Sabres Slashes: An Offseason to Forget

 Kevyn Adams and the Buffalo Sabres have had an offseason to forget. The team underperformed again in a shortened 2020-2021 season. Granted, the Sabres missed their best player and captain, Jack Eichel, for most of the season. The team looked like it wasn't even trying most nights and leaving the goalies to make the save. Ralph Krueger was fired late in the season, and Don Granato took over. Under Granato, players looked looser, more relaxed, and started to look like they were having fun again.

Eichel was out of the lineup due to an upper-body injury, and this was just the beginning of the soap opera. There were reports that Eichel needed to get neck surgery to improve, and the Sabres' organization was not allowing him to get it. The surgery was not a common one among hockey players, and the team wasn't sure how he would recover. The Sabres did have him on the trade block around the NHL Entry Draft, but the asking price was too high for most teams because of the injury situation. As of now, Eichel is still on the Sabres' roster and it will be interesting to see how this saga turns out. Does he not report to camp, sit out, or get traded? Only time will tell.

Adams and the Pegulas decided to remove the interim tag from the head coach and sign Don Granato to a three-year deal. This was the right move for the team. Granato seemed to let the players play and keep it simple after he took over the bench last season. He used players right and put them in situations to succeed. The team will likely be on the bit of the younger side this season, and I think Granato could help make them better, even though they'll be in the hunt to win the NHL Lottery again this season.

Adams started the offseason with Will Borgen going to the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft. He quickly bounced back and managed to pull off a good trade before the NHL Entry Draft. The Sabres traded defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2021 13th overall pick in the 2021 Draft, a third-round pick in the 2023 Draft, and defenseman Robert Hagg. The trade was a good one by Adams, and the Flyers overpaid for Ristolainen. There were probably other teams looking for Ristolainen's services, which could have played a part in the haul. Hagg is a serviceable third-pairing defenseman who can kill penalties and doesn't shy away from playing a physical game.

Drake Caggiula signed a one-year, $750,000 contract extension for the 2021-2022 season. Caggiula played 11 games with the Sabres last season and had two goals, one assist, and three points. The left wing has never played a full season in the NHL and will likely be a bottom-six depth player for the Sabres. Then again with the way this roster is shaping up, he could very well be a top-six player. It was a cost-effective deal for the Sabres, and Caggiula will have a chance to prove himself while with the team.

The Sabres lost players in free agency like Linus Ullmark, Jake McCabe, and Carter Hutton. Sabres fans would probably agree that it was time for these guys to go since the team didn't turn around with them on the roster, but they were better than anything brought in by the Sabres brass in free agency. Adams and the Sabres couldn't come to terms, and by the time Ullmark hit free agency, there wasn't much left in the goalie market, so the team wound up signing Craig Andersonand Aaron Dell. There wasn't an upgrade made in goal for the team this offseason.

Will Butcher and Mark Pysyk were the notable defensemen that were acquired in the offseason. Butcher was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils, and Pysyk signed a free agency deal. Butcher had a decent first three seasons in the NHL but only played 23 games last season and became expendable after the Devils signed Dougie Hamilton to a substantial free agency deal. Butcher is a mobile defenseman who can move the puck, play top-four minutes and contribute offensively. Pysyk will likely play bottom-pairing minutes or be the oft-scratched seventh defenseman.

Adams was able to re-sign some restricted free agents to decent bridge deals. Brandon Davidson signed a new one-year deal worth $750,000. Forward Rasmus Asplund got a new two-year deal worth $825,000 per season. He had seven goals, four assists, and 11 points in 28 games last season. Casey Fitzgerald, the 24-year-old defenseman, signed a new two-year contract with a $750,000 cap hit per season. Fitzgerald has yet to make his NHL Debut, but has a good shot to do that this season. Adams re-signed Henri Jokiharju and forward Casey Mittelstadt to new three-year deals with a $2.5 million cap hit per season.

The Sabres did manage to get something for forward Sam Reinhart, who was a restricted free agent due to a big payday. It is just like the Sabres to trade a guy who has scored 20-plus goals in five of his last six seasons played because he was due a pay raise. In Adams' defense, he was able to get a goalie prospect and a first-round 2022 Draft pick for Reinhart. I think that the Sabres will miss the goal-scoring and his ability to play top-six minutes. Reinhart wasn't the best 200-foot player, but his ability to find the back of the net will be missed.

The Sabres still do not have defenseman Rasmus Dahlin under contract for the 2021-22 season. He is a restricted free agent and could opt to sit out until he has a new contract. The 21-year-old had a good rookie season under Phil Housley including 44 points in 82 games. His second season, first with Ralph Krueger, his numbers dipped a bit, but he was a bit better defensively. Last season was a strange one, but Dahlin's game was a complete disaster. Adams needs to get a deal done before camp starts because the last thing you want is another potential distraction off the ice for this team.

There are two reasons why the Sabres received a D-, and not a F for their final offseason grade. The first reason was the big haul that Adams managed to bring in for Ristolainen. The other reason was signing Don Granato to a new contract, and removing the interim head coach tag from last season. Once he took over behind the bench, the team played looser and were actually making some games competitive. 

Sabres Slashes: Weekly Preview 2/11/18-2/17/18

The Buffalo Sabres will look to keep playing the role of spoiler and try to win some games against teams that are in the playoff race.

They may have to play some games without their leading scorer, Jack Eichel, who was injured in last night's game against the Boston Bruins. Eichel went to stop, lost his footing and went awkwardly into the boards. He left the game and did not return.

The Sabres have a busy week and will play four games in seven days. They'll start off the week against the Colorado Avalanche, who are battling for a playoff spot, but have been struggling lately. The Tampa Bay Lightning then come to town and that will be a tough game. The Sabres will then go to Ottawa to take on the Senators, who have been struggling all season long. Buffalo ends the week back at home to face the Los Angeles Kings.

Buffalo starts the week off against a struggling Avalanche. The Sabres are coming off of a big win against the Bruins, and need to ride the momentum of that win into this game. Buffalo could be without Jack Eichel, who was injured last night. The Sabres will want to get off to a fast start and try to get the first goal of the game. Buffalo needs to win the battle at even strength since the Avs penalty kill is one of the best in the League. The Sabres are going to need someone to step up if Eichel is out and that someone could be Ryan O'Reilly.

The Avalanche should take advantage of a weak penalty kill of the Sabres. Colorado needs to get the first goal of the game and have the lead entering the final period of the game. The Avs want to spend some time in the offensive zone so they should get the forechecking and cycling game early in the game. The Avalanche will want to keep an eye on Sam Reinhart and Evander Kane since they can really skate and put the puck in the net.

The Sabres will have to play their best game of the season if they want to take two points away from the Lightning. Buffalo needs to stop the balanced lineup of the Bolts, which includes Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman, by playing in the offensive zone. The Sabres will likely need the goaltender to have a spectacular game and steal the game for them. Buffalo should play with some discipline since they have one of the worst penalty kills in the League, while the Bolts have one of the  best power plays in the League. The Sabres need to use their speed to draw penalties, and take advantage of a weak penalty kill of Tampa Bay.

The Bolts will want to have a good start to the game and not play down to their opponent. The Lightning need to play their game and attack in the offensive zone. Tampa Bay should play with some discipline because the penalty kill is the one weak area of this team. The Bolts should try to force some turnovers for quality scoring chances. Tampa Bay is going to need to be aware of Rasmus Ristolainen when he is on the ice since he has started to pile up the points from the blue line. 

Buffalo will visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. The Sabres need to keep an eye on Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson when they are on the ice since the are two of the leading scorers for the Sens. Buffalo needs to set the tone early to take the home crowd out of the game. They'll need to get the forecheck and cycle game going early and often. The Sabres want to get off to a better start since they have been outscored by a wide margin in first period of games. Buffalo needs the goaltending to come up big since the Senators have some speed.

The Senators will need to play a 60 minute game, which has been difficult for the to do this season. Ottawa needs to win the battle at even strength since the Sabres have not been good in this area. The Sens will need to play with discipline since they don't have the best penalty kill in the League. The Senators will need to be aware of when Ryan O'Reilly and Sam Reinhart are on the ice since they both can produce. Ottawa wants to get the first goal of the game and build off of it.

The Sabres end their week with a visit from the Los Angeles Kings. Buffalo needs to get what they early in the game because the Kings tend to get better defensively as the game goes on. The Sabres need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking. Buffalo will want to find a way to stop the top six forwards of the Kings, which include Anze Kopitar and Tanner Pearson. The Sabres need to find a way to force turnovers and take advantage of mistakes that the Kings make. 

The Kings need to get off to a better start and not give up too many goals in the first period. Los Angeles will want to find a way to get their power play going against one of the worst penalty kills in the League. The Kings need to keep an eye on Evander Kane when he is on the ice for the Sabres since he is one of the leading producers on the team. Los Angeles needs to win the battle at even strength and play a smart game by not making mistakes and turning the puck over.