Prospective Look at Buffalo

The biggest question surrounding the Buffalo Sabres, according to the Sherpa, is 'how is this team going to make it to the playoffs next year?' It's a question with two meanings, really. First, the obvious reason... the playoffs. Second, if the Sabres are to make it into the playoffs, they'll likely have players that will produce for hockey pools. Theoretically.

In the list below, you'll notice all the big players with an active contract for next season. It's a pretty high-powered list of forwards and a number one goalie, but there doesn't seem to be a solid contingency of defensemen who could carry a team a long ways.

Forwards	Defense	Goaltenders
Thomas Vanek	Jaroslav Spacek	Ryan Miller
Derek Roy	Toni Lydman
Maxim Afinogenov	Henrik Tallinder
Tim Connolly	Nathan Paetsch
Ales Kotalik
Jochen Hecht
Drew Stafford
Jason Pominville
Dan Paille
Adam Mair

These 15 players have a bit of a weight attached to them, as they are valued at $38.3 million, but if a guy like Tim Connolly can step up and do the business as the number one or (maybe a better position) number two centre, then the number doesn't seem to be that high.

A number one centre should be at the top of the priority list, either for drafting purposes or through a trade or free agency. At the number thirteen spot, the Sabres won't have one of the true blue chippers to choose from, but this is supposed to be a deep draft. Size should be the category to focus on in this draft.

Potential free agents in their own stable they should likely look at keeping: Steve Bernier, acquired in the deal that saw Brian Campbell go to San Jose, is a real keeper. He does fit into the small-ish forward mould that the Sabres seem to measure players with, but at least he has some real talent with his diminutive size; Paul Gaustad is also looking to become a restricted free agent again and does provide some size and grit that the team needs, not to mention his solid 36 points in 82 games this past season; finally, Dan Paille finally emerged as a full-time forward with the team, scoring 35 points in 77 games with the squad... he'll need to be re-upped as well.

It would kind of surprise me to see the Sabres move one or two guys in order to free up just enough room under the cap (or budget) to make that big splash that they need to win now, especially since GM Darcy Regier has done a good job drafting and growing talent. Maybe some creativity is what Regier needs to really get this team going... make a splash, man!