It has been hard to even write about the Buffalo Sabres anymore. The 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild felt like a complete lack of effort in the face of one of the most miserable seasons in ages. As a fan, it felt like a slap in the face.
With a depleted lineup, facing the Winnipeg Jets on the road felt less than promising. Somehow, some way, the Sabres walked out of Winnipeg with a 5-3 victory. Here are the most relevant takeaways from a rare Sabres win.
The Ryan McLeod Trade Has Been a Home Run
Let’s look at a rare positive: the trade for Ryan McLeod has been an absolute home run. The exchange that sent prospect Matthew Savoie back to the Edmonton Oilers was hotly debated during the summer, especially given Savoie’s status as a high-end prospect.
The early returns are in and the trade has been a rare win for general manager Kevyn Adams. Through 66 games, McLeod has already hit career-highs in goals (17), assists (25), and points (42). He had a goal and three assists in this win and has been the perfect fit for the third line.
McLeod plays with speed and energy and can move up and down the lineup. He has tenacity, plays responsibly, and has been consistent in his role throughout the season. Adams hasn’t had many wins these days, but this trade should be lauded as a success.
J.J. Peterka Has Been an Offensive Leader of Late
A lot of things have gone wrong for the Sabres this season. It would take an entire series to get into it because that is the kind of season it has been for this franchise. On a positive note, J.J. Peterka has emerged as one of the more dependable players offensively alongside Tage Thompson.
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Peterka opened the scoring with his 22nd goal of the season, the third straight game and fifth in seven. With 13 games left in the season, he has already hit career-highs in assists (32) and points (54). He’s also shooting a career-best 15.3% and showing more confidence in his shot.
His play has not been perfect, and he has had stretches where he has disappeared. But Peterka is 23 years old and wasn’t considered a “high-end” prospect. He has exceeded expectations and should be a legitimate part of the top six for the foreseeable future.
Reimer Was Excellent (for Once)
Backup goaltending has been an issue the past few seasons. James Reimer has had an okay career so far, but this season he has been really bad in the very limited time (13 games) he’s been called upon.
For maybe the only time this season, Reimer was excellent. The Sabres realistically had no business even being in this game, let alone winning it, with three shots in the first period and 17 in total.
Against one of the best teams in the NHL, Reimer turned away 33 of 36 shots on the day. He was the clear difference while the Sabres made the most of the few shots they actually put on net. It’s nice to see that Reimer is even capable of doing this.
There are Some Positives on This Team
It can’t all be darkness for this team, even if it seems like it. Thompson, Peterka, Alex Tuch, and Rasmus Dahlin have had largely positive seasons. The McLeod trade has been a win. Owen Power has been better offensively and is a pillar going forward.
There will be a lot of things to figure out for Adams (or whoever the GM is when the season ends). This won’t be a total teardown for a lot of reasons, but there are pieces that should be part of this team for a long time.
