Gerald Herbert / AP

As unlucky opponents about to find out, Buffalo's Tyler Myers (6-foot-8 and growing) could be the biggest defenseman in NHL history.

Stanley Cups: 0

2008-'09 record: 41-32-9, 91 points (3rd in Northeast, 10th in East)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: Darcy Regier (438-352-130, 12th NHL year, 1st team)

Coach: Lindy Ruff (438-352-130, 12th NHL year, 1st team)

Captain: Craig Rivet

Top returning scorer: C Derek Roy (28 goals, 42 assists, 70 points)

Top returning goalie: Ryan Miller (34-18-6, 2.53, .918)

Key additions: D Steve Montador; C Cody McCormick; RW Mike Grier.

Key subtractions: D Jaroslav Spacek; G Mikael Tellqvist; D Teppo Numminen; RW Maxim Afinogenov; C Dominic Moore; LW Andrew Peters.

Top line: LW Thomas Vanek, C Derek Roy, RW Drew Stafford

Top defensive pairing: Andrej Sekera, Toni Lydman

Goaltending: Buffalo’s playoff dreams went up in smoke when Miller suffered a high-ankle sprain in late February that cost him 13 games. Big, agile netminder uses long, wide body to fill net. Very poised between pipes and an excellent student of the game, always looking for ways to improve. For example, challenges shooters much more than early in his career when he was prone to playing back in his net. Prime candidate to be the top goalie on the U.S. Olympic team.

Player to watch: D Tyler Myers. Buffalo’s 2008 top draft pick jumped up the depth chart with the departures of veterans Teppo Numminen and Jaroslav Spacek and is likely to stick in the show as a 19-year-old. Was a stud last season in helping Canada to world junior gold and Kelowna to WHL title and Memorial Cup final berth. At 6-foot-8 and growing, could be biggest defenseman in NHL history (Boston's Zdeno Chara 6-9). All-around blue-liner is also effective in joining the attack.

Icing: Roy led the team in scoring for the second straight season. Thomas Vanek hit the 40-goal mark for the second time in three seasons and scored half of his goals on the power play. He has 65 man-advantage goals in four NHL seasons.

Outlook: Every season, a few more veterans depart for greener pastures, but the Sabres still manage to find ways to hang around the playoff bubble. More often than not, though, that bubble bursts for them and a small team with little depth figures to suffer the same fate this season.

Prediction: 90 points (3rd in Northeast, 9th seed in East)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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