Slow Start Leads to Necessary Changes on Both Sides of the Ice
Both offense and defense drastically need improvements should the Sabres continue their playoff aspirations.
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Buffalo Sabres newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Sabres writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look at what the Sabres need to do to change their defensive system for the better, and a deep-dive on why Buffalo could use some outside help to get their offense going. It would be great if you’d share the THW Substack with your friends and family so that they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
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Now, here’s the good stuff…
Sabres’ Defense Needs to Be Smarter With its Aggressiveness
December 7, 2023 by Matthew Morris
Once again, the Buffalo Sabres’ defense is front and center, and not in a good way. The defensive corps has continued to struggle as the 2023-24 campaign enters its third month despite being expected to improve after the signings of Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton in free agency. As a result, the team as a whole has stumbled.
More frustrating is that these are the same problems as last season. The Sabres are still overcrowded on the blue line and have been undone by slipshod, disorganized play. It’s been an incredibly unwelcome occurrence given they’re expected to be a postseason team this year, and while they still very well could be, a fix needs to be found before it’s too late.
Sabres Are in Desperate Need of Scoring Help
December 3, 2023 by Jacob D. Strozyk
The Buffalo Sabres’ woes have continued this past week, as they just had their roof blown off twice in a row by letting 6 goals past their netminders against the St. Louis Blues and Carolina Hurricanes respectively. They have lost their identity of being a high-octane, goal-scoring team, and while it kept them alive last season, it is time to recognize that something needs to change for them to improve. At this point, a number of things could be done to improve this team, but the question remains as to which one would work best.
This season was all about showing that the young players developed enough to be given the keys to the car and drive it to a playoff spot, but instead, it was closer to handing them the keys just to realize that they are trying to press on the gas while the car is in park. The engine is revving up, but the car is going nowhere, and neither is this team. Night in and night out, they look flat and unmotivated to compete for longer than 20 minutes in a game. They are unable to get any offensive zone time, and the defense puck watches for so long that the goalies have no chance to react. It is time for some changes on multiple fronts to get this team going this season.