It's been an off-season of change in Buffalo this year as a much needed rebuild has been kicked off with the trading of captain & all-star center Sidney Crosby. The Sabres were in need of a rebuild last season as the roster aged and contracts raised. The team also shipped out Ondrej Palat, Gustav Nyqvist, Nate Schmidt, and Alexandre Radulov for picks & prospects. This roster going into training camp has a few decent players on the roster but doesn't look to be a threat in the playoff race. Instead they will be in the draft lottery.

It was rumored for some time that the team would not be bringing back both pro & farm coaches from last year, which was confirmed last week when Buffalo failed to renew their contracts. Coming in to coach the pro team is Rick Tocchet, he has a history of working with young rosters and should be a good leader for the rebuild taking place. Benoit Groulx was hired to take the helm for the AHL affiliate Rochester, he also has a history of working with kids as he coached for many years in the QMJHL with Gatineau. "We're not expected to compete out of the gate here, so we just want to instill good habits for these young men." Said coach Tocchet. 

"We were on the fence on what to do going forward with our roster last year at this time, we tried to plug holes in UFA but ended up getting priced out of the goalie market and didn't have an overly competitive roster on the ice. This year we started off thinking we could patch some holes through free agency & trades, but quickly found ourselves getting outpriced again and the trade market wasn't going to fill our needs." Said GM Mitchell. "It was a tough decision to make, but we got the blessing from our ownership group to go ahead with the rebuild. It's going to be a tough adjustment but I think this will make our team stronger in the long run." 

The pre-season schedule is out and it starts tonight. The Sabres don't play opening night but the roster looks set for their first match against the Maple Leafs on day 3. Here is the line-up for that game:

Kevin Roy - Matt Duchene - Nick Bjugstad

Ivan Barbashev - Ryan Strome - Cal Clutterbuck

Alex Chiasson - Antoine Vermette - Jack Roslovic

Cody McLeod - Matt Cullen - Daniel O'Regan

Zdeno Chara - Rasmus Ristolainen

Nikita Zadorov - Jordan Schmaltz

Ian McCoshen - Matt Bartkowski

Michal Neuvirth

Petr Mrazek

This is pretty much how the team will look when pre-season wraps up, though you can expect young prospects like Chabot and Chlapik to get in a few games here and there. Even a good showing from those players won't earn them a spot on the roster as winning games isn't top priority.

So a rebuild is indeed in the works instead of a quick re-tool on the fly. It's the better decision to make we think because re-tooling can end up pushing things down the road and eat up any assets you do have. The team already has a decent stable of prospects waiting in the wings for an opportunity with the big club. We normally do a prospect ranking article in the spring & fall, but this year we ended up pushing our fall ranking over to the winter. So this summer ranking will be our "spring" ranking:

1. Gabriel Vilardi C/RW 6'3" 201 lbs - Los Angeles Kings (NHL)

Vilardi looks set to take a roster spot with LA, if he fails to do that he'll end up back in the OHL where he has little to prove. He may end up on the wing to start his career. He has first line upside.

2. Thomas Chabot D 6'2" 196 lbs - Ottawa Senators (NHL)

Chabot was sheltered in his first season and is due to take on more responsibility this year. He'll play all year in Rochester while the pro club rebuilds.

3. Kale Clague D 6'0" 176 lbs - Ontario Reign (AHL)

He likely has no shot at a pro spot out of training camp but may get a cup of coffee at the NHL level should injuries arise. 2nd pairing offensive Dman & PP QB is his projection.

4. Dennis Cholowski D 6'0" 194 lbs - Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)

He had a great year split between Portland & Prince George last year. He'll need at least one year in the AHL and since it's Detroit he'll probably stay there all year. He looks to have top 4 potential.

5. Michael McLeod C 6'2" 187 lbs - New Jersey Devils (NHL)

The speedy McLeod has a shot to earn a spot out of camp, it's believed he could be used on the wing to make his transition easier as well which would improve his chances of making the team. He's believed to have #2 C upside still but is far more likely a #3.

6. Jack Roslovic C/RW 6'1" 187 lbs - Winnipeg Jets (NHL)

Every indication he has made the Jets as a 3rd liner, we should get to see what he can do with a full year. He projects as a middle 6 C. He will be graduating as a prospect this season.

7. Kole Lind RW 6'1" 185 lbs - Utica Comets (AHL)

Will start the year in the AHL but could see time in the NHL depending on the Canucks rebuild. A full year in the AHL is probably best for his development. 2nd line upside but needs to be more disciplined going forward.

8. Jonathan Dahlen LW 5'11" 176 lbs - Utica Comets (AHL)

Acquired in the Crosby trade, Dahlen is set to make his N/A debut in the AHL. He does have an outside shot at the NHL this year but might need a year of seasoning. Middle 6 scoring LW upside here.

9. Filip Chlapik C 6'1" 196 lbs - Belleville Senators (AHL)

Another player vying for a spot out of camp, he'll need to impress in order to gain a spot. That could be possible with the tire fire that is Ottawa. He has 2nd line upside and is learning the defensive side to be a more effective bottom 6 player.

10. Blake Speers C/RW 5'11" 185 lbs - Binghamton Devils (AHL)

Speers almost made the Devils out of camp two years ago but after an injury was sent back to junior. He's got a great motor and gets into the dirty areas. He added weight and is expected to take a bigger role in the AHL. Bottom 6 energy player looks like a safe prediction here.

11. Tyler Steenbergen W 5'10" 187 lbs - Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

12. Jordan Schmaltz D 6'2" 190 lbs - San Antonio Rampage (AHL)

13. Sedastian Aho D 5'10" 170 lbs - New York Islanders (NHL)

14. Ian McCoshen D 6'3" 218 lbs - Florida Panthers (NHL)

15. Nicolas Meloche D 6'3" 205 lbs - Colorado Eagles (AHL)

16. Sheldon Rempal W 5'10" 165 lbs - Ontario Reign (AHL)

17. Dominik Kahun C/LW 5'11" 174 lbs - Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

18. Patrick Harper C/W 5'7" 150 lbs - Boston University (NCAA)

19. Matthew Phillips C 5'7" 141 lbs - Stockton Heat (AHL)

20. Kevin Roy W 5'9" 170 lbs - San Diego Gulls (AHL)

21. D'Artagnan Joly RW 6'3" 191 lbs - Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

22. Callum Booth G 6'4" 192 lbs - Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

23. Lukas Vejdemo C 6'2" 194 lbs - Laval Rocket (AHL)

24. Justin Kloos C/RW 5'9" 179 lbs - Iowa Wild (AHL)

25. Ryan Gropp LW 6'2" 194 lbs - Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

27. Riley Barber RW 6'0" 194 lbs - Hershey Bears (AHL)

28. Daniel O'Regan C 5'10" 185 lbs - Rochester Americans (AHL)

29. Matthew Spencer D 6'2" 205 lbs - Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

30. Alexandre Alain C/RW 6'2" 181 lbs - Laval Rocket (AHL)

31. Nathan Noel C/RW 5'11" 174 lbs - Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

32. Jordy Stallard C 6'2" 187 lbs - TBD