NHL Preview 2019-20: Buffalo Sabres

(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Buffalo Sabres former All-Star Zemgus Girgensons).

 

GM: Jason Botterill (since 2017). 7/10

Coach: Ralph Krueger (since 2019). 8/10

2018-19 record: 33-39-10, 76 points (6th in Atlantic Division, 13th in Eastern Conference). Playoffs: Did not qualify

Departures: Matt Tennyson (D), Kyle Criscuolo (C), Scott Wedgewood (D), Alex Nylander (RW).

Arrivals: John Gilmour (D), Marcus Johansson (LW/RW), Curtis Lazar (C), Jimmy Vesey (LW), Jean-Sébastien Dea (C), Andrew Hammond (G), and Henri Jokiharju (D).

Top forwards: Jack Eichel (70-85 points), Jeff Skinner (45-60 points), Sam Reinhart (60-65 points), Kyle Okposo (30-35 points), Casey Mittelstadt (35-45 points), Johansson (40-50 points), Jason Pominville (30-40 points if he comes back), Connor Sheary (35 points), Evan Rodrigues (30-35 points), Alexander Nylander (30-40 points in his rookie year would be nice).

Must-improve forward: Okposo once again. He didn't even score 15 goals last season, when he was a lock to score 30 when he played with the New York Islanders... with a certain John Tavares.

Top defensemen: Rasmus Ristolainen (40-50 points), Rasmus Dahlin (look for 45-55), Marco Scandella (20-30 points), Jake McCabe (20 points), Zach Bogosian (10 points due to injuries).

Goalies: Carter Hutton (74/100), Linus Ullmark (76/100).

Top rookies: Victor Oloffson (24, LW), Brendan Guhle (22, D), Rasmus Asplund (21, C).

Analysis:
The Sabres are not as strong up front as they think they are - and certainly nothing close to what they're paying for; Eichel is not yet a $10M player and may never be; Skinner is by no means a true 40-goal man, so his $9M cap is also ludicrous, per capita almost as much as Okposo's $6M.

For less money, the Edmonton Oilers had Connor McDavid ($12.5M, 41 goals, 75 assists, 116 points) and Leon Draisaitl ($8.5M, 50 goals, 55 assists, 105 points) provide a total of 91 goals, 130 assists and 221 points; with $25M on next year's cap, Eichel, Skinner and Okposo combined for 82 goals, 92 assists and 174 points. Divided in three, not two. And some people call McDavid and Draisaitl overpaid.

Speaking of sad offenses, if Pominville decides to retire, will not only lose their 35-year-old former captain and pillar of the middle-six, but also their fourth-leading goal scorer. And he had a lowly 16 (which is still two more than Okposo).

You have to think GM Botterill also feels like he's on the hot seat, having already gone through a head coach of his choosing and barely entering his third season. The Sabres are on an eight-year playoff drought - the longest of its kind in the NHL - and the fans are getting impatient.

Oh, and they had AHL-level goaltending last season. At 26 years old, it's time for Ullmark to come out of his shell.

Prediction: 6th in the Atlantic Division, 23rd in the league.