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| credit: NHL.com |
As the
2015-2016 NHL season comes to a much-anticipated start this week, Buffalo
Sabres fans have much to look forward to. After two seasons in which the
primary goal seemed to be to "tank" for Jack Eichel or Connor
McDavid, the path to rebuilding can now, officially, begin.
The
excitement heading into this season unquestionably comes from the addition of
forward Jack Eichel. The Calder Trophy favorite has shown a clear desire to
prove himself since arriving in Buffalo, no doubt spurred by his status as the
number two pick to McDavid. Rumor has it that Eichel told Tim Murray after the
draft lottery that he would be "better” than McDavid.
Whether that
turns or to be true or not, Eichel seems driven to succeed in Buffalo, and that
kind of drive has endeared him to a fanbase starving for a postseason run after
four years without. Notching two goals and four assists in the preseason, Eichel's
off to a nice start.
Tyler Ennis
will be a key player to keep an eye out for, as well. Despite the Sabres' woes
last season, his play was a frequent highlight, giving his all every game when
many fans probably would have preferred he gave a little less. Ennis now has a
deeper roster to back him up and a front office that wants to win – now.
Of Course, the
Sabres won't immediately be a Cup contender. Despite the addition of players
like Eichel and Evander Kane, the team still has an uphill battle ahead of
them. No team goes from last to first overnight, and the Sabres still have
plenty of unproven factors as they head into a new season.
The biggest
question mark for the Sabres this season is between the pipes. For the better
part of two decades, the team has been backed by strong goalies. Even last
season, despite the team's many flaws, admirable efforts from Jhonas Enroth,
Michal Neuvirth and Anders Lindback were a highlight. Throughout last year, all
three were sent packing, leaving the Sabres with unproven players like Chad
Johnson and Robin Lehner. Neither looked particularly stellar in the preseason,
making it interesting to see if either player steps up, or if the team begins
to lean on offense, rather than defense, for once.
The Sabres'
new coach should also prove to be interesting to keep an eye on. In 2009, his
first season as an NHL head coach, Dan Bylsma led Pittsburgh to a Stanley Cup.
In the years that followed, however, Pittsburgh has been unable to recapture
the same glory, though the team appeared in the playoffs every season under
Bylsma.
The new
coach seems like a welcome step-up from Ted Nolan, but as one of the youngest
head coaches in the NHL, Bylsma has as much to prove as anyone else in the organization.
It's much easier to take proven talents like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to
the mountain top. It's a bigger challenge with youngsters up and down the
roster.
Fans will
likely have to temper their expectations this year. It's unlikely that this
season will be as difficult to watch as the last two, but that doesn't mean it will
be easy for the Buffalo hockey club. There's a much brighter light at the end
of the tunnel now the years of the "tank" are behind them, but this
youthful team will still have a lot to prove this season.
Either way,
it's going to be exciting to be a Sabres fan again.
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