OK, it’s time for my boldless prediction. I’ve said it before, the fortunes of the Sabres rest on Ryan Miller. If Miller is what he’s always been, a good goalie, the Sabres will be fighting for the 7th or 8th seed. If he becomes elite, the Sabres can be a top 5 team in the conference. As far as the rest of the team goes:
There’s a select group of veterans on the team that I think have peaked (Roy-Connolly-Pommer–Hecht–Vanek–Tallinder–Lydman-Rivet). These guys I feel aren’t going to get any better. It’s not a knock on them (besides Tallinder), but Connolly hasn’t played a full season in 3 years, Vanek is going to get 40 goals, and Hecht is going to be the 10-15 goal guy. We have seen what the full potential of these guys have gotten us, and it’s not a lot.
Then there’s the young guys who have only been on the club for a few years (MaCarthur, Kennedy, Paille, Stafford, Sekera, Butler) that you’re not sure what you’re going to get. I think the key is for the young guys on the team to step up. I know it’s not exactly breaking news, but the Sabres need some new blood to rise among their ranks. If the Sabres can get Stafford to say, 30 goals they will be a 6th seed.
But I warn all of you, I’m not much of a glass half full guy. My goal is for this team to be a Stanley Cup Champion. I just don’t see enough talent on this team, and more importantly the history of Darcy Riger’s prospects (only Campbell, Miller, and Vanek have been all-stars), to be confident that this will happen.
But for all you fans whose goal is for the Sabres to just make the playoffs. Mission should be accomplished. Sabres will finish 7th.
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