I tend to be pretty optimistic about the Sabres. I have a pretty high regard for the management and coaching staff. Coaching can certainly overcome some personnel shortcomings, but in the case of the 2008-2009 Buffalo Sabres, I don’t suspect it will be enough.
This team has talent issues, plain and simple.
When the Sabres were near the top of the standings, back when they had Drury, Briere, and Campbell, they played an aggressive offensive minded style of hockey. It worked because the Sabres overwhelmed teams with their offensive zone pressure. The defense wasn’t relied upon to do much in comparison to most other hockey teams other than provide a strong outlet pass. So smart players like Numminen, Tallinder, and Lydman flourished on the back end.
Now, without the same caliber of talent in years past, the Sabres employ a more defensive minded game plan. There isn’t a single defenseman on this team capable of bearing down, taking the puck away from an opponent and making a smart pass. For the most part, the defense is an above average skating group and that is certainly an asset. But only against teams that have poor puck possession is this defense really designed to play against. The upper echelon teams can do whatever they want in the Buffalo zone and accumulate a tremendous amount of shots on goal because the defense is almost incapable of taking the puck away.
In addition, Buffalo’s forwards are not particularly great in their own zone like, say, a team like Dallas. There are guys who I consider to be above average defensive forwards like Roy, Pominville, Connolly, and Gaustad, but there are also players who either don’t understand their defensive responsibilities or are just not talented enough. A disturbing trend for Sabres fans is watching Kotalik, Paille, Mair, Kaleta, Ellis, among others, just get pinned down in their own zone night in and night out. When the puck is sent up the boards and the winger has to deal with a pinching defenseman, those guys are no match. They are defensive liabilities every shift.
The Sabres don’t have the talent some other teams have. Should we be very surprised with that? The Sabres have the 7th lowest payroll in the league. Take away Maxim Afinogenov’s current cap number and the Sabres pay less on their players than five teams in the NHL (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville, Phoenix, Toronto). I’m happy that the Sabres are being financially responsible, but you can’t honestly tell me that their competing for a Stanley Cup this year when they spend so little on their players.