An In-Depth Team Analysis

(and a friendly reminder to get your articles in before Saturday!)

It has been a crazy summer for the Buffalo Sabres.  First, we finally broke the 4-year Western Conference champions streak and took home our first DCHL Stanley Cup only to suffer the tragic loss of one of our up-and-coming goaltenders in Matiss Kivlenieks.  GM Ian Thornton said “it was tough for the guys to go from the high of highs to the low of lows so quickly.  One minute we were on top of the world and the next we were struggling to understand how cruel life can be.  Our guys are dedicating next season to Kivi as we look to try to repeat as champions.”

Devoid of a true superstar on the roster for most of the year, the Buffalo Sabres won with some strong seasons from their top 4 defencemen; depth and balance across all their forward lines; and the leadership and experience of Henrik Lundqvist when it mattered most.  GM Thornton again, “not to take anything away from Schmidty as his season was unbelievable winning both the Norris and the Conn Smythe trophies and all, but we wouldn’t be champions if it weren’t for Hank.  The guys had complete faith in him between the pipes and that confidence showed in their play when they stepped it up for the playoffs.”

Let’s take a moment and look how the champion 2020-2021 Buffalo Sabres were built:

FORWARDS:

Kane – acquired by trade in 2021 from Florida (with Carter and a 2^nd round pick for Staal, Johnsson, Barabanov, Grundstrom, a 2^nd and a 1^st)

Arvidsson – an original Sabre from when GM Thornton took over the team

Kubalik – drafted in 2019 with pick 25

Gallagher – acquired by trade in 2020 from Colorado (with McNabb for Klingberg and Orpik)

Eller – acquired by trade in 2019 from NYR and then resigned in the 2019 UFA

Hyman – an original Sabre from when GM Thornton took over the team

Motte – signed in the 2019 UFA and resigned as an RFA in 2020

Backlund – acquired by trade in 2018 from Calgary (for Fischer, Williams and a 2^nd round pick) and resigned in 2020 UFA

Palmieri – an original Sabre from when GM Thornton took over the team

Dadonov – drafted in 2017 with pick 37

Carter – acquired by trade in 2021 from Florida (with Kane and a 2^nd round pick for Staal, Johnsson, Barabanov, Grundstrom, a 2^nd and a 1^st)

Glendening – acquired by trade in 2021 from Vegas (with a 5^th round pick for Thompson and a 3^rd round pick)

Engvall – drafted in 2019 with pick 154

DEFENCEMEN:

Petry – signed in 2020 UFA

Ekholm – an original Sabre from when GM Thornton took over the team

Schmidt – acquired by trade in 2019 from Vegas (for Raanta and a 1^st round pick)

Gavrikov – signed in the 2020 UFA and resigned as an RFA in 2021

Gustafsson – acquired by trade in 2020 from Boston (for Zucker and Bjork)

Borowiecki – signed in 2019 UFA

GOALIES:

Rittich – signed in 2017 UFA and resigned as an RFA in 2018

Lundqvist – signed in 2020 UFA

Although often maligned for their prospect pool and/or their under 23 depth, the team is also very happy with the progress of some of the guys in Rochester this past year, some of who can hopefully make the jump full-time to Buffalo this season.  These include:

Terry – drafted in 2017 with pick 41

Suter – drafted in 2020 with pick 55

Toews – drafted in 2018 with pick 121

Lankinen – drafted in 2019 with pick 123

Shesterkin – an original Sabre from when GM Thornton took over the team

GM Thornton commented, “Our strength remains in our defence and in our goaltending.  We lose Boro this year and although we are sad to see his grit go, we are excited about what Toewsy can bring to the table this year.”  It is forecasted that Devon will jump from Rochester and immediately into a top 4 role.  Terry, Suter and Lankinen will likely get a bigger opportunity to stick with the parent club out of camp but it of course remains to be seen what the final camp roster will look like.  Additionally, in net, GM Thornton has confirmed that young phenom Igor Shesterkin will be the number 1 goalie this year with Lundqvist taking a much-deserved rest for the season and being traded to Seattle.  “This is Igor’s net now.  If the last victory against the Sharks ends up being the last game in the DCHL as a whole for Hank, I’m glad that he got to go out like a king.”

Thornton was a little coyer when asked about his plans for his forwards for this coming season.  “We are looking to make some changes.  We have a couple guys opting for free agency but a deep group of returning guys that allows us some flexibility up front to be able to make some moves.”  When asked who is he looking at moving, he replied, “Anyone is moveable.  There are a couple guys that are unlikely to be dealt, however, we will always listen to offers.”

The Sabres have additionally traded their 1^st round pick in this upcoming entry draft to the Kraken which allows them to be able to choose Trevor Carrick to be the Seattle’s selection.  “Although giving up a 1^st round pick is often seen as blasphemous and a high price to pay for some GMs, I think pick 32 in the draft is a great value for us allowing to not lose a critical member of the core of what we have built.”  GM Thornton also picked up some DCHL cash for the upcoming UFA and has acquired some late round picks to help keep the cupboards stocked in Buffalo.  When asked if he has a list of targets for this restocking, GM Thornton laughed and replied, “Ya, of course we do.  We have zero interest in the lazy BPA and we are of course prepared for the annual criticism that comes with our picks.  As our Philadelphia area GMs might understand the phrase ‘trust the process’  ultimately, hearing the criticism and/or having GMs not understanding our process will now be a little sweeter as we sip champagne from the championship trophy.”

As we look forwards, presently, the 2021-2022 Buffalo Sabres line-up looks like:

Kubalik – Carter – Arvidsson

Hyman – Backlund – Gallagher

Suter – Eller – Palmieri

Terry – Motte – Engvall

Toews – Petry

Schmidt – Ekholm

Gavrikov – Gustafsson

Shesterkin

Lankinen/Rittich

Although GM Thornton thinks this is a core of a team that can compete again in 2021 – 2022, as always fellow GMs, the phone lines in Buffalo are always open.