There are plenty of questions surrounding the Buffalo Sabres as the month of December begins. This is a team that has managed to float around the Eastern Conference playoff picture – albeit the bottom of the playoff picture – despite shortcomings at home, injuries and a lack of depth scoring.
The Sabres – 1-3-1 in their last five – have had their fair share of struggles at home this season and have now begun to struggle no matter where they play. Buffalo opened November on a 4-2-0 run that included four home victories. Since losing Ryan Miller on November 12, the Sabres have gone 3-4-1. Two of those three victories came against teams which fired their coaches this week. Buffalo has not received any scoring from players not named Vanek and Pominville and it seems as if a gut check is in order for a team which has slid from the top of the conference to a two-point lead for a playoff position.
Regardless of Miller’s play this season, goaltending has been the least of Buffalo’s worries. Both Miller and Enroth have played admirably (save for two games by Miller) and the numbers show for it. The Sabres were averaging three goals against per game up to, and including, the night they lost Miller. The 6-2 loss to the Bruins and the 6-5 OTW against Winnipeg inflate those numbers. Overall, the Sabres team GAA is 2.71 for the month. They have averaged only 2.64 GF in November.
What is the solution for a team that can’t seem to win at home, won’t back up their stars and can’t provide scoring support to their two studs who have accounted for 31% of the goal scoring this season. In fact, Adam, Pominville, Roy and Vanek account for 51% of the goal scoring this year. Perhaps it is time for a change in the makeup of this hockey club.
A lot of talk has revolved around Bobby Ryan being traded and the Ducks haven’t denied any of these rumors. So they really aren’t rumors anymore. At first the thought of another winger was blasphemous, the Sabres have plenty. But upon further review, acquiring Ryan – or providing another roster shake up – might be just what the doctor ordered for this team.
Short of speculating who the Sabres might send west to snag Ryan – many seem to think Drew Stafford is at the center of any trade – the act of reshaping the core of this team may be what is truly necessary to put this team over the top. Ryan doesn’t necessarily bring the intangibles of a proven veteran. However, he has been a big part of a winning team in Anaheim and he plays a brand of hockey that is somewhat foreign to those in the Sabres locker room. What would it take to get Ryan? That is a tough call, certainly a high draft pick and a combination of NHL talent and highly valued prospects would be of interest to Anaheim. However, you can’t be really sure of what that actual deal may be. Sure it is fun to say Stafford, Sekera and a pick; or Ennis, Stafford and a prospect in a trade is fun. But I’d prefer to deal in realism here for a moment.
Consider that the core of this team, consisting of; Hecht, Gaustad, Kaleta, Miller, Pominville, Roy, Sekera, Stafford and Vanek all grew up together here in Buffalo. They played together in the minors (Sekera and Kaleta to a lesser extent) and came of age with the 2005-06 and 06-07 teams. Those teams were anchored by Chris Drury, Danny Briere, Teppo Numminen and Mike Grier. When those faces left the Sabres had little more than a bunch of drinking buddies who had been along for the ride to two Conference Finals and a President’s Trophy. To this day that core remains while the same craptastic voyage occurs on the ice.
Ask yourself why in the past four seasons (beginning in 07-08) that is team has been an enigmatic blend of talent and underachievement? Why have flashes of brilliance been shrouded by runs of discouraging and infuriating play? Why do you hear the same excuses after every loss, whether it is close or a blow out? The answer is simple, no? The same kids who ran the clubhouse when they were young are still in charge now. The only difference is there is no one to answer to.
Now these players are the team’s captains. Granted, Pominville and Vanek have reacted well to their promotion and it even seems that Jochen Hecht is miffed at not wearing a letter this season. However, Gaustad, Roy and Stafford have skated by, still being coddled and still getting the royal treatment (all assistant captains). Maybe it is time for a change.
This isn’t a call to blow the roster apart. There just needs to be a systematic change regarding this group of players. Whether you move Stafford, Sekera, Gaustad or Roy, it doesn’t matter. The point is that a message needs to be sent to this team that the status quo will no longer be accepted. Ownership and management sent a message to the rest of the league that the Sabres are here to compete, they will pay top dollar for top talent and they will run with the big boys in every other aspect.
It started with the acquisition of Ehrhoff, Leino and Regehr. While the results have been mixed the process had started. However, the core remained. It would appear the time has come to make a statement in the locker room, maybe then the results on the ice will finally change.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
