The Sabres finally have the luxury of spending on talent thanks to their rich new owner.
I like Buffalo. I really do.
Maybe it has to do with growing up in Southern Ontario and being exposed to Buffalo television. I got to see Irv Weinstein report on the latest four-alarm blaze in Cheektowaga and Clip Smith tell me about the latest exploits of Ernie DiGregorio and Bob McAdoo of the Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association. I don't even like basketball, but I loved those guys.
Buffalo gave us, among other things, Dave Thomas, Rocketship 7, chicken wings and, one of my favorite all-time people, Jim Kelley -- the hockey writer; not the quarterback. I like the other Jim Kelly, too. Buffalo also gave us "wide right" and O.J. Simpson, but we forgive them for that.
And, of course, in 1970, Buffalo gave us the Sabres. The loveable, sometimes laughable, but always admirable Buffalo Sabres.
For those of us growing up in Southern Ontario, the Sabres were an affordable option to the overpriced and underachieving Toronto Maple Leafs.
Over the years, both the city of Buffalo and the Sabres fell on hard times, but -- at least where the hockey team is concerned -- happy times are here again. Thanks to affable (and stinking rich) new owner Terry Pegula, the Sabres have graduated from being one of the NHL's small-market, small-budget teams to being an organization that now has a different salary-cap issue. The Sabres have committed more money to player salaries than any team in the league and actually need to trim a little off the top before the season starts.
Take that Maple Leafs and Rangers!
The question, of course, is are the big-budget Sabres better? And, does having more money automatically catapult them into Stanley Cup contention?
The answer to the first question, based on additions the team made in the off-season, is yes. The answer to Question 2 is... we'll see.
The addition of veteran defencemen Christian Ehrhoff and Robyn Regehr as well as centre Ville Leino is significant. Those three players, and potentially rookie right winger rookie Zack Kassian, give the Sabres some much needed depth and toughness.
The key to success, however, will be the contributions of those who were already with the Sabres prior to the arrival of Pegula, and that includes coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier. Ruff, the longest tenured coach in the NHL having first stepped behind the Sabres bench in 1997, is well-respected, and with a new contract extension in his back pocket now has the comfort of knowing he'll be around for a while.
Regier has never had the luxury of managing the team with money to spend. In fact, you could argue he was forced to manage with one arm tied behind his back. That all changed when Pegula opened his wallet and instead of moths flying out of it, there was money. Lots and lots and lots of money.
With that, though, comes a new set of problems. Just because you can spend doesn't mean you will spend it on the right players. For years the New York Rangers have been one of the most free-spending teams in the NHL and it did not translate to success on the ice.
The Sabres actually had a pretty good foundation before the arrival of Pegula. Start with goaltender Ryan Miller, easily one of the best stoppers in the league. Miller had to deal with a variety of injuries last season, but when he's healthy and on his game, he gives his team a fighting chance to win every night. On the nights Miller needs a rest, Jhonas Enroth has indicated he's ready to adequately fill in with capable play.
Tyler Myers, the NHL's rookie of the year two seasons ago, suffered through a miserable sophomore slump through a good portion of the season, but did rebound rather nicely down the stretch. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder has a massive upside and could develop into a Norris Trophy candidate.
The Sabres have a wealth of returning talent up front, starting with potential sniper Thomas Vanek. The 27-year-old native of Austria has delectable talent, but can be frustratingly inconsistent. Vanek, who will earn $6.4 million in each of the next three seasons, runs hot and cold when it comes to scoring goals. He has the talent to be a Rocket Richard Trophy candidate, but too often leaves Sabres fans wanting.
Derek Roy missed half of last season with a torn quad tendon, but is ready to assume his role as one of the team's top point producers and leaders. Add Jason Pominville, Drew Stafford, Jochen Hecht, Nathan Gerbe, Tyler Ennis, Paul Gaustad and Cody McCormick to the mix and Ruff has a wealth of talent to throw over the boards in all situations.
One X-factor for the Sabres is veteran right winger Brad Boyes. The 29-year-old first-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2000 seems to have lost his scoring touch. After notching 43 and 33 goals for the St. Louis Blues in back-to-back seasons, Boyes dipped to 14 and 17 goals in the next two years. A return to form could put the Sabres over the top.
All in all, the Buffalo Sabres are in a good place and if it all comes together, their first trip to the Stanley Cup final since 1998-99 is not unthinkable.
