Some players to watch during the playoffs

Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com


For the fifth year running the Buffalo Sabres are out of the playoffs and fans in Sabreland are left to watch the battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Although there are brackets and fantasy leagues, NHL 16 and other games to keep us occupied until Draft Day, there’s nothing like having a vested rooting interest in your favorite team.

Most Buffalo fans get it, and have no problem sitting on the sidelines this season. The Sabres finished in the bottom third of the league and will in the very least pick in the top third with an outside possibility of cracking the top-three should Lady Luck be kind.

After that it’s the July 1^st free agent frenzy, which as of late resembles an afternoon junket heading towards slot machines than a high stakes gambit. All could change, however, as Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos remains unsigned. The Lightning superstar has yet to come to an agreement with the team and when July 1 rolls around, there could be a number of suitors throwing top-end money his way.

Although his future doesn’t rest soley with his recovery from a blood clot, he’s out until at least the middle of July, and having a rib removed in the process might give some team a reason to reign in their enthusiasm. Regardless, Stamkos could be the biggest name to hit free agency since Dallas’ Brett Hull, fresh of his Stanley Cup clinching goal bolted the Stars for the Detroit Red Wings.

 

2015-16 Team Stats--Final

Reprinted with permission from hockyebuzz.com


While in-season momentum can propel a team to new levels, carrying over momentum from season to season is a tricky thing. How many times have we seen a team finish the season strong only to fall back to where they were prior. It's especially true when a team is clawing their way up from at or near the bottom of the standings.

The Buffalo Sabres finished the 2015-16 season with a kick as they went 10-5-4 in March and April and there was a definitive sense of optimism at First Niagara Center yesterday as the Sabres held their year-end press conference. GM Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma fielded questions from the media in a lighthearted manner reflecting on a season that was about as successful as one could get considering where they came from.

A quick history as to why the Buffalo Sabres are probably pleased with the way the 2015-16 unfolded for the team.

Rookie Scoring Race--Final numbers. Plus, the Calder Trophy goes to...

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Chicago Blackhawks winger Aretmi Panarin had powerful eight-point week (3g, 5a) prior to the final week of the season where he basically slammed the door on the rookie scoring title. This past week he added two goals and three assists bringing his regular season total to 77 points on 30 goals and 47 assists. That point total gave him the fifth highest point total since 2005-06.

It was a dominant performance from the 24 yr. old free agent signee, one that helped propel his linemate, Patrick Kane to career highs in goals (46) and assists (60) as Kane became the first American-born player ever to with the Art Ross Trophy as the league's scoring leader.

Well behind Panarin in the points-total was Buffalo's own Jack Eichel with 56 points followed by Arizona's Max Domi (52,) Edmonton's Connor McDavid (48) and Philadelphia defenseman Shane Gostisbehere (46) who had been lurking at or just below the top-five but slid in with two assists in two games.

A very revealing Sunday for a crowded goaltending situation

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Yesterday was locker cleanout day for the 2015-16 edition of the Buffalo Sabres and a time where the media can get some final thoughts from the players for one last time this season.

While the media was getting their final interviews with the likes of Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly, Sam Reinhart and Robin Lehner, among others, the Rochester Americans were in Cleveland finishing off a three-games-in-three-nights weekend. This was the second game of a home and home with the Lake Erie Monsters and the last meeting between the two clubs this season.

Prior to the game, three players who'd played for Buffalo in the season finale on Saturday were reassigned to Rochester--forwards Cole Schneider and Evan Rodrigues as well as rookie goaltender Linus Ullmark. Schneider and Rodrigues both played while Ullmark, who started the final game of Buffalo's season, did not dress.

2015-16 Individual Stats--Final

Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com


Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray traded for young vets like Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly for a number of reasons. First, they were very talented players who were available, the Sabres had the goods to make the deals and Murray wasn't afraid to pull the trigger. In going after those two (and goalie Robin Lehner as well,) Murray stated often that he didn't want to be atop the draft every year and that he felt players like Kane and O'Reilly would speed up the rebuild.

In addition to that, especially in the case of O'Reilly as the team's No. 1 center, the most important aspect may have been that these young vets could act as a shield while allowing rookies like Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart the opportunity to grow into their roles. O'Reilly lead all NHL forwards in average time on ice with 21:44 while Kane was second at 21:02, both of them taking all the heat that the opposition's best players could through at them.

Murray's plan, executed by head coach Dan Bylsma and his coaching staff, worked to a "T" as O'Reilly, Eichel, Reinhart and Kane occupied four of the top five scoring spots on the team. O'Reilly topped 60 points for the second time in his career while his team-leading 39 assists was a career best. Eichel's 24 goals lead the team in scoring, the first time a Sabres rookie had done that since, according to Sabres PR, the 1987-88 season (Ray Sheppard.) Despite missing 17 games due to injury, Kane finished fifth on the team with 35 points (20g + 15a.)

But perhaps the biggest surprise of the season came from the stick of Reinhart.

.500 goes "poof!" as Blue Jackets topple Sabres in Buffalo's home finale

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Despite differing opinions of what constitutes a .500 team, the Buffalo Sabres were using points-percentage as a benchmark. With two games remaining, two wins would equate to 83 of a possible 164 points for Buffalo thus surpassing that mark. For a team on the rise and coming from the depths of a 54 point season, it's an important focus for them.

Sabres GM Tim "I Get That" Murray was on WGR's Schopp and the Bulldog yesterday evening and clarified that although there were differing opinions of just what .500 means, in the players minds hitting or surpassing 82 points on the season was a goal to shoot for. "When our players look at it, they say 'Let's get to the .500-mark," Murray explained to the hosts. "We believe what we believe."

Murray also revealed there were some grumblings in the dressing room with the announcement that rookie Jason Kasdorf would get the start, which was nothing against Kasdorf. With their focus upon winning the final two games thus hitting a magical mark for the team, they felt that Chad Johnson would give them the best opportunity. "[Johnson's] on a great roll and they believe we're one game away from .500," said Murray. "And I don't blame them for that.

"That's great. We're missing the playoffs, we have two games left and they're still grumbling. That's the mindset we're trying to get to and I would never complain about that.

Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma passed on that Paul Gaustad-like "Don't-step-on-the-logo!" moment from the players and opted not only to start Kasdorf in net, but to also give two other players their first taste of the NHL as Evan Rodrigues and Williamsville native, Cole Schneider hit NHL ice for the first time. Both, Murray said "deserved to play a game or two on merit."

Too bad it wasn't a better ending for the trio.

Showtime tonight for four Sabres prospects

Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com


Not sure what the NHL schedule makers were thinking when they matched up the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Buffalo Sabres in tonight's only NHL game, but what we have tonight is the NHL's marquis game featuring the 28th place Jackets and the 23rd place Sabres.

That said, as both teams have been well out of the playoffs for some time now, both organizations are loaded with young talent already making their mark in the NHL who are backed by a pretty strong pool of prospects. Columbus, who many picked to be in the upper echelon of the Metropolitan Division, or at least battling for a wild card spot, boast the talents of 23 yr. old Brandon Saad, Boone Jenner (22,) Seth Jones (21) and Ryan Murray (22) while the Sabres have Jack Eichel (19,) Sam Reinhart (20,) and Rasmus Ristolainen (22.)

All will be on the ice tonight along with some pretty talented young vets who constitute each teams core as well as newbies, some of whom will be a part of the future.