Dylan Larkin isn’t enough to make Sabres a contender

The idea of the Buffalo Sabres potentially landing Dylan Larkin in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings is something that should have fans excited.

But make no mistake. Dylan Larkin is not a savior by any means.

While there may be the temptation to declare Larkin as the missing piece of the puzzle for the Sabres, the bottom line is that one player does not a contender make.

Yes, adding Dylan Larkin would make the Sabres a much better and deeper team. The club would finally have the center depth it has lacked over the years. But that does not exonerate the rest of the team from actually playing hockey.

That’s why Larkin isn’t enough to make the Sabres a contender. He will certainly help, but it will require an entire team effort to transform Buffalo from a good team into a legit Stanley Cup contender.

Consistency is name of the game for Sabres

The Sabres are currently riding a three-game winning streak. That push has helped the club get back into the thick of the Atlantic Division race. Even if Buffalo appears at the bottom of the standings, the difference between last place and second place is just three points.

That’s how tight the Atlantic is, while also offering an opportunity to hang around a bit longer.

But the overall trend points towards consistency being the secret to Buffalo’s season. The club is 5-2-3 in their last 10. That’s a positive signal, even if it includes a three-game losing streak. Two of those three losses came in overtime, showing that the Sabres remain competitive in one-goal games.

But there comes a point in which those overtime losses end up costing crucial points in the standings.

That’s why consistency is critical. The Sabres have to focus more on winning games like the 2-0 shutout over San Jose and the 3-2 win over the LA Kings, instead of the 7-6 slugfest win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Goaltending could determine how far Buffalo goes this season

At the end of the day, the Sabres season could come down to goaltending. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played well enough recently, with Colten Ellis filling in relief as Alex Lyon nears a return from injury.

But good enough isn’t going to help make the Sabres a contending team.

That’s why Dylan Larkin, as good as he can be, won’t save the Sabres, especially if the goaltending situation does not show more consistency.

Then again, there’s one thing that can’t be overlooked: Adding Larkin may just be the boost the teams needs to rally and find that consistency the overall lineup found last season.