Nothing new in that article for most board members I would imagine, but that's how the biggest website in the hockey world looks at this team.

Is anyone else starting to get worried that expectations might be a little too high coming into this year?

I think that they tend to play with a lot more fire when people write them off so I hate when we get the ball sack attention like this.

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I think they'll be fine. I like a winning culture. I think this is good for them. We're going to have to get used to being pegged as winners at some point.

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Wheelhouse

The way I see it, expectations have been deliberately inflated and I'm fine with that.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

This group of guys has been together for a while now. I don't expect a bunch of talk to affect them all that much.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

I don't see expectations as too high. I still feel like the rest of the league and media don't realize how good Buffalo is/will be.

What stumped them early last season was the loss of two solid vet d-men, and then relying on 1-2 year guys to replace their minutes. Myers added to it by trying to do too much for 2-3 months and being a TO machine. The loss of Roy forced Vanek to become more involved and that turned out to be good, but at playoff time (yet again) injuries took out a few of their most important forwards. They were minus Pominville, Connolly, Hecht, and Roy (regardless of game 7), plus Leopold and Sekera for a few games each. So a 1st rd exit really masked how good they were playing.

Now the young d-men are replaced with two good-great vet players. Leino is at least an even replacement of Connolly. So no more growing pains with rookies finding their best game, and no more aging vets up front that have to save gas in the tank until March. They are replaced by skilled players like Gerbe and Ennis or Adam, not to mention a huge upgrade at back-up goalie. As long as we don't see a third playoff in a row where 3-5 quality players go out with injury, this team is right there with Washington and Boston on paper and should be an Eastern favorite.

I see Boston letting down (like all Cup winners do) and Buffalo rocketing up to 1st and a 2nd seed overall....maybe 1st.

Well said, that's how I see it too. But we'll certainly have some negative we aren't expecting (Players playing below expectations, sophomore slumps, injuries, etc)

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LET'S GO BUFFALO!

I'm not too worried about complacency.

Right now the team is seeing the free spending, upbeat, sunny side of owner Terry Pegula and while I don't know the man from Adam, I do know you don't get to be a billionaire without possessing some grit and the ability to bite, when needed.

I have a feeling that anyone who lollygags their way through the season will see another side to our new owner.

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th' only knower of th' cosmic mysteries alive at this time

There will be mediocre performances here and there, but overall I expect the best team effort through a full season that we've seen since 06-07. It's been three + seasons that the team observed a mediocre effort from ownership, and that has to have an effect on the on-ice product. When you see everything including the kitchen sink thrown at you in order to give you the best chance at success possible, most players (but especially this group) will respond with everything they have to win. I can't see Pegula having any reason to light a fire under anybody.