BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Sabres are all Drew Stafford has known in the NHL.

He was drafted by them in 2004 and has played all eight of his pro seasons with the franchise. He’s seen them contend for the Stanley Cup. He’s seen them plummet to the bottom of the League standings. He’s seen an all-star team of players leave the city for other markets, including Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek last season, signaling a rebuilding phase for Buffalo.

“I’m not going to guarantee we’re going to make the playoffs,” he said at Sabres training camp on Saturday, ahead of the 2014-15 season.

“I’m not going to guarantee we’re going to lose, either.”

He doesn’t have to. Everyone else outside of the Sabres dressing room already assumes it: That Buffalo’s rebuild would be accelerated greatly with the acquisition of a franchise player in the 2015 NHL Draft, where two such generational talents are expected to go in the top two picks.

That they’ll Dishonor for Connor [McDavid]. That they’ll win jack to win Jack [Eichel].

That they’re going to intentionally tank this season.

“It’s out there. People are going to be talking about it,” acknowledged Stafford. “I can’t accept the fact that we’re going to go into this season and tank. It’s not my makeup as a person or a player.”

And yet one can’t help but notice the Buffalo Sabres – with an owner rich enough to acquire the Buffalo Bills while owning the Buffalo Sabres and pumping millions into Penn State’s hockey program – have the 26th lowest payroll in the NHL.

One couldn’t help but hear Sabres GM Tim Murray protest loudly when the NHL changed its draft lottery rules for next summer, ostensibly targeting Buffalo in doing so.

First Niagara Center is even hosting games featuring Connor McDavid, the brilliant center for the Erie Otters, and Jack Eichel, the standout center for Boston University who will appear in the USA Hockey All-American Prospect Game on Sept. 25.

The Sabres are seriously declaring that this team isn’t set up to have better lottery odds than playoff chances?

“There isn’t an ounce of tanking in my system. Hopefully there isn’t an ounce of tanking in their system either, because if there is, they won’t be playing,” said coach Ted Nolan.

“There’s a sheet of ice out there that you can’t lie on. You can’t hide. If you don’t give a good effort, it sticks out like a sore thumb.”

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Stafford notes that for all the tank talk, the team acquired a few veteran players this offseason that will make the Sabres better than the 52-point calamity they were in 2013-14.

“Those guys probably take that personally,” said Stafford, “[people saying] they signed here and came here to lose.”

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Defenseman Josh Gorges waived his no-trade clause to allow the Montreal Canadiens to move him to the Sabres in July. “I knew I was going to need a fresh start somewhere. Why not go to an organization where they’re having a fresh start too?” he said.

“We’re not trying to rebuild this season. We’re trying to win games. That’s our mindset and our mentality. We brought in enough guys where we’re going to be able to get the job done.”

This doesn’t sound like tanking.

“I know I’m new here. But if I hear or see anyone thinking we’re going to lose on purpose …”

Gorges stopped to consider his words.

“That’s not going to fly. That’s not what we’re here for.”

Winger Brian Gionta was Gorges’s captain with the Montreal Canadiens before signing with the Sabres this summer. He’s also someone apparently too proud to tank.

“That’s not in my nature. I’ve missed the playoffs one time in my career. I plan on keeping it that way,” he said.

View photos (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) More

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