The Buffalo Sabres Are a Wagon

It is official: the Buffalo Sabres are a certified wagon. Never in a million years would I have thought they’d be 15–2 since December 9th. Right now, they sit in the first wild card spot, which would’ve been preposterous after their abysmal start. They were getting their doors blown off, booed off the ice, and had jerseys thrown onto the ice.

Per @GinoHard_

Per @puckempire

Boy, have times changed, and last night was a great example of why this team has become the hottest in North America — on ’05–’06 reunion night, no less. I was only five years old when that team went to the Eastern Conference Finals, but I keep hearing this group is making it feel like ’05–’06 again in the city of Buffalo.

This team has done a complete 180 since the firing of Kevyn Adams (family friend, NBD) and the hiring of Jarmo Kekäläinen, who quickly changed the culture and made sure the boys knew no one was safe. The culture shifted fast into a team that will outwork its opponent, finish checks, play tougher, and flat-out beat your ass.

Yes, Tage Thompson is the guy putting the puck in the net, but the catalyst for this entire turnaround might just be Josh Doan. The guy who was a throw-in in this summer’s trade that sent JJ Peterka (RIP Forty Thieves legend) to Utah might actually be better than Peterka. The son of Hall of Famer Shane Doan, who played 1,540 NHL games, is outworking every opponent. The league leader in takeaways will be the captain of this team one day. He’s the type of player this city will rally around and is already a fan favorite for the way he backchecks, forechecks, and lays his body on the line every single second he’s on the ice.

For the first time since 2011, I finally have faith that this team will end the 14-year drought of losing and missing the playoffs. This team will beat your ass, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Never forget: Backcheck. Forecheck. Paycheck.