Buffalo Sabres 2015/16 Season Preview

Sabres 2nd Overall Pick Jack Eichel (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

          The 2014/15 Buffalo Sabres season was one most  would like to forget as the Sabres finished the season 23-51-8 which placed them at the bottom of the NHL standings. However, in a era of rebuilding, the Sabres have revamped their team and are now considered a team that could be contending for a playoff spot. The team may not be 100% perfect, however they have brought in some key pieces that will factor into the formula of this team. The team now has a true top line center in Ryan O'Reilly as they acquired him this offseason from the Colorado Avalanche at the Draft. Also, the big story for the Sabres this off season was Drafting one of the top prospects in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Jack Eichel. Eichel easily could've went 1st overall if it was any other Draft year but of course this year was the year of McEichel. With the Eire Otters Connor McDavid going 1st overall to the Edmonton Oilers, it left the Sabres with the next obvious choice of selecting Jack Eichel out of Boston University. Aside from Eichel and O'Reilly, other key additions to franchise included goaltender Robin Lehner, winger Jamie McGinn, and center David Legwand.

Here are all the roster moves that the Sabres made this offseason:

2015 NHL Entry Draft:

1st Round:
2nd Overall: Jack Eichel, Center, Boston University - NCAA

2nd Round:
51st Overall: Brendan Ghule, Defensemen, Prince Albert - WHL

3rd Round:
No Pick

4th Round:
92nd Overall: William Borgen, Defensemen, Moorhead - Minnesota High School Hockey

5th Round:
122nd Overall: Devante Stephens, Defensemen, Kelowna - WHL

6th Round
152nd Overall: Giorgio Estephan, Center, Lethbridge - WHL

7th Round
182nd Overall: Ivan Chukarov, Defensemen, Minnesota Wilderness - NAHL

Trades:

Buffalo Sabres acquired G Robin Lehner and C David Legwand from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2015 1st Round Pick (21st Overall Pick)

Buffalo Sabres acquired C Ryan O'Reilly and LW Jamie McGinn from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for D Nikita Zadorov, C Mikhail Grigoranko, LW JT Compher (Prospect), and a 2015 2nd Round Pick (31st Overall)

Signings (Previous Team in parenthesis)
Evan Rodrigues - 2 year deal (Boston University)
Nathan Lieuwen - 1 year extension (Buffalo Sabres)
Jason Akeson - 1 year deal (Philadelphia Flyers)
Matt Donovan - 1 year deal (New York Islanders)


Ryan O'Reilly (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Cal O'Reilly - 2 year deal (Vancouver Canucks)
Jack Eichel- 3 year Entry Level Deal (Boston University)
Matt Ellis - 1 year AHL Deal (Buffalo Sabres)
Bobby Sanguinetti - 1 year Deal (Vancouver Canucks)
Ryan O'Reilly - 7 year extension (Colorado Avalanche)
Carlo Colaiacovo - 1 year deal (Philadelphia Flyers)
Phil Varone - 1 year extension (Buffalo Sabres)
Mark Pysyk - 2 year extension (Buffalo Sabres)
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc - 1 year extension (Buffalo Sabres)
Tim Schaller - 1 year extension (Buffalo Sabres)
Johan Larsson - 1 year extension (Buffalo Sabres)
Jerry D'Amigo - 1 year extension (Buffalo Sabres)
Brendan Ghule - 3 year Entry Level Deal (Prince Albert Raiders)

Buyout:
Cody Hodgson

Key Loses:
Andre Benoit
Mikhail Grigoranko
Nikita Zadorov
Andrej Meszaros
Andres Lindback
Cody Hodgson
Patrick Kaleta
Matt Hackett

Evander Kane (Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald)

What to expect in 2015/16:

Now that the "Tank for McEichel" is over, the Sabres can finally get back to business and be a contender within the league. The Sabres not only have some new players on the ice, they will also have new head coach behind the bench as they picked Dan Bylsma. Many fans may remember him as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In his first season with the Pens, he led them to a Stanley Cup Championship. Now the same isn't expected of Bylsma in his first year in Buffalo, however there is the obvious expectation of a better season. Fans also haven't had the chance to see forward Evander Kane suit up in the Blue and Gold yet as he is returning from injury and is expected to be ready for training camp. Expect the Sabres to have two strong top lines this season and still have some depth to work with (Line Up Predictions Below). The Sabres may or may not make the playoffs this season however what I do know is that it will be an interesting year. If they don't make the playoffs, they will probably be just missing them. Expect their record to be above .500 and in the 45 win range.

If Jack Eichel isn't the top scorer this season, there is no reason to panic yet. It's expected that Jack is going to need a season to adapt to the league, as will McDavid. It could be a very interesting battle between those too and don't be surprised if they continue to be the next Crosby Ovechkin Rivalry. I do however believe there is a strong chance that Jack Eichel will be a top contender for the Calder Trophy. Another thing is, Robin Lehner may not look like the right guy as a starter right now, but give him a chance. Tim Murray scouted him before he was drafted and determined him to have plenty of potential then. if you think about it, he really hasn't had a true shot as a starter before now so it will be interesting to see how he handles the task.



Predictions:

Record:
48-28-6

Division Ranking:
3rd-4th

Conference Ranking:
7th-9th



New Sabres Head Coach Dan Bylsma (Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

Leading Scorer:
Ryan O'Reilly

Predicted Lineup (Based off Current Roster):

Forwards:

Kane - R. O'Reilly - Moulson
Ennis - Eichel - Reinhart
Foligno - Girgensons - Gionta
McGinn - Legwand -  Deslauriers

Spares: Johan Larsson, Cody McCormick

Defensemen:

Bogosian - Ristolainen
Gorges - Pysyk
Colaiacovo - Weber

Spare: Donovan

Goaltenders:
Lehner
Johnson

Captains:
Brian Gionta (C)
Matt Moulson (A)
Josh Gorges (A)

Final Note:
As a final note, the 2015/16 season is the season the Sabres Fans have been waiting for since the last time the team made the playoffs. The excitement built around this season is huge and has given fans hope that their team can succeed once again. Playoffs or not, I'm sure that this season will be a season to remember as big things are coming for the Buffalo Sabres.