What an Odd, Strange Season

Forgive the Sabres faithful for acting a bit causious about this league leading 9 game winning streak they are currently on. After all, it was directly preceded by a 9 game losing streak. This team has left alot of hocky fans scratching their heads as to what exactly Bufallo has in regards to a contending team.

I mean, sure, Wyatt Johnston is the current point leaders in the RHL, absolutely blowing up from his last season where he looked a respectable top six and a future 1st line forward. Well that future arrived with a bang. Overall, the team looked strong, with the additions of elite winger Mikko Rantanen, top offensive defenceman Shea Theodore and gritty mainstays Sam Bennett and Brady Tkachuk. The Sabres looked ready to compete. Keep in mind, the Sabres were a true underdog story last playoffs. Coming back 3-0 down in the quarter finals to win the series and get all the way to the brink of the Cup Finals, losing only in the Conference finals. What was an underdog looked to be one of the favourites coming in. However a combination of a massive 9 game losing streak and a very strong Atlantic Divison made it look like the Sabres were back to the drawing board. Then the 9 game winning streak hits and no one knows what to make of this.

The General Manager is a firm believer in chemistry. You can have all the top end talent in the world but if they don't click you won't go far. This is what prompted two big trades in December that seemed to play a hand in turning the team's fortune around:

1. Elias Lindholm bid adieu and left to Carolian in exchange for.... mostly youth and players that won't contribute to the current Sabres roster. Joel Kiviranta being the only one from the trade getting regular minutes on the fourth line

2. Alex Wennberg came in from the Island to plug into the third centre slot left by Lindholm. 

While it may seem like shuffling deck chairs on the titanic to move Lindholm, a more offensively prolific player than Wennberg tends to be, it comes back to the mantra of "chemistry". Wennberg plays his role as a 3c better than Lindholm, who is likely best suited in a 1-2 line center role. So far... and that's a big "so far"... the results have been positive.

Let's all buckle up to see what else this wild season holds for your Buffalo Sabres.