Raising the Stakes

New owner, more money, same expectations:  that is what the Buffalo Sabres are facing as the 2011-12 season begins.  For all the acquisitions this offseason, the hopes for a Stanley Cup parade all hinge on a familiar face in Ryan Miller.  He had a less than stellar year (by his standards), and will look to have a bounce back year. However, he is still the player that can steal games for the Sabres.  Of all the new players on the team, the one that could face the most pressure is Ville Leino.  He doesn't have the history that Robyn Regehr or Christian Ehrhoff have, and at the price he was signed, Leino will be under the gun to produce according to the contract.  The new arrivals, plus the return of Derek Roy, could spell a breakout season for Drew Stafford.  He showed some of what he could do last year, and with the possibility of lining up with either Leino or Roy, Stafford could hit 30 goals this season.

Prediction: 4th in the East

Movie: A Blade in the Dark

Last year, the Sabres had all of the impact of a box cutter as a murder weapon.  This year, they hope it is a lot more than that.