Buffalo Sabres: Offseason and Projected Lines

After finishing 3rd in the Atlantic Division with 101 points, the Sabres advanced to the Eastern Conference finals by winning two hard fought series against the Bruins and the Red Wings, but lost in six games to the cup champs, the Washington Capitals.

GM Blanchard has been very active in the offseason.  He traded some veteran players and young guys out of Buffalo, and changed the team chemistry quite a bit.  Zetterberg, Chara, Alzner and Methot will bring new leadership in the locker room and Sheary's offensive skills will give the option to coach Therrien to use three scoring lines.

Out via trades: Roberto Luongo, Joe Thornton, Andrej Sekera, Michael Stone, Brock Nelson, Nathan Beaulieu, Tomas Plekanec, Troy Grosenick, prospects: Adam Brooks, Matthew Phillips, Ilya Sorokin

In via trades: Henrik Zetterberg, Zdeno Chara, Karl Alzner, Conor Sheary, Marc Methot, Artturi Lehkonen, Daniel Carr

The Sabres were not planning to be very active during free agency but were able to sign two depth players in Vernon Fiddler and Deryk Engelland.  Fiddler should be used on the 4th line but Engelland should only see some action if there is an injury or if a defenseman is traded.

Here are the projected lines that coach Therrien is planning to use for the preseason.

Forwards:

Panarin - Zetterberg - Wheeler

Guentzel - Johansen - Pavelski

Sheary - Johnson - Steen

Moore - Fiddler - Mitchell

Defense:

Chara - Doughty

Weber - Brodie

Alzner - Methot

Goaltenders:

Gibson

Darling

At the 2017 Draft, GM Blanchard was targeting two guys from the 2nd round so he made a couple of move prior to the draft to have a chance to get at least one of them.  It all worked out perfectly as the Sabres have been able to get both of them.  "There were a few guys that we were targeting but Ikonen and Heponiemi were the ones we really wanted" said GM Blanchard.  On draft day, the Sabres made a last minute move and traded an early 2nd rounder and a 2019 2nd rounder to the Leafs to get the 28th overall pick and drafted a guy that went 58th overall in real life!  "At the end of the day, they are all only prospects so why not pay the price to get the guy you really want." said GM Blanchard.  "We initially thought that an early 2nd rounder would be enough to get Ikonen but we did not want to take any chance and moved up at the end of the first round during the draft to make sure we would get him."

Go Sabres Go