5 Buffalo Sabres Players That Must Step Up During 2013-2014 Season
5 Buffalo Sabres Players That Must Step Up During 2013-2014 Season
The 2012-2013 Buffalo Sabres were borderline embarrassing as they finished with 48 total points with a record of 21-21-6 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. That being said, they fired long time former coach and former Sabres player in Lindy Ruff who was with the team since 1997 and named Rochester Americans’ Ron Rolston as coach. It will be interesting to see what Rolston does as it is his first full season as the Sabres’ coach.
There are five big name stars on the team that need to step up in a big way for this team to return to the glory and jubilation the team had in the late 2000s. This is where the team was dominant and winning the President’s Trophy for the team with the most points in the regular season. If these five players step up in a big way, this team’s potential could be virtually limitless. The Sabres have a young corps of players that could lead the team for the rest of the decade on in all three phases of the game between offense, defense and goaltending. That being said, if these five guys don’t play up to their limits they could likely be gone after this season and the Sabres will be in full on rebuilding mode.
All and all, it should be interesting to see what the 2013-2014 Buffalo Sabres look like and if these five specific guys live up to their potential. Also we will also see if this divisional realignment is better for hockey in the long haul or not as well.
#5 Marcus Foligno
The youngest player on this list and second generation star for the Buffalo Sabres as his dad Mike also played for the team. Last season in 47 games, he only amassed 18 points and that number will have go up to help build the team for the future.
#4 Ryan Miller
The beloved goalie of the Buffalo Sabres, Ryan Miller and they are at an interesting impasse with his contract up after this season. It will be interesting to see if he plays his life out and gets his last big contract either from Buffalo or does he test the waters in free agency and likely head home to Detroit.
#3 Drew Stafford
Of all the Sabres on the team now, Drew Stafford is easily the most inconsistent player on the team where he'll be hotter than a match head for a few games then turn colder than dry ice. With that being said the loyal Sabres fans are growing sick and tired of this, and wouldn't mind of Sabres' ownership eats the four million left in his contract.
#2 Tyler Myers
Tyler Myers looked beyond amazing his first two seasons in the NHL and after cashing in big time, he has been nothing more than average at best. Granted Myers is a two-way hockey player first and foremost and played better next to true defensmen as then he could act like a fourth offensive attacker in offensive series' and then slide back into defense with the help of a smart and aggressive defenseman.
#1 Ville Leino
Easily the player on the Sabres that has the worst contract, as the team gambled on his potential after giving him a six year 27 million dollar contract after lighting the lamp consistently for the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs. The almighty question is in 2013, can he finally kindle that fire again and become the scoring machine that the fans always thought he could have been?
