The Buffalo Sabres missed the playoffs again in 2015-16, but all in all the future appears to be bright.
Jack Eichel, who the Sabres drafted with the second overall pick in 2015, had a fantastic rookie year. The 19-year-old scored 24 goals and 56 points in 81 games during his freshman season in the NHL.
Eichel is surrounded with some good young players like Ryan O’Reilly, Sam Reinhart, Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and Rasmus Ristolainen.
Even though they’re an up and coming team, the Sabres are probably still a few players away from being a playoff team. Getting more production from some of the question marks on the roster like Robin Lehner, Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson would help speed up the process.
Off-season recap
Sabres GM Tim Murray had a solid off-season. He was able to land some quality players via trade and in free agency.
Murray was able to acquire Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers for Mark Pysyk. Kulikov gives Buffalo a young veteran on defense to pair with Rasmus Ristolainen.
The biggest splash came in free agency when Buffalo came to terms with forward Kyle Okposo.
The 28-year-old scored 22 goals and 64 points in 79 games with the Islanders in 2015-16. He gives the Sabres another quality winger to play with young centers Eichel and Reinhart.
Can these off-season additions help the Sabres sneak into the playoffs?
It should be an interesting year in Buffalo.