Only one member of the Buffalo Sabres 2017-2018 roster has played a playoff game as a member of the blue and gold. That man -- Jason Pominville, who was part of the last Sabres team to make the postseason in 2011.
A lot has changed since Pominville was dealt in 2013, but for him, that doesn't matter because his goal is to take this team back to the playoffs.
"The league right now, the parody in the league is amazing so you've gotta be ready to play and ready to compete every night," Pominville said in a one-on-one interview with 7ABC on Wednesday.
Pominville used the 2016-2017 Tampa Bay Lightning as an example. Prior to last season almost all the experts thought Tampa Bay would contend for a cup. Instead, they were plagued with injuries and finished the season on the outside looking in.
"It takes a lot of hard work, it's not easy, but if you put the work in and you're consistent any team has a shot to be in the playoffs and that's our goal and that's what we want to do."
Pominville, who spent his first eight seasons with the Sabres, remembers what it was like when the team was competing for the Stanley Cup, especially the stretch from 2005-2007.
"I mean it's tough to even describe, it was pretty intense and pretty crazy [with 10,000 and 15,000] people watching games at the plaza in front of the rink," Pominville said with a smile. "It was a pretty cool time to be part of the team. I'll definitely remember it for a while and it would be nice for the boys to have a chance to live that, for sure."
In the interview Pominville also addresses the Jack Eichel contract extension, expectations for the upcoming season and a whole lot more. You can watch the entire interview in the video above.
