This is a team that was supposed to be winning by this point.

They have 13 players age 26 or older. This is no longer a rebuilding team. The only players on the roster under the age of 24 are Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen, all of whom have at least three years of experience in the NHL. Nobody was really expecting them to be winning a lot by this point.īut this Sabres team? This is a veteran team. They are one of the youngest teams in the league, have the smallest payroll, have a ton of rookies, and have already used 10 players under the age of 22. When looking at the NHL this season, the Coyotes, the only team behind the Sabres in the standings, at least have somewhat of an excuse for being so bad.

Through 43 games in 2015-15 (when they finished with only 54 points) they had … 31 points. Through 43 games in 2013-14 (when they finished with only 52 points) they had … 29 points. THE OLYMPIAN: Greenway breaks 98-year USA Hockey color barrier Now, 43 games into the 2017-18 season, the Sabres are not only one of the worst teams in the NHL (their 29 points are the second fewest in the league), but they are playing at nearly the same level they did a few years earlier when they were in tank mode trying to intentionally finish near the bottom of the league. NHL trade rumors: Who's next? Eight players who could be dealt this season

Nhl rebuilt