By Curtis Tudor on September 24th, 2009
Northeast Division preview
In anticipation of the new NHL season, sportsnet.ca previews a division a day leading up to opening night.
The Northeast Division is arguably the most competitive as Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal have all re-tooled this summer in anticipation of getting back to the post-season and challenging the big, bad Bruins.
In Buffalo, a potential 40-goal scorer in Thomas Vanek and a top goaltender to keep them solid at the back leaves the Sabres with the dark horse tag.
Full team by team preview here
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Agree to some extent on their analysis of the Sabres (though I’d point out that they ended the rotating captaincy last season and gave the C to Rivet). Also would argue that Miller is the real leader of the team.
But spot on that they play it close to the bone. Sabres flat out don’t have room for injuries – last year’s injuries to Vanek and Miller costing them the playoffs proved that quite well. When Connolly is out, the Sabres can’t field two bona fide top line pivots.