…the Sabres were 3-6-3 when Vanek and Miller were both out last year. Obviously that bad spell cost the Sabres a playoff spot when they finished 2 points out of a playoff birth. In that way, it reminds me of the Pens being as low as 10th in December while dealing with Gonchar’s injury. But the Pens were able to put it together…the Sabres margin for error is a bit slimmer (not picking 1st four drafts in a row will do that to a franchise).

Anyhoo, I think there is reason for guarded optimism this year in Buffalo. James’ point about Miller’s health is spot on – Ryan Miller has developed into a Top 5 Eastern Conference talent and the Sabres locking him up for the next 5 years clearly gets them his best years.

Secondary to that is the bounceback years expected from Pominville and Hecht. Here’s to hoping that they will move back up to their career means of 80 and 55 points/year resepectively.

The defense presents the question marks, but with Rivet/Montador/Lydman/Tallinder/Sekera/Butler, you have some wisdom to go along with those young starters. In addition, you have to think Darcy Regier has some chips at the table at the trading deadline this year with both Lydman and Tallinder in the final years of their contracts. If we’ve learned anything in Buffalo…it’s value at the deadline. How Tyler Myers fits in is obviously a big question. I see him starting up in Portland this year…but who knows how he’ll play? We shall see.

A better x-factor would be Pominville (will you get 50 points or 85 from the $5M/man) or Sekera (will he show grit or turnover the puck at the most inopportune times?). But Myers is defensible at least. A fast start may be in order for Buffalo – we started 4-0 last year before a November swoon slowed us down a bit. This year we open with 5 of 6 at home.

…in that photo, why is the Caps fan in the Ovechkin jersey cheering the Sabres game winning OT goal? That’s not the first time I have seen Caps’ fans with team identity issues, especially when Buffalo comes to town. (See the nhl.com video of the same goal…Pominville’s OT winner to give Buffalo the 5-4 win on April 3rd, 2009) and you’ll see the same sort of thing when a woman in a Caps jersey is cheering that same goal. Hilarious.

I have no other qualms with the Caps fan holding up the Sabres kid to celebrate…the goal was pretty awesome.

Last year it looked for a while like they could maybe string together some wins and take the 8 seed. I think they made some good moves in the off-season. They weren’t the most noteworthy moves by any means but I think the players they got fit their mold pretty well.

Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek are incredible to watch on the offensive end . Same with Ryan Miller in net but at some point the people around him need to step up and make life a little easier for him. I feel like Miller’s constantly “standing on his head” for the team.

This team rides or dies with Miller. And it’s not even close.

To me, it’s contradictory to say the X-Factor is Myers right after saying “And, as always, a healthy Ryan Miller is key.”

As usual, it’s another season of “ifs” for Buffalo.

What Buffalo needs is Henrik Tallinder to revert to his 2005-07 form, when he played the tough minutes that allowed Brian Campbell made the highlight reel.

I can’t imagine how a rookie d-man who will be broken in on the 3rd pairing will be their X-Factor. No big, hulking D have had much of an impact as a teenager, and there’s no reason to suggest Myers will be different. It’ll be Tallinder, Lydman, Sekera, and Rivet that carry the bulk of the duties. Looking at Buffalo’s D, barring a trade to make room, I don’t even see much of a spot for Myers in a limited role. I guess he has to surpass Butler to get a regular gig, which is doable.

Even when Tim Connolly goes down for 4 months on about October 23, I think they’ll be okay at forward. I do wonder if this team fails, though, if they will go all Minnesota in terms of house cleaning.