The Buffalo Sabres snapped their 15-year postseason drought, winning the Atlantic Division and advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but after an offseason that saw Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch being dealt, the task of repeating as division champion or finishing in the top three of the Atlantic could be significantly more difficult.
This week, we will look at the seven other teams in the Atlantic to see where they stand in comparison to where they were at the end of last season and see where they potentially stack up as competition with the Sabres.
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The Detroit Red Wings looked to be a lock for a playoff spot prior to the Olympic break, but an injury to team captain Dylan Larkin in March contributed to their 8-12-4 record in March and April, which saw them fall out of the postseason mix. The Wings slow rebuild under Steve Yzerman has resulted in Larkin asking to be traded, and last week the Wings legend stepping down as GM.
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Additions
Viktor Arvidsson – signed a two-year, $10 million deal after scoring 54 points with Boston.
Keegsn Kolesar – acquired from Vegas for two draft picks, has two years remaining at a $2.5 million AAV.
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Daniil Tarasov – signed a one-year, $2 million deal to backup starter John Gibson.
Subtractions
Patrick Kane – scored 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games last season
James van Riemsdyk – 15 goals in 72 games
Outlook
The Wings have a young core group with Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson on defense (Edvinsson is currently an RFA), and Lucas Raymond up front, but does not have enough depth and weapons to surround them. The Yzerplan did result in adding youngsters like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Marco Kasper, Axel Sandin-Pellika, and Emmitt Finnie, but they have not succeeded (as the Sabres have) in bringing in building blocks to help Detroit get back to respectability.
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As currently constructed, the Wings have a slight advantage in goal over Buffalo with John Gibson and Tarasov, but the 33-year-old has had a history on injury problems. Defensively, the Sabres were weakened by the departure of Byram, but are still deeper and more talented than Detroit, and offensively, Buffalo is significantly better overall.
Even if Larkin stays, the Wings have taken a step back and are likely to be near or at the bottom of the Atlantic Division next season.
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