Buffalo Sabres season preview Sabres look to build off last season's excitement

“Last year, there was no expectations,” Buffalo captain Kyle Okposo said May 25. “Everybody’s writing rosy articles and this group is a good team, it’s becoming a good team. And that’s great, but how do you do that with expectations? There’s guys that are starting to get bigger contracts, there’s guys that are starting to get noticed nationally. There’s going to be lofty expectations next year and I think that we can’t run from that.

“The time is now. Our window, I think it’s opening, and we have to be prepared for that.”

That absence of expectations is a blessing in most cases. Now, the Sabres are expected to win, win now, and win big.

The excitement is based on Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, and Casey Mittelstadt who were the centerpieces of the Sabres’ offensive push last season.

“I really like where our forward group’s at,” General manager Kevyn Adams said. “Obviously, Jack Quinn is someone that we thought was going to take a big step this year and was going to play a key role, and he still will. That changes in terms of what our forward group looks like, but I also think there’s a lot of internal competition in spots that people are going to come into training camp hungry for, and some really good young players are going to push.”

Buffalo added a bit of veteran leadership over the off season including Erik Johnson  and Connor Clifton.

Clifton and Johnson make nine defensemen in camp this year. That makes for a crowded blue line and stiff competition for the opening night roster.

The questions for the Sabres are focused on the goal crease. Devon Levi, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Eric Comrie  are the goalies of record for the Sabres this training camp. The issue is one of experience, or limited as it is.

Comrie has iced 47 games in goal, nearly half of the experience of all three.

“You can go sign a veteran goalie that’s played a lot of games but if you don’t think he’s better than the ones you have, then why would you do that?” Adams said. “So yeah, in a perfect world you have some more games under your belt, but I’m comfortable. I’ve said that all along. I really think we’re in a position of strength there and I like what we have.”

Levi is a prospect who is expected to be on the roster this season. He was in the NCAA last season with Northeastern and iced seven games in Buffalo.

“His foundation of his game is tremendous,” general manager Kevyn Adams said. “His athleticism’s tremendous. His mindset’s tremendous. … No stage is too big for him. He thrives in this environment.”

Forward Jiri Kulich skated 62 games for the Rochester Americans in the AHL with 24 goals and 64 points, and is expected in the opening lineup for the Sabres this season.

“Did I anticipate him being good? Yes,” Rochester coach Seth Appert said. “Look at his second half of the season, look at the numbers he put up, how well he’s played since World Juniors as his game has grown, as his habits have grown. The bright lights don’t scare him. Not at all.”

The Sabres will be young, but the experience of last year’s late push for a wild card spot may provide all the necessary battle scars that are needed for this season. Whether they challenge for more than a wild card spot will depend on the continued maturation of the roster’s youngest, and talented forwards and defensemen.

It will also depend on how well the rest of the Eastern Conference improves.