Sabres enter new season with unfinished business of delivering on high expectations

Buffalo Sabres' goalie Ryan Miller looks up after the first day of the NHL hockey training camp practice in Buffalo, New York on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert) (The Associated Press)

Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff goes over plans during the first day of the NHL hockey team's training camp in Buffalo, N.Y., on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert) (The Associated Press)

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier requires no further reminder of how much support the team still has in Buffalo after seeing more than 10,000 fans attend a scrimmage this week.

It's not lost on Regier that the turnout is also a reminder of how high the expectations remain for him and the Sabres to finally deliver a winner.

That, Regier says, is the plan. And he's confident the objective will be met this season.

A year after the high-priced Sabres (39-32-11) were among the NHL's biggest busts by missing the playoffs entirely, they have plenty of unfinished business to take care of in proving they can be contenders.

The opportunity to start putting last year's frustrations behind them begins Sunday, when Buffalo opens the regular season hosting Philadelphia.