Why the Buffalo Sabres Are the Best Team in the NHL

OK, first of all, I'm not a professional sports writer. I'm not a statistics geek. I follow hockey, all the teams, but I just LOVE my Sabres. So, this article isn't based on stats, facts, or experts.

It's all in my gut. It's how I feel my team is going to do this year. OK, sure, there are some stats and what not in my brain, so it's not ALL gut, but, basically, this is what I think about my Sabres.

Offense

First and foremost, we need Thomas Vanek to wake up. I know, last year wasn't horrible, but it most certainly wasn't the play we need from the $10 million man. He had some insane +/- in '06, like +45 or something like that. That's just crazy.

I don't expect that every year. But I do expect 40 or 50 goals from him. That's what he's being paid to do. I also expect leadership from him. I know he's young. So is Crosby. So is Ovechkin. They lead their teams. Our little Austrian should be able to as well.

I'm looking forward to excellent seasons from Derek Roy and Jason Pominville again. I'll be the first to admit, I was ready to send Roy packing two years ago. Stupid diving calls and the inability to produce anything decent earned him the nickname "stupid little gnat" from me.

I'll also be the first to admit that I was wrong. I thought he had played very well last season, and his numbers certainly attest to that. If he keeps it up, I may have to buy him a beer or something.

As for Pommers, I have had complete confidence in him since his first trip from Rochester to Buffalo. He's got good talent, and I expect this year to be even better for him than last year.

There are a few more young guys that I think will have great years: Stafford, Paille, Guastad. They've got talent. I don't think any of them are ready to be star players, and I don't know if any of them will—maybe Stafford.

Hecht will hopefully have another solid year. Kotalik—not a favorite of mine—is OK in the shootout (by OK I mean, probably the best Buffalo has to offer, which isn't saying much).

Defense

I think defense is the weakest link in Buffalo's game. They need to get better. They need to be able to get the puck out of the zone. They need to know when to dump it and when to skate it out. They need better knowledge of where the puck is, where the other team is, and where their own guys are.

I don't know if it's a communication issue, or what, but they really need to know what is going on more.

I, for one, am glad that Teppo is back. He's got excellent on-ice presence and awareness. Not to mention the veteran leadership he can provide in the locker room, which I really think Buffalo has been lacking in the past years.

I think the addition of Rivet is a good one. He's solid, and he's got experience. The young guys like Weber and Sekera can learn from him. Lydman and Tallinder should be solid; they need to be solid.

I don't think Buffalo will suffer much from the loss of Campbell. Personally, I think he was overrated in Buffalo, and, while I wish him all the best of luck in Chicago, I think he's overpaid, and I'm sure that money does a lot to dry up any tears that might flow.

Goaltending

Ah, goaltending. The quintessential position. Much like a quarterback in football, the goaltender is THE name on a team (for the most part, and especially in this city). If they win, Miller played a great game. It doesn't matter how many goals he let in, if they were good goals, bad goals, weak goals, as long as they win. And if they lose, he is beat up on. Again, if he only let one goal in all night, he'll take them blame for the loss.

And for Miller, I think this is a problem. He is on. He is focused. He is the game. And every single thing that happens, is said, is implied, whatever, he takes to heart. He knows how important he is to the team. I think he played with much more confidence when he knew he had Marty Biron sitting behind him.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for Marty. He deserved a starting spot and wouldn't get it in Buffalo; but when he left, I saw Miller's confidence crumble. They brought in Ty Conklin. And we were all saying, "Who?" I think Miller, once Biron was gone, took on the feeling that he HAD to do well, there were no other options, and it was too much stress. Too much pressure.

And I think it continued on through last year with Thibault. While I'm sure Thibault would have been a fine backup, he wasn't given the chance. He never got to play, so his confidence shattered. And with that, Ryan now knows, once again, that he is THE MAN, and I think the pressure got to him.

I hope that Lindy learned his lesson, and is going to play Lalime more than he played Thibault. I'll get to more of than when I get to coaching.

As for Mr. Miller and his new contract: I'm glad they signed him before the season started. He can focus on hockey. He can, and will be, an excellent goaltender. His team needs to help him, especially defensively. And he needs to know that Lalime can play hockey; he doesn't have to do it all himself.

Coaching

I think the Buffalo Sabres coaching staff is a good one. I don't always agree with the decisions Lindy Ruff makes, but I mostly respect them. I don't think it is advisable to start one goaltender all season long.

I think that last year, he effectively destroyed the confidence of Thibault, which in turn caused undue stress on Miller. I think this year, Lalime needs to start at least 20 games. Especially when we have those four games in six nights or three games in five nights, or four nights or whatever.

Start Lalime for one of those games. Give Miller a chance to ride the bench; watch the game from a different angle. In a perfect world, he'd learn from it, and the team will be better because of it.

The other thing the drives me NUTS about Lindy is his rotating captains. A team needs a leader. They need someone in that locker room to kick 'em in the rear side if they are underperforming and to encourage and cheer them, but not let them become complacent when they are winning.

That is the captain's job (amongst others). I think you need consistency in this position. It may have worked for a while, when we had a core of veteran players. But we are young. We need someone to lead. We need that face, that voice in the locker room. Pick somebody and stick with them.

It SHOULD be Vanek, but I don't think he's ready for the "C" yet. Hecht, maybe. Teppo, probably, at least an "A." But get a captain and a few assistants and go with it.

Well, there you have it. My stand on the Buffalo Sabres. I will admit a major fault I have. I am uber-optimistic when it comes to my beloved Sabres. I always believe they can go the distance. Maybe I think if I believe enough, it will happen. Oh, and I know it will happen. I just want it to happen now.

And, I also say to the rest of the hockey world: Keep underestimating the Sabres; that's when they play their best!