Sabres season preview: Add Hall, Staal to help end playoff drought

The 2020-21 NHL season is scheduled to begin Jan. 13. With training camps opening this week, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lines for each of the 31 teams. Today, the Buffalo Sabres, who will play in the East Division.

Coach: Ralph Krueger (second season)
Last season: 30-31-8 (.493 points percentage); 13th place in Eastern Conference

3 KEYS

1. Goaltending being good enough
This remains the Sabres' biggest question mark. They decided to not dip into the free agent goalie market, instead giving Linus Ullmark a vote of confidence as the starter. He was 17-14-3 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .915 save percentage last season, when he showed signs he's ready to take the next step. Ullmark and veteran Carter Hutton, who returns as the backup, are a combined 62-67-17 with a 2.99 GAA and .907 save percentage over the past two seasons.
2. Hall factor
The Sabres are banking that the signing of Taylor Hall to a one-year contract Oct. 11 will be the boost that helps them make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2010-11, the longest drought in the NHL. Initial plans are to play the speedy left wing alongside center Jack Eichel, who said the addition of Hall takes some of the pressure off his own shoulders. The Sabres hope a successful season might lead to a long-term deal with Hall, the MVP of the 2017-18 season who has scored 218 goals in 627 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes.
3. Bounce-back season for Skinner
The Sabres need a return to form from Jeff Skinner, who went from scoring 63 points (40 goals, 23 assists) in 2018-19 to 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) last season. The left wing is expected to play on the same line with his former Carolina Hurricanes teammate Eric Staal, who was acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Wild on Sept. 16. They are close friends, and Buffalo is hoping the center's influence will be a catalyst for improvement in Skinner's production.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut
The most contentious roster battle involves Casey Mittelstadt trying to land a spot in the bottom six. The 22-year-old, selected No. 8 in the 2017 NHL Draft, scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in 31 games before being sent to Rochester of the American Hockey League last season. Mittelstadt, who signed a one-year contract with the Sabres on Dec. 23, will try to beat out fellow centers Curtis Lazar and Rasmus Asplund.
Most intriguing addition
It has to be Hall. Considered to be the top forward available in free agency, he surprised the hockey world by signing with the Sabres. Hall played for Krueger when each was with the Oilers in 2012-13, and he said the coach had a big role in recruiting him to Buffalo. Equally enticing was the chance to play with Eichel, who has scored at least 24 goals in each of his five NHL seasons. Hall has reached that mark four times himself, so seeing how the two drive each other will be fun to watch.
Biggest potential surprise
In his first full NHL season, defenseman Henri Jokiharju scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 69 games and did not look out of place against more experienced opponents. As his confidence increases, so should his production. The 21-year-old scored 71 points (12 goals, 59 assists) with Portland of the Western Hockey League in 2017-18, a reflection of his offensive upside. Buffalo was pleased with the strides he made in his defense last season, when he was third on the Sabres in blocked shots (63) and sixth in hits (74).
Ready to break out
The Sabres feel Dylan Cozens, selected No. 7 in the 2019 NHL Draft, is ready to make the leap to the NHL as a 19-year-old. Reports in Buffalo suggest the forward, a natural center, could end up playing right wing on the top line with Hall and Eichel or on the second line with Staal and Skinner. Cozens scored 85 points (38 goals, 47 assists) for Lethbridge of the WHL last season.
Fantasy sleeper
Staal (average draft position: 177.1) is a solid bench option with top-six exposure to at least one valuable forward in either Sam Reinhart or Victor Olofsson. Staal was third on the Wild with 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) in 66 games last season and is a safe late-round selection in standard leagues. Staal will also be reunited with Skinner, who is a potential bounce-back candidate. -- Rob Reese
Projected lineup
Taylor Hall -- Jack Eichel -- Victor Olofsson
Jeff Skinner -- Eric Staal -- Dylan Cozens
Tage Thompson -- Cody Eakin -- Sam Reinhart
Zemgus Girgensons -- Curtis Lazar -- Kyle Okposo
Rasmus Dahlin -- Colin Miller
Rasmus Ristolainen -- Brandon Montour
Jake McCabe -- Henri Jokiharju
Linus Ullmark
Carter Hutton