Buffalo Sabres midseason review

On the outside lookin in

by CT

The Buffalo Sabres are 42 games into the 2010-11 season and they currently sit in 10th place. Even after their current streak of 9 points in 10 games they still sit 10 points back of the coveted last playoff spot in the East. Does this really surprise you?

Let’s look at some of the rosters of some of the other teams in the East.

Washington- Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, Green, Carlson, Knuble

Pittsburgh- Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Staal, rookie overachiever- Letestu

Philadelphia- Briere, Richards, Carter, Pronger, Giroux

I won’t waste anymore of your time name dropping but lets look at some of the “household” names on the Sabres roster: Connolly, Vanek, Stafford, Roy (OUT), Grier, Hecht, Niedermayer, Kaleta, McCormick, Gaustaud, Sekera, Gerbe.

We are supposed to succeed with this team? I have been the biggest Sabres optimist for as long as I can remember. When people trash talk, I still defend the team. However, without a couple proven players, these guys cannot excel. In this previous column, I wrote how the only people that are worth their contracts are Grier and Stafford. That statement remains true.

SUCK-era has honestly made me like him less. Last night’s giveaway to Richards wasn’t all his fault but he single-handily lost the game in Colorado. There are 18 other guys dressed every night and it is a team game but this guy is just awful. Connolly is all but gone, no need to beat that dead horse.

Rob Niedermayer has done nothing. The expectations for him were low as far as points go although if the Sabres make the playoffs that might change. However 0 goals and 8 points shouldn’t make a minor league roster. He doesn’t even have any other significant role on the team. He is not a big hitter. His forecheck is nonexistent. Maybe it is a good thing I don’t notice him on defense but he is just another hole in an already below-average team. This team needs overachiever’s not underachievers.

Vanek is on pace for 28 goals. That is good production….for a second liner. That is when Vanek was at his best, on the 3rd line. If the Sabres could get 1 or 2 guys that can actually produce to play the first line everything else would fall into place. Vanek and Stafford could move to the second line, Ennis could be moved to play the 3rd or 4th line and skate circles around them.

The Sabres are a topic that can be discussed non-stop. Hopefully, Terrence P owns the team sooner rather than later. Until that happens and a serious overhaul of the roster occurs, the Sabres will be on the outside looking in. The question is, for how long?