TSN.ca's 2014-15 NHL Season Preview: Buffalo Sabres

With the NHL regular season right around the corner, TSN.ca profiles each team leading up to puck drop. Next up is the Buffalo Sabres, with nowhere to go but up after an abysmal 2013-14 campaign. Catch up on their summer moves and the issues they face this season, as well as Craig Button's analysis of their top prospect and an analytical breakdown by TSN's Scott Cullen.

Division: Atlantic   GM: Tim Murray   Head Coach: Ted Nolan

2013-14: 21-51-10 (8th in Atlantic)   Playoffs: Did not qualify

Goals For: 150 (30th)   Goals Against: 243 (25th)  PP: 14.1% (29th)   PK: 81.4% (20th)

That Was Then:

The Buffalo Sabres' 2013-14 campaign started and ended with identical seven-game losing streaks. In total, the club was beaten in 61 of its 82 games - or in nearly 75 per cent of its season.

Buffalo's 21 wins, 52 regular season points and 150 goals scored all ranked at the bottom of the league.

The losing took its toll from management level all the way down through the roster. Head coach Ron Rolston and long-time general manager Darcy Regier were fired after the club's 4-15-1 start. By the trade deadline, the club was in full fire sale mode when they dealt away long-time goalie Ryan Miller and star forward Thomas Vanek along with Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick and Steve Ott.

Fans in Western New York can take solace that after a season like that, there really is nowhere to go but up.

Scott Cullen's Analytics

Key: GPG= goals per game, GAA= goals-against per game, SH%= even-strength shooting percentage, SV%= even-strength save percentage, SAF%= score-adjusted Fenwick percentage (differential of shot attempts faced vs. shot attempts, excluding blocked shots, adjusted for game score), PTS%= percentage of available points.

Analysis:

Games 1-20: Trouble from get-go, with horrific possession numbers leading to a massive goal deficit.

Games 21-41: Got even worse offensively, but possession improved and Ryan Miller was strong in goal.

Games 42-62: Possession still a problem, but went on a (relative) hot streak offensively, led by Ennis, Hodgson and Stafford.

Games 63-82: Faded down the stretch, with a patchwork lineup and a goaltending change putting up subpar numbers across the board.

Key 2014 Additions: RW Brian Gionta, C Cody McCormick, LW Matt Moulson, C Sam Reinhart, D Andrej Meszaros, D Tyson Strachan, D Josh Gorges

Key 2014 Subtractions: D Christian Ehrhoff, F Cory Conacher, LW Ville Leino

This Is Now: 

With veteran coach Ted Nolan dropping the interim title behind the bench, general manager Tim Murray wasted no time this summer rebuilding his battered club. First up, using compliance buyouts on Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino.

On Free Agent Frenzy day, the Sabres brought back Moulson and McCormick on three-year deals and added veteran winger Brian Gionta. The blue line was bolstered by the signing of Andrej Meszaros and acquiring Josh Gorges from Montreal. And before the summer was out, the team re-signed Tyler Ennis to a five-year contract.

The Sabres didn't score much last year, but the players who did are all back in the fold. Cody Hodgson led the team in points with 44 (20 G, 24 A) and re-joins Ennis (21 G, 22 A) up front. Youngsters Zemgus Girgensons (8 G, 14 A) and Drew Stafford (16 G, 18 A) are also looking to take the next steps in their development.

Joining the fray is Buffalo's second-overall draft pick, Sam Reinhart. The 18-year-old forward tallied 105 points (36 G, 69 A) for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League and the Sabres could certainly use a boost in firepower as Reinhart develops. He has a good chance of making the squad right out of training camp this season.

In goal, the battle for playing time will be between Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth.

DEPTH CHART

Craig's List

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button's Top Prospect:

If there was a Hockey Mensa Society, Sam Reinhart would be a member. The ability to think at a high level is required to play successfully in the NHL. Sam has a 'next generation' processor when it comes to playing.

His ability to think ahead, anticipate what is unfolding and then act is a skill that sets him apart.

Like a chess grandmaster, he manipulates the ice to the advantage of his team.

Fantasy - Cullen's Player to Watch - Tyler Ennis

There is not a lot of fantasy gold to be spun out of a team that had two players (three, if you count Matt Moulson's full season with three clubs) finish with more than 35 points last year.

However, Ennis is one of the few Buffalo forwards with offensive upside. After a rough start to the year, he finished last season with 28 points in his last 39 games, which might be enough to draw fantasy interest, if his plus-minus isn't dragged down to a minus-25 again.