Harry Scull Jr. Buffalo News
By Brandon J. Koch
The Buffalo Sabres season is a week/3 games old, so it’s hard to be disappointed given 10 new players were added to the roster this past offseason. I expected growing pains at the start of this season, things take time to gel.
But when it comes to Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo, you just expect more. They’re leaders, getting paid good money to help lead this team perform game in and game out. Both accumulate $13.5 million dollars against the cap.
I know it’s only three games and I have to continue to stress this, in hockey, trends start early. To start the season, O’Reilly and Okposo are combined for 1 point and a minus 9. Say what you want about plus/minus, it has to do with just more than an individual stat, but still eye opening.
As the blue and gold head out west, this is the perfect time for O’Reilly and Okposo to get their games going. If the Sabres want to be in contention later this season for a playoff run, these guys need to be part of the reason.
Since Housley switched lines up yesterday at practice, both will be on a line with Evander Kane, who has looked like the best Sabre so far. I like this move, something has to get these guys going. It should give the line more speed and this combination had some success last season.
It doesn’t mean just putting up points and getting the puck in the net. Although, that’s a big part of it, being better on defense is the other part.
Tonight hopefully they can get going and help this hockey team get their first win and successful road trip.
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