from Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province,
If you were laying out a blueprint for a tank job, you’d look at the model provided by the Buffalo Sabres over the last six seasons and think, “Yes. Genius.”
In that time, the Swordsmen have drafted first overall, eighth, eighth, second in back-to-back years, eighth and 12th. In two of those years, 2012 and 2013, they had two first-rounders, the lowest of which was 16th. They also had 12 second-rounders over that span.
The Sabres, in short, have been gifted resources of which the Canucks and every other NHL team could only dream. But here’s the cautionary tale provided by this franchise and everyone else who ventures down rebuild road. They haven’t made the playoffs in those six seasons, their highest point total is 81 and, in this, the seventh season of the rebuild, they currently sit in ninth place in the East.
I believe it was former Flint Generals coach Percy Shelley who wrote: “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.”
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.