--back-up goalie--was addressed this season by the emergence of Jhonas Enroth.
There are plenty of interesting scenarios when it comes to skaters, and we'll be looking a that later, but right now we begin in goal as we build the 2011/12 Buffalo Sabres from the goal out.
Despite the impressive performance of Enroth, Ryan Miller is, and probably will remain for the next three years, the Sabres' #1 goalie.
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| Ryan Miller |
Spare me the argument that many of the post-lockout Stanley Cup Winners had low-paid goalies.
Spare me the argument that Miller should be traded for a #1 center in a myriad of scenarios because of names like Anti Niemi, Michael Leighton, Cam Ward, JS Giguere and Chris Osgood.
The Philadelphia Flyers have not had a true #1 goalie for decades. Despite having success that focused all of their rescourses on skaters while winging it with average to below average goaltending, they have yet to win it all.
After the debacle that was this years goaltending roulette wheel--where they changed goalies in-game an NHL record seven times--Flyers Chairman Ed Snider had this to say, "It was strange, I never want to see that happen again...NEVER going to go through the goalie issues we've gone through the last couple of years again." He followed up by saying he had a "productive meeting" with Flyers GM Paul Holmgren.
Apparently the message got through. Yesterday the Flyers traded forward Matt Clackson, a 2011 third-round pick and future considerations for the rights to Phoenix soon to be UFA goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.
Just how much the skaters are affected is yet to be determined, but with Bryz expected to fetch around $5M and the Flyers already at a $59M cap-hit on 18 players, some serious juggling will need to be done.
The Buffalo Sabres do not need to go through what the Flyers just went through. They do not need to fish for a #1 goalie in the off-season. Nor do they need to rush a prospect like Enroth up the organization and put him in a position to (more than likely) fail.
Their goaltending--barring any unforeseen circumstances is set.
That's a view concerning the overall organization with respect to the importance of goaltending. Regier's philosophy has always been build from the goal out.
Ryan Miller, specifically, is a true #1 goalie. He has made his way up through the ranks and, outside of Buffalo, is considered a premier goaltender who happens to be in his prime.
I concur with the outside Buffalo hockey world and offer this:
That is a premier goaltender stoning a premier goal-scorer.
Spare me the "he can't win the big one quip," he was beaten once by the best player in the game, Sidney Crosby in the Olympics. Yet Miller was still named tournament MVP.
Spare me the stats, the Sabres' style of play and personnel play a major role in that.
Spare me the Dominic Hasek yearnings. Miller--along with every other goaltender right now, and for decades to come--will never be "The Dominator."
Spare me the Enroth can take over the duties, and spare me the incertitude in net that comes along with it.
Ryan Miller is the #1 goalie on the Buffalo Sabres.
His back-up this year is Jhonas Enroth.
the buffalosabresnow 2011/12 roster foundation:
Goalie--Ryan Miller, Jhonas Enroth
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