The expectations were high for the reigning Northeast division champion Buffalo Sabres entering this season. The playoffs seemed like a no brainer, with many analysts and fans picking them to also repeat as division champs. Lindy Ruff, Darcy Regier and the players all talked about how they believed the Sabres were legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Flash forward to now, and you find a Sabres team mired in a 3-6-2 start and looking more like a team that will get the first pick in next summer's draft than one that will be playing well into June.
Many things have contributed to the Sabres' slow start. They have several new players on the squad, have struggled to score goals at key times of the game, Tyler Myers is stuck in a massive sophomore slum, and goaltender Ryan Miller has been average at best.
All of those things are very troubling, but there are two problems that rise above everything else. This year's edition of the Buffalo Sabres has shown an extreme lack of focus, and a knack of crumbling in the face of adversity.
They look like world beaters for one period and then a confused midget squad the next. When the Sabres hit the pos ...
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Article written by Steven Plunkert
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