When the Washington Capitals broke their 'Stanley Cup Curse' earlier this year one of the first tweets came from the official Buffalo Sabres account, simply stated 'Now we're on the clock'. But how realistic is it to think that the Western New Yorkers can make a big impact this season? Actually, the fact is that Sabres fans do have a lot to look forward to this season, and much of it is thanks to the potential of some of its young 'yet to be stars'.

Obviously, we are all more than aware of Jack Eichel and after a baptism of fire last season, Finn Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to be able to do much more to help the team. Then there is the arrival in goal of the talented Linus Ullmark. He is likely to begin as a backup for the newly acquired Carter Hutton but, as Hutton is often considered more of a backup goalie himself (despite a great season last year) it's likely his acquisition was made primarily to help transition Ullmark into a role that many feel will be his by season's end.

However, the highest hopes may be riding on the 'new Rasmus'; Rasmus Dahlin. Finally, fortune smiled upon the Sabres in 2018 and their previous bad luck in the draft lottery may have been negated by the fact that they scored the number one pick in Dahlin, a talented defenseman some are whispering may be 'The Chosen One'. He's certainly one of the best blueline prospects of the 21st century. And someone else for long-suffering Sabres fans to get rightly excited about. Sure he's still 'only a prospect' and as of yet unproven, but he's a very exciting one to watch.

If nothing else the Sabres' youth movement should help them better their league-worst 2017-2018 record but there is a chance that they may be able to do a lot more than that and bring the Sabes closer to that elusive prize than ever before.