CENTERS OF ATTENTION
ANOTHER SEASON, another promising start, another disappointment. The Sabres own the NHL’s longest active playoff drought, which unofficially extended to nine seasons with 2019-20 paused and Buffalo nowhere near a wild-card spot. All the Sabres can do is hope another shiny piece acquired with an early draft pick in 2020 finally moves the needle toward progress. IMMEDIATE NEEDS: The Ryan O’Reilly trade in 2018 gutted the Sabres. Since Casey Mittelstadt wasn’t ready to take over as the No. 2 center behind Jack Eichel, the lineup depth collapsed. Mittelstadt ended up assigned to the AHL midway through this season. Buffalo needs a quality second-line pivot who can handle tough defensive assignments. LONG-TERM NEEDS: Dylan Cozens is expected to be Buffalo’s long-term answer at No. 2 center. On top of Rasmus Dahlin at No. 1 in 2018, the Sabres also picked D-men 32nd and 31st overall in the past two drafts in Mattias Samuelsson and Ryan Johnson. Now it’s time for GM Jason Botterill to unearth a goal-scoring winger. Victor Olofsson’s rookie breakout this year was exciting, but he’s a late-bloomer at 24. CAP SITUATION: The Sabres are swimming in cap space, well north of $30 million. That said, they have more than half a team to sign, including key RFA forwards Olofsson and Sam Reinhart. After shelling out $9 million a year to retain Jeff Skinner last summer, it’s more likely the Sabres hang back this time and focus on re-upping their RFAs first.
IN THE SYSTEM 2020-21: Cozens already has NHL size, he upped his goal production at the major-junior level, and he was a crucial member of Canada’s gold-winning squad at the 2020 WJC in a do-it-all role. He’s positioned to make the Sabres with a strong training camp and challenge for the Calder Trophy. DID YOU KNOW: Only three goalies in 20 seasons have been named OHL MVP. One is Buffalo’s goalie of the future: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He won it in 2018-19.