Struggling Season for Buffalo Sabres

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Before the 2013/14 Season even started, now former, General Manager Darcy Regier said in an interview that there would be a lot of suffering for the fans this season.  However Sabres fans never expected the extent to that statement. The Sabres, who currently sit in last place in the NHL, have suffered almost everything imaginable this season. They have set a franchise record for most players dressed in a season as they dressed a total of 44 total different players. The team is mostly built up of prospects who have never played a NHL game before this season, including some who hadn't even played an AHL game. The team has almost zero production and has had 8 different goalies this season including Halak and Vinz. The Sabres have also traded both of their captains this season and are on their 2nd coach for this season. Though Ted Nolan has been a major impact on the team, they have not been producing at the proper heights of a NHL team.


The Sabres enter tonight's game against the Red Wings with only 51 points on the season and a total of only 21 wins. This season has been more than just a rebuild for the Sabres as most of the key players that started the year in Buffalo have parted including Star Goalie Ryan Miller. Night after Night the team has averaged over 30 shots against which is a huge truck load for any goalie. With injuries to both Enroth and Neuvirth the team currently has two AHL goalies playing for the team. The team is in many pieces and will need to take many steps in order to reach the peek of this rebuild. The team is last in almost all aspects of the league and has no where to turn to. The team is almost guaranteed to get the first overall pick in the Draft Lottery next week and they are quite distant from the other teams in the draft. Also, because of the many call ups throughout the season for the Sabres, the Rochester Americans have also suffered as a result.


Sabres fans have no where to look forward to and ratings continue to drop. Most homes games on TV show tons of empty seats as fans continue to be disappointed by their performance. Fans are attempting to resell their tickets for as low as 1/4 the normal price and some go as far as giving them away. The Sabres need many things to improve the team and it won't be just a one year process. Fans already are preparing for another bad season next year and the off season hasn't even started yet.

Here are 5 things the Sabres need to do in order to make this rebuild successful:

1: Buyout Ville Lenio's contract

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Lenio has been a huge bust for the team ever since he has arrived in Buffalo. In his 3 seasons in Buffalo, he has only managed to score 46 points which is a complete waste for the amount of money they spent on his contract. Also, he has been injured multiple times over the time period in Buffalo. He has yet to score a goal this season and his shootout winner the other night doesn't make up for this lack of preformance. His time in Buffalo I believe has come to an end.

2: Pick up some Key Free Agents
Though the Sabres are pushing for a more younger telented team, the Sabres need to add some vetren talent during the offseason. Some top free agents include Rochester Native Ryan Callahan, Marian Gaborik, Jarome Iginla, Ales Hemsky, and Paul Stastny. There's even a possibility that the Sabres will bring back former captin Steve Ott, that's if he even wants to come back. Either way, the Sabres will have to let lose with some money in free agency this season.

3: Have A Solid Draft
With the Sabres more then likely getting the 1st Overall pick this offseason, they will have the choice to pick anyone they want. In order to make this draft a success, they'll need to pick wisely. Though some picks have not worked out in the past, that thought should be left behind as we now have a new GM who appears more willing to make big moves.

4: Figure out who will be the starting goalie next season
When the Sabres traded Miller to St. Louis, they knew they had a big gap to fill. Jhonas Enroth has stepped up since his departure but so have the other goalies here. Buffalo has a lot of young talent in the net and can work around it. With both Enroth and Neuvirth heading into free agency following next season, the Sabres may already need to look for a a more permanent solution to who will start.

5: Don't become the next modern day Oilers
Like the Sabres in 2006, the Oilers had a strong run in the playoffs as they were the runner up for the Stanley Cup. However the Oilers have spirled out of control since and have been in the top 10 picks since with the exception of 2008 and yet again will be in the top 5 picks this year. over those 3 years, the picks included 3 consectutive 1st overall picks for the team and now they have so much young talent they don't know what to do with it. So the basic statement is that it is important for the Sabres to rebuild as quickly as possible so the same thing doesn't occur.

So as this season comes to a close, the Sabres are now in a complete slump in hopes for better years in the future. The Sabres have lots of work to do in order to become a more competative team and eventually make their return to the playoffs.