head coach: Lindy Ruff

roster: C - Michael Peca*, Derek Plante, Brian Holzinger, Pat Lafontaine**, Wayne Primeau. LW - Randy Burridge, Miroslav Satan, Michal Grosek, Brad May. RW - Donald Audette, Jason Dawe, Matthew Barnaby, Dixon Ward, Rob Ray. D - Alexei Zhitnik*, Darryl Shannon, Jay McKee, Mike Wilson, Bob Boughner, Richard Smehlik. G - Dominik Hasek, Steve Shields, Andrei Trefilov.
*-Unsigned free agent.
**-Not cleared by Buffalo to play.

injuries: None.

transactions: 07/21 - Named Lindy Ruff coach and signed him to a multi-year contract. 07/24 - Named Mike Ramsey an assistant coach. 07/29 - Announced Don Lever will return to the team in the role of associate coach. 08/05 - Agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with restricted free-agent right wing Dixon Ward. 08/08 - Re-signed two restricted free agents: center Derek Plante and defenseman Darryl Shannon. 08/10 - Signed center Patrice Tardif and defenseman Mike Hurlbut. 08/12 - Named Brian McCutcheon head coach at Rochester of the American Hockey League. 08/14 - Signed free-agent goaltender Michael Bales. 08/25 - Signed forward Erik Rasmussen, their first-round draft pick in 1996, to a contract. 09/02 - Named Mike Gilbert senior director of communications. 09/08 - Agreed to terms with defenseman Bob Boughner on a multi-year deal. 09/12 - Re-signed free-agent left wing Michal Grosek to a multi-year contract.

standings:

1996-97 FINAL RESULTS
RECORD:     
 OVERALL      40-30-12
 HOME         24-11-6
 ROAD         16-19-6        
POINTS:             92  (6th)
GOALS SCORED:      237 (13th)   
GOALS AGAINST:     208  (6th)
POWER PLAY:      13.2% (26th)
PENALTY KILLING: 83.8% (13th) 

game results:

PRE-SEASON RESULTS
None.

team news:

by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

TEAM TURMOIL

The Buffalo Sabres are stupid. How else can you explain firing GM John Muckler and Coach-of-the-Year Ted Nolan after the duo helped guide an average group of muckers and grinders to the Northeast Division crown and a second-round playoff appearance? Stupid might be too generous.

Nolan was a god to most every player on the roster. There wasn't anything the rag-tag group of Sabres wouldn't do for their coach. He turned what should have been a below .500 hockey team into a division winner by instilling them with the values of hard work, dedication, and team work. The Sabres didn't have the talent to compete with the best in the NHL. But thanks to Nolan, they were perhaps the best "team" in every sense of the word.

Everyone in the city and on the team loved Nolan... except for Dominik Hasek. It was no secret that the coach and superstar netminder had a strained relationship. So much so, that after the season it was almost a question that either Hasek or Nolan would have to leave town. The Dominator didn't try very hard to hide his enthusiasm when new GM Darcy Regier replaced Nolan with former Sabre player Lindy Ruff. He even said something along the lines that he had no respect for Nolan as a coach or a person. That's strong. Needless to say, those comments didn't go over too well with the rest of the team, especially Matthew Barnaby. The silver-toothed wonder responded by saying he'd run Hasek during training camp. The two have reportedly talked things over, but it's no secret most of the Sabres see Hasek being responsible for Nolan getting fired. The success of this club was due entirely to coaching and team chemistry. Now both are gone.

The team is also showing its stupidity in its handling of injured captain Pat LaFontaine. Patty is looking to make a comeback after missing most of last season with post-concussion syndrome, but the club didn't even invite him to training camp. They also haven't even gotten the proper paperwork in order to allow LaFontaine to return. The club says they just want to make sure he has medical clearance to play, but if LaFontaine doesn't skate for the club this season the Sabres are only responsible for a small fraction of his $4-million contract. Now there are trade rumors circulating that could have LaFontaine ending up with the Rangers. The Sabres are in trouble.

OFFENSE: Not Much of It

If LaFontaine doesn't return, the Sabres are going to struggle scoring goals. They usually win games with defense and goaltending, but with team chemistry shot to hell, it might take a few more goals to win games this season.

Last year's leading scorer was the super-skilled Derek Plante, who paced the attack with 27 goals and 53 points. Plante is a fun guy to watch play. He's an explosive skater, can stickhandle like a champ, and owns both a quick wrister and a heavy slap shot. But if he wants to be known as a major scoring threat, he's going to have to produce away from home. Of his 27 goals last season, only three came away from the confines of Marine Midland Arena. Any punk can score at home. The great ones do it in the other team's barn.

Brian Holzinger was second on the team with 22 goals and 51 points. Holzinger has developed into a good all-around center, playing strong in his own end and killing penalties. But when it comes to being a defensive center, no one in the league is better than Selke winner Mike Peca. He's not very big, but Peca's a good skater that works hard on every shift and finishes all his checks. He isn't scared to get in the opposition's face. He can also chip in 20 goals, so that's pretty much the complete package.

Buffalo's most gifted goal-scorer is Donald Audette. The 28- year-old Quebec native is just a natural at putting the puck in the net. He had 28 goals last season in 73 games, but he could get 35 to 40 in the right situation. Unfortunately, Buffalo isn't the right situation. Winger Jason Dawe has a good shot and used it to collect 22 goals, but that's pretty much his limit. The guy who has the most upside on offense is winger Miroslav Satan. The former Oiler came over in a trade last season and had eight goals and 10 points in 12 games. He's not much of a skater, but he goes to the net well and knows how to beat a goaltender.

The real heart and soul of this team, tho', are its three tough guys: Barnaby, Brad May, and Rob Ray. They may not score much, although Barnaby does have the talent to be a 20-goal, 60-point guy, but the trio sure does keep the opposition honest. And when the Sabres need a spark, expect one of these three to provide it with either a stiff check or a timely fight.

DEFENSE: Not Good...

The Sabre blue line was fairly weak last season, often getting bailed out by Hasek's greatness in net. Well, things are going to be even worse this season now that veteran leader Garry Galley left via free agency to Los Angeles. There's probably no doubt that if Nolan stayed, Galley would still be in Buffalo. He was a fixture at the point on the Buffalo power play and logged tons of ice time in all three situations. More importantly, he wore an "A" and was a vocal guy in the room. He's going to be hard to replace.

The top pair last season was made up of Alexei Zhitnik and Richard Smehlik. Zhitnik used to be seen as a bright young offensive talent, but he's been a pretty big disappointment to this stage of his career. He only posted seven goals and 35 points last season and isn't getting any smarter with the puck or his positioning. Smehlik is a good steady guy that teams up with Zhitnik at even-strength, while short-handed, and on the power play. Expect to see more of the same this season.

Galley's normal partner last season was Bob Boughner. He's not much in the way of skating or scoring, but Boughner is a big tough guy that can help clear the front of the net. Darryl Shannon plays a pretty good overall game and has enough talent to put up more than the four goals and 23 points he had last season. Now that Galley's gone he might get more of an opportunity to supply some scoring.

The other two main contributors to the blue line are youngsters Jay McKee and Mike Wilson. Both are tall, rangy guys that can play physical when needed. They're going to have to step it up this season.

GOALTENDING: Dominator's Domain

His teammates may not like him, but Hasek is still one of the most dominating players in the game. On any given night, he can get two points all by himself. And he just might have to considering the state of this club. The backup duties will likely be handled by Steve Shields, who supplanted Andrei Trefilov with a tremendous showing in the postseason against the Senators and Flyers.

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Hasek can steal games by himself.

* Barnaby, May, and Ray give the club heart.

* Peca is one of the game's premier defensive forwards.

TROUBLE

* Team chemistry is shot to hell.

* No superstar scorers in sight on offense.

* Galley's departure weakens the already shallow defense.

1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Sabres are a mess. Coming to terms with LaFontaine would go a long way to winning the fans back, but even that might not be enough to gain forgiveness for firing Nolan. This club is in store for a terrible season. And ownership and management will deserve every loss they get.

PREDICTION: Fifth in the Northeast and out of the playoffs.

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