As The Buffalo Sabres pressed on through their preseason, fans got a glimpse of what things might be like under coach Phil Housley, and how things would mesh between the newcomers and the core group. As it would seem fitting, there were some players that stood out, while others seemed to crumble under the pressure.
Let’s start with the ones who impressed in preseason.
From the core group, Rasmus Ristolainen looked refreshed and ready to play each night. His positioning was sound, and he was using his offensive ability to create some pressure in the opponents’ zones.