Buffalo Sabres Power Rankings: Best 10 Players Early in the Season

Seven games doesn't seem like much, but it's almost 10 percent of the season. 

And in that near 10 percent, the lineup has clearly divided the talent. Anyone watching games can see who isn't playing well, but the upper echelon is pretty well clumped.

Let's take a look at who's separated themselves as the best of the best on this lineup.

Jhonas Enroth was left off this list, because he's only played in one game. His impact in the future is noted, but right now he doesn't constitute a spot.

G Ryan Miller

Ryan Miller has defined exactly what he is out to be—the best goalie in the NHL.

Through six starts, Miller has a 1.68 goals against average and .946 save percentage. 

And don't forget the game-saving effort Miller put forth against the Montreal Canadiens, where 40 of 41 shots did not pass him.

This season should be a little easier, as the Sabres found a quality backup goalie last year in Jhonas Enroth.

Miller can take a few more days off, and that's just going to make it easier for his level of play to remain high. 

Ryan Miller has proven he is capable of putting the team on his back. And considering the next few players, Miller's role could be a main cog in a machine of top talent.

LW Thomas Vanek

Thomas Vanek is proving he has what it takes to fulfill his contract. He and line mate Jason Pominville are meshing extremely well, and center Luke Adam has surprisingly stepped into the role of first line center as well as anyone could have hoped for.

However, Vanek is the focus of this slide. His play has been fantastic.

He's making the front of the net play look easy, his passes are connecting and he's playing like one of the leaders of the team.

The key here is to keep his play consistent.

Nobody expects him to have a goal every game, but Vanek cannot afford to slump. Especially since he accounts for a third of the team's goals thus far.

Whether you like him or not, Thomas Vanek's production is key to the Sabres' success and he's produced enough for the team to succeed.

RW Jason Pominville

For every goal-scorer, there is someone passing him the puck. That's exactly what Jason Pominville's role has been with Thomas Vanek.

With seven assists, Pominville is a play-maker in big ways.

Vanek's play has been excellent, but it's been Pominville feeding him the puck. Vanek has returned the favor a few times as well.

With the eight goals between the two of them, seven feature an assist from the other.

It takes two to tango, but I don't know exactly who would be classified as "leading" between Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville.

C Luke Adam

He is the surprise of the year for the Buffalo Sabres, and his impact on the top line has been vastly under-appreciated. 

Adam has been a play-maker and a scorer but most importantly has filled the role of a first line center.

His job is a little easier thanks to his line mates, but Adam has carried his fair share of the load on this line.

He is without question one of the top players on this team and is an early front-runner for Rookie of the Year.

RW Drew Stafford

Drew Stafford had a quiet first few games but exploded when the Sabres needed him. He had a streak going in the middle stretch of the first seven games but cooled off (as the team did) in the last game.

A four million dollar contract holds a lot of expectation, and Stafford's play has started to satisfy that. Last year was a breakout season, and it's always the hope that nobody becomes a Tim Connolly.

With three goals and a couple assists, Stafford's output should remain consistent with the early going given his past performances.

D Christian Ehrhoff

So far, Ehrhoff has lived up to the role of power play quarterback. He's in charge at the point, and it has reflected.

The power play doesn't have that same system to make all the fans scream, "Shoot!"

However, he's got a little work to do on the rest of the defensive side. At times, he hasn't stayed at home when he really should have, but that should balance itself out as he and partner Jordan Leopold come together.

For now, Ehrhoff is gearing up to be an offensive force from the point, which is what the Sabres need.

D Jordan Leopold

What's made Christian Ehrhoff look as good as he has? His stay-at-home defensive partner, Jordan Leopold.

Leopold was the Sabres' best defenseman last year, and it showed when he went down with injury late in the season. 

Not only is Leopold a great defender, he takes advantage of his opportunities and was one of the consistent forces offensively in last year's defense.

His presence is needed and he is providing that right now.

C Derek Roy

Derek Roy isn't at the top of his game, but he is still one of the top offensive players the Sabres have.

Roy is in a situation where he can score more often now, as his matchups against second lines should be far more favorable than against first lines.

Now it just comes down to Roy putting the puck in the net.

I'm not his biggest fan, but I think Roy will have a good season once he adjusts better to his line mates. He is a leader of this team, as are Vanek and Pominville, so Roy has an opportunity to step up in every way of play and should do so.

D Robyn Regehr and LW Nathan Gerbe

It was too much for me to say one of these guys is the worst of the group. As the Sabres go, these 10 players (plus my 11th man, Gragnani) have been huge cogs in the machine that is the Buffalo Sabres.

Regehr is under-appreciated in many circumstances. Not many have heard his name said, because he isn't a scoring defenseman.

He is the defenseman that is to compliment Tyler Myers,  who has become almost too offensive in his style of game.

Without someone to back him, Myers would look worse than he does right now. Top it all off with 17 blocked shots through seven games and you have an unsung hero in Robyn Regehr.

Nathan Gerbe went from fourth liner to major offensive force last year when he earned his spot on the lineup and hasn't lost it since.

If you want to see the hardest skater on the team, Gerbe is that.

He never stops moving and is going to continue to find success. He should move up this list as the season progresses.

Overall, you have a solid group of players who need a hair more productivity from six to 10, but you can't complain with the early results.

It's been a successful start to the 2011-2012 campaign, and let's hope that soon enough more of the players crowd this list at the top.