Has it become a fact that Lindy Ruff is the most versatile, underrated and perhaps best coach in the National Hockey League? Love him or hate him (I certainly don't like him) the man has gotten the job done with what he's been given time and time again. As Ruff heads into his 12th year of coaching the Buffalo Sabres, can the Sabres break their recent skid of two consecutive playoff-less years in upstate New York?It's been a hell of a fall from the 2006-07 season in Buffalo, where the Sabres finished with the best record in the NHL and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to be ousted by Ottawa. Since then, with the departure of Daniel Briere along with Chris Drury, the Sabres have failed to make it beyond the regular season and are looking to reverse their fortunes with some new faces and continuing youth movement.
During their 2008-09 campaign, the worst possible injuries struck the Sabres when Thomas Vanek missed time with a broken jaw only to be followed goaltender Ryan Miller going down in late February with a sprained ankle. Miller's ankle kept the 29-year old All-Star out of action for 13 games, complete with the worst timing possible. Those 13 games proved to be a pivotal turning point as the Sabres went 4-7-2 without Miller during this stretch and essentially fell out of the race for a playoff berth.
As the off-season struck, the need for Buffalo seemed to reside on the blue-line. Veteran Teppo Numminen was bound for retirement after 20+ years in the NHL while powerplay blue-liner Jaroslav Spacek was hitting the market as a free agent. The Sabres addressed their need for a defensemen when they signed Bruins defensemen Steve Montador to a two-year contract worth just over three million in total.
Montador, who was simply a train wreck in Boston could be either a productive second pairing defensemen or an overpaid third liner. However, with the Sabres loss of Numminen and Spacek, Montador will surely be given chances to succeed. In 2008-09, Montador finished with an impressive +17 between Anaheim and Boston, but struggled with the Bruins and had just one single point with the Bruins in 13 games with the club following the trading deadline.
Following the addition of Montador, the Sabres went out and brought seemingly castawayed NHL defensemen Joe DiPenta back to North America on a one year deal worth NHL minimum. DiPenta, a member of the 2006-07 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks had a solid season in the Swedish Elite League, putting up 6 points in 47 games for one of Frolunda's clubs. The former Boston University Terrier will most likely be the Sabres seventh defensemen and a discount for what he could bring to the table.
2009-10 also marks the return of an old friend to Buffalo, forward Mike Grier. Before jetting off to San Jose to join Joe Thornton and the Sharks, Greir spent the entire 2005-06 season with the Sabres as they advanced to Eastern Conference Finals. In the following off-season, Grier left Buffalo on what seemed to be bad terms with the franchise. Grier averaged 26 points in three seasons with the Sharks and was honored as an alternate captain throughout his tenure. Grier's seemingly ready to forget the past and pick up where he left off in Buffalo, leading with his strong, physical and poised style of play.
It appears that the Bruins aren't the only NHL club with restricted free agent winger woes as the Sabres and Drew Stafford have yet to agree on a deal as the countdown to the season begins. Just like Phil Kessel, Stafford is coming off a break-out season where he set new career highs in goals with 20, assists with 25 and powerplay goals with nine. Confusion is arises when you try to figure out as to why he has yet to be signed, the Sabres have over five million left in cap space, so why isn't this 45 point man signed yet? With the rumored asking price closer to being four million dollars, it doesn't take a genius to see why Sabres GM Darcy Regier isn't willing to devote large money to an unproven forward.
Here is how the Sabres line-up should shake up on opening night.
Thomas Vanek - Tim Connolly - Jason Pominville
Jochen Hecht - Derek Roy - Clarke MacArthur
Daniel Paille - Paul Gaustad - Mike Grier
Nathan Gerbe - Adam Mair - Patrick Kaleta
Extra Skater: Tim Kennedy
Craig Rivet - Henrik Tallinder
Steve Montador - Toni Lydman
Nathan Paetsch - Andrej Sekera
Extra Skater: Joe DiPenta
Ryan Miller
Patrick Lalime
Barring another injury to Ryan Miller, Lindy Ruff's Sabres should return to the playoffs led by offensive juggernaut Thomas Vanek. Their top nine forwards look to possess great qualities of being complete players (a must for the Lindy Ruff system) and if you add in Drew Stafford, this team looks to be one that will continue to give the Boston Bruins trouble yet again.
Players To Watch: Former Boston College standout and Hobey Baker winner Nathan Gerbe is without a doubt the Sabres biggest x-factor heading into 2009-10. Gerbe tallied just a single point in 10 games with the big club in 2008-09, but the 5'6 forward has shown a high level of play in Portland with the Pirates of the AHL. If Gerbe can produce when given his chances, he'll definitely be logging much more than fourth line minutes. Another player to keep your eyes on is top line center Tim Connolly, who was given a two year extension worth nine million in total. Despite his great production of 88 points in total, Connolly has played in just 98 games in the past three seasons. If health becomes an issue for Connolly again, the Sabres will rely on their youth yet again.
Prediction: 3rd in Northeast Division. 8th in Eastern Conference.
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