1) Ryan Miller.

He’s the reigning Vezina trophy winner and he helped bring team USA 1 goal away from Olympic Gold. He had to settle for Silver, but he was named MVP of the tournament, and rightly so. Last year Miller set a career high in wins with 41, while posting a 2.22 goals against and .929 save percentage. Miller didn’t just come out of nowhere and put up these stats, he’s been a great goalie for years, so I don’t see any reason why he can’t keep playing like this.

2) Fresh Blood

The Sabre’s brought up two rookies to fill out their roster. First theirs Tyler Ennis. Ennis saw some ice time last year playing in 10 games and scoring 9 points. His hard work earned him a spot on the playoff roster where he added 4 points in 6 games. While not on the Sabre’s roster, Ennis the Menace tore up he AHL and won the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award for rookie of the year. Who won that award the year before him? His current rookie teammate Nathan Gerbe.  Gerbe is a tiny guy for NHL standards, standing at 5′ 6″. However, he makes up for his size with his speed and his skating ability. Oh yeah having a lazer for a shot doesn’t hurt either.  Gerbe also played 10 games last season and posted 5 points.

3) Tyler Myers

Tyler is the Sabres 2010 Calder Trophy winning defenseman. Tyler immediately made the jump from draft pick to rookie and played all of the 2010 season on the Sabres. Paired with the now departed Henrik Tallinder, Myers put up some good numbers scoring 11 goals and 37 assists in 82 games. In addition to providing key defense with his 6′ 8″ frame, Myers blesses the Sabres with quite impressive skating mobility for someone of his size.

4) Tougher and Wiser

During the off season the Sabres addressed their need for grit, something they lacked severely during last years playoffs against the bruins. The Sabre’s bring tough guy Cody McCormick to their roster this year who along with Mike Grier, Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta, and Matt Ellis, should allow the Sabre’s to protect the puck a little better on both ends of the ice. Joining those players, is NHL veteran Rob Niedermayer who will help captain Craig Rivet with mentoring this young Sabre’s squad. Niedermayer won the cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and will bring his experience to the face off circle, showing them how hard work and dedication pays off.

5) The Stars Re-emerge

With confidence in Ryan Miller in net, more grit, leadership, and new offensive talents; expect big years from a few faded stars. So far in pre-season, Derek Roy has scored 10 points in 5 games. If he can carry this production over to the regular season, the Sabre’s offense will be that much scarier. Let’s not forget this team ranked 10th in the league in goals last year. Playing with the likes of Ennis, Gerbe, and maybe even a healthy Tim Connolly should help Roy achieve that goal no problem. The Sabre’s can also rely on a healthy Thomas Vanek this year, who was sorely missing  throughout most of the playoffs because of a slash to the leg. Vanek was in a bad scoring slump last year and managed to come around the last week of the season to bring his goal total to 28 for the year. Not a terrible number, but certainly not what you’re hoping for from a 2 time 40 goal scorer. Like Roy, Vanek should benefit from his new teammates and raise his goal total back where it should be.

I don't normally drink beer, but when I do.... It's Miller Time!

6) Lindy Ruff

Perhaps the best yearly asset for the Sabre’s organization is coach Lindy Ruff. Ruff is the longest tenured coach in the NHL, having coached 13 with the Sabres. He is one of the best coaches in the league and is almost constantly in the running for the Jack Adams award. Ruff gets the most out of his players, and he certainly has developed the talent on the Sabres for several years now.

I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth, but I would have to say the Sabres win the Northeast again. Hopefully they prove me right.