7th in the new Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.
THN's puck panel bases this upon the Sabres "installing a new young core." Although growing pains will come with this transition, they think that Buffalo is "in better position to do a relatively quick turnaround than some (coughCalgarycough.)"
A "relatively quick turnaround" after this season is very possible for this team. As for this season, if the Sabres move on from veteran goalie Ryan Miller and veteran winger Thomas Vanek, who represent the best two players on the roster, it could get ugly in 2013-14.
Miller, says THN, "is a plus though his numbers haven't been quite as good the last three seasons" since winning the Vezina Trophy. Even so, they think Miller gives the Sabres the "comfort level of a reliable goaltender."
That "comfort level" will be needed on the back end.
Even though the Sabres will have nine or 10 NHL d-men heading into camp, quantity does not always beget quality as they proved last season.
The group of defensemen has vets like Christian Ehrhoff, Henrik Tallinder and Alexander Sulzer and they have a couple heading into their prime in Mike Weber and Jamie McBain
The charge of the younins on the back-end begins with 23 yr. old Tyler Myers. THN points to his declining production since winning the Calder Trophy and they, like everyone else in the hockey world, will be watching his play closely. Most think that his play will improve.
All-in-all, this is still a pretty vanilla group with only Weber showing signs of aggression on a regular basis.
Although the success of the forwards rests upon Vanek's shoulders, THN rightfully points out transition down the middle.
Cody Hodgson is a top-six lock, if and when he signs, and is slated to take on top-line responsibilities. After that they're looking at 19 yr. old Mikhail Grigorenko to transition into a second-line center and fellow 2012 first round draft pick Zemgus Girgensons to make his way on to the team later in the season in a bottom-six role.
The Sabres aren't as thin at center as they once were, but they're a lot younger than "the core" days. That alone indicates more growing pains.
Other forwards to note: Drew Stafford who's coming off of an abysmal 2013 season; Steve Ott who will be thrust into a spot that's just above where he should be; Marcus Foligno who needs to find his niche.
Look for Girgensons' line-mate in Rochester, Johan Larsson, to make some waves by possibly making the team out of camp.
Lastly, THN takes a poke at Ville Leino and his signing two seasons ago with their peripheral prediction that he "will continue to under-produce for his $4.5 million cap hit and earn $500,000 for each goal he scores."
Yowch!
Quick reaction to the prediction:
Seventh place in the Atlantic is not all that far-fetched, simply based upon the strength of the division. As long as Ryan Miller is in net, the team shouldn't finish lower than that and will probably be looking at finishing somewhere around the bottom-quarter of the league next season.
Take away Miller and Vanek and one could easily see a top-three draft pick next year.
But, like the boys at THN mentioned, with the depth the Sabres have and the cap room that they'll have moving forward, they are positioned for a quick turnaround.
How quick a turnaround will rest squarely on the shoulders of head coach Ron Rolston and his staff.
Rolston has been developing young players througout his coaching career although this will be his first full season behind an NHL bench.
He has a diverse group of players with varying degrees of talent at his disposal and it will be interesting to see where he takes them.
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