I've seen a few times lately where there is a puck coming toward the point with a Buffalo forward chasing an opponent, and the defense could easily pinch and keep the puck in, but they skate back. Risk it! There's a forward coming back; it's only going to turn into a disaster if you miss the puck cleanly. But if you're the first one there you will control the puck.
This has always been true. When they've been good, this is how they played. When they don't move their feet they suck. This is universal for as long as I've followed the team.
The answer might already be in the system. By next summer one of Kulich, Savoie, Rosen or Östlund, ever even Poltapov, might be ready to make the jump.