Looking at the Buffalo Sabres for the last two seasons, at the bottom of the NHL, many would think that the team’s rebuild and ascent up the standings will take some time. However, a look at recent NHL history suggests a playoff spot need not be that far away. In recent years the Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Islanders have gone from being close to the league basement to being in the playoffs. This year, the Calgary Flames have taken that same jump. I recently talked to Sabres captain Brian Gionta, alternate Josh Gorges, and forward Matt Moulson about their thoughts on moving towards the playoffs.
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Gionta was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens for four years prior to signing with Buffalo. Josh Gorges was an alternate with Canadiens In 2011-12, the Canadiens finished dead last, 15th, in the Eastern Conference. The following year a team that was virtually unchanged (the free agent additions were Brandon Prust, Coby Armstrong, and Francis Boullion) finished first in the Northeast Division, and second in the conference.
“As you reflect on things, you’re constantly trying to figure out ways that you can help, or be better to help the team. I think everybody needs to do it, and nobody should be content with how they played or where we stand,” said Gionta. “The guys that are signed need to get together and have conversations about how we need to do things… so we can hit the ground running next season.”
“You have to take the positives in the situation, even if I couldn’t be out there,” said Gorges.“(In the last 10 games of the year) No matter what the situation wasn in the standings, there is always something and this team showed that they will play for something whether its for contracts, or for pride, or for teammates.”
In 2011-12 Moulson was part of the New York Islanders that finished just one spot ahead of the Canadiens in the standings. The next year Moulson and the Islanders were giving the Pittsburgh Penguins all they could handle in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, before ultimately losing in six games.
“I think the way some guys played down the stretch is a positive and a good learning experience,” added Moulson. “The points don’t mean anything for playoffs, but you have to come to games prepared mentally and ready to compete or you are going to lose real bad in this league…. We have to carry that compete into next year.”
“The only way I know how to work on something not going well is to work hard, and get ready for next year. So it will be a good off-season for sure.”
For both teams it was a remarkably quick turnaround. Gionta, Gorges and Moulson know exactly what was involved in their team’s great improvements in 2013, and what the Sabres can do now, and in the off-season to try to replicate those results.
Now it certainly isn’t easy to turn around a team, just ask the Edmonton Oilers, but the Sabres certainly have some of the elements needed to take the next step. They have a team full of young and talented players, a couple of impact rookies on the way in Sam Reinhart and likely Jack Eichel, as well as recently acquired Evander Kane, three players who can add some offensive production to the lowest scoring team in the NHL. They also have the veteran leadership of Gionta, Gorges, and Moulson, three men who have been there before and will have to lead the way.
“We tried to instill (a winning culture) all season. Some of the older guys, (Gorges, Zach Bogosian and Molson), its part of setting a culture, and its part of what made it so frustrating is that its unacceptable where we stood this year. That’s a positive, that guys are disappointed with where we stand, and we need to bring those lessons forward to create a better culture for next year,” Gionta added. “You want to win…. and with a few tweaks here and there, I don’t think we are that far off, we need to find some consistency in our game, but we show some flashes where we can be really good.”
“Everyone in this organization from top to bottom has to look at what happened this season and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Gorges.
“We have some great players in place… and I’m looking forward as this organization has a bright future,” said Moulson. He added that the Sabres have great ownership in place who will bring them pieces to help next year, and it will be up to the players who come back to help them fit in and win.
If the Sabres can find a few other good pieces this summer (and they will have the cap space to do it) along with a goaltender, they can rise quickly in the Eastern Conference. Now its pretty clear that they will not be favorites to claim a playoff spot, but the fact is that these kind of jumps in the standings can happen and it will be the kind of jump the Sabres are looking for.
Gionta talked about recruiting some of those pieces, “I have done it in the past, if a guy is interested in coming here I’ll talk with them, and help them get a comfort level with the organization.”
Its certain to be an off-season of change in Buffalo, but with these three veterans in place, it could lead to positive results sooner than expected.
