## Best-Case Scenario 1: The Sabres Will Experience an Offensive Resurgence, with Thompson and Tuch Leading the Charge
The Sabres’ offense faltered big time during the 2023-24 season. The team plummeted from third in the NHL in scoring to a dismal 22nd. The once-potent power play also dropped to 27th, a far cry from its top-10 ranking in previous years. For the Sabres to return to playoff contention, their offense must rediscover its scoring touch.
The performances of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch are critical to this resurgence. Both players regressed last season, but they have the potential to bounce back in a big way. With his towering presence and lethal shot, Thompson could become a consistent 30-goal scorer again. At the same time, Tuch’s blend of speed and power makes him a dynamic threat on the ice. If these two can return to their 2022-23 form, the Sabres’ offense could again become one of the most dangerous in the NHL.
The departure of Jeff Skinner, who was bought out after a disappointing season, leaves a significant void in the lineup. However, the Sabres hope newcomers like Ryan McLeod and Sam Lafferty can provide the necessary depth scoring to support the top line. These two players were solid additions to the existing core and will bring speed and some tenacity to Buffalo’s offense. Look for a bottom-six revitalization, which could set the stage for a playoff push.
## Best-Case Scenario 2: The Sabres Defensive Duo of Dahlin and Byram Will Shine
## Best-Case Scenario 3: The Sabres Goaltending Will Gain Stability, with Luukkonen Stepping Up
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen became a bright spot for the Sabres last season, providing much-needed stability in the net with a .910 save percentage and 2.57 goals-against average. The Sabres rewarded him with a five-year, $23.7 million contract. They believe he’s the real deal, and his contract signaled the belief in his potential as a franchise goaltender. For Buffalo to make the playoffs, Luukkonen must carry them. If possible, he’s got to be even better this season than last. Can he elevate his game further? Can he deliver consistent performances and steal a few games?
The addition of veteran James Reimer offers the Sabres a reliable backup option. At the same time, young Devon Levi could also compete for playing time, creating healthy competition in goal. Levi has been up and down. Can he show the skills that made every Sabres fan so hopeful when he first emerged on the scene at the end of the 2022-23 season? Still, Luukkonen is the tipping point. If he can establish himself as a true No. 1 goaltender, Buffalo will end its playoff drought this season.
## Best-Case Scenario 4: The Sabres’ New, Old Coach Lindy Ruff Returns with Some Magic
The return of Lindy Ruff as head coach is a two-edged sword that has generated excitement and skepticism. Ruff previously coached the Sabres from 1997 to 2013 and led the team to a Stanley Cup Final and numerous deep playoff runs. However, his recent coaching stints with the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils were less successful.
For the Sabres to thrive, Ruff must show that he has adapted to the modern NHL and get the most out of this roster. If he can rub the old genie out of the bottle and push the right buttons, the Sabres should skate themselves into playoff contention. His experience could be the guiding force that helps Buffalo navigate the season’s challenges.
## Best-Case Scenario 5: The Sabres Youth Breaks Through, with Rosen and Kulich Shining
## The Bottom Line: The Sabres Can Machete a Path to the Playoffs
The Sabres’ 13-year playoff drought has been a stark reminder of the franchise’s struggles. However, with a blend of emerging talent, key veterans, and the return of a familiar coach, there is a clear path to ending this drought. If Buffalo’s offense can rebound, the defense solidifies, and goaltending remains consistent, the Sabres should finally return to the postseason. But as always with the Sabres, the margin for error is slim, and everything needs to go right to avoid another disappointing season.
The Sabres continue to be an enigma. They have all the makings of a playoff team, with notable new additions, promising goaltending, and a solid bottom-six to complement their elite talent. Yet, year after year, they fall behind during the regular season and struggle to catch up. While everything seems to be in place for a successful run, it’s hard to predict if they can finally pull it together.
This season, the Sabres have the potential to make a serious push, but only time will tell if they can turn that potential into a playoff berth.
sharpsabres
I really do feel that if jack quinn didn’t get injured we are knocking on the door last year..the bottom 6 x coaching is going to be better this year..if we avoid multiple major injuries x the roc kids are ready we will be watching playoff puck in Buffalo (and Rochester ) next spring.. let’s go
veed_vacker
This team is better than the 22/23 version. Better gk. Better defense. Better 3rd and 4th line.
It’s very easy to see caps doing worse. Islanders (on paper) aren’t Better than us. I think we are fighting it out with the sens for the last playoff spot. If hughes gets injured again for a decent clip, I can see us passing devils.
Sea-Performance-7806
Unpopular opinion, but I don’t think Thompson and Tuch regressed. I think they were told to play better defensively (along with Coz) and the result, not surprisingly, was fewer goals and fewer goals against. Which hockey analyst last season said it’s weird the Sabres are suddenly playing a defensive team game without the proper personnel to do so? Anyway, it was a spot-on point. Will Ruff, who has always been defensive-minded, be able to get more points out of them while keeping them defensively responsible? Will he turn them loose? Absolutely no idea. It’s gonna be interesting to see this play out.
In every other category they should be objectively better, but they forgot one huge category–powerplay. Will the replacement of the most ridiculous, ineffectual PP coach ever (Matt Ellis), yield significantly better results? It fuckin’ better.
4 Comments
## Best-Case Scenario 1: The Sabres Will Experience an Offensive Resurgence, with Thompson and Tuch Leading the Charge
The Sabres’ offense faltered big time during the 2023-24 season. The team plummeted from third in the NHL in scoring to a dismal 22nd. The once-potent power play also dropped to 27th, a far cry from its top-10 ranking in previous years. For the Sabres to return to playoff contention, their offense must rediscover its scoring touch.
The performances of Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch are critical to this resurgence. Both players regressed last season, but they have the potential to bounce back in a big way. With his towering presence and lethal shot, Thompson could become a consistent 30-goal scorer again. At the same time, Tuch’s blend of speed and power makes him a dynamic threat on the ice. If these two can return to their 2022-23 form, the Sabres’ offense could again become one of the most dangerous in the NHL.
The departure of Jeff Skinner, who was bought out after a disappointing season, leaves a significant void in the lineup. However, the Sabres hope newcomers like Ryan McLeod and Sam Lafferty can provide the necessary depth scoring to support the top line. These two players were solid additions to the existing core and will bring speed and some tenacity to Buffalo’s offense. Look for a bottom-six revitalization, which could set the stage for a playoff push.
## Best-Case Scenario 2: The Sabres Defensive Duo of Dahlin and Byram Will Shine
## Best-Case Scenario 3: The Sabres Goaltending Will Gain Stability, with Luukkonen Stepping Up
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen became a bright spot for the Sabres last season, providing much-needed stability in the net with a .910 save percentage and 2.57 goals-against average. The Sabres rewarded him with a five-year, $23.7 million contract. They believe he’s the real deal, and his contract signaled the belief in his potential as a franchise goaltender. For Buffalo to make the playoffs, Luukkonen must carry them. If possible, he’s got to be even better this season than last. Can he elevate his game further? Can he deliver consistent performances and steal a few games?
The addition of veteran James Reimer offers the Sabres a reliable backup option. At the same time, young Devon Levi could also compete for playing time, creating healthy competition in goal. Levi has been up and down. Can he show the skills that made every Sabres fan so hopeful when he first emerged on the scene at the end of the 2022-23 season? Still, Luukkonen is the tipping point. If he can establish himself as a true No. 1 goaltender, Buffalo will end its playoff drought this season.
## Best-Case Scenario 4: The Sabres’ New, Old Coach Lindy Ruff Returns with Some Magic
The return of Lindy Ruff as head coach is a two-edged sword that has generated excitement and skepticism. Ruff previously coached the Sabres from 1997 to 2013 and led the team to a Stanley Cup Final and numerous deep playoff runs. However, his recent coaching stints with the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils were less successful.
For the Sabres to thrive, Ruff must show that he has adapted to the modern NHL and get the most out of this roster. If he can rub the old genie out of the bottle and push the right buttons, the Sabres should skate themselves into playoff contention. His experience could be the guiding force that helps Buffalo navigate the season’s challenges.
## Best-Case Scenario 5: The Sabres Youth Breaks Through, with Rosen and Kulich Shining
## The Bottom Line: The Sabres Can Machete a Path to the Playoffs
The Sabres’ 13-year playoff drought has been a stark reminder of the franchise’s struggles. However, with a blend of emerging talent, key veterans, and the return of a familiar coach, there is a clear path to ending this drought. If Buffalo’s offense can rebound, the defense solidifies, and goaltending remains consistent, the Sabres should finally return to the postseason. But as always with the Sabres, the margin for error is slim, and everything needs to go right to avoid another disappointing season.
The Sabres continue to be an enigma. They have all the makings of a playoff team, with notable new additions, promising goaltending, and a solid bottom-six to complement their elite talent. Yet, year after year, they fall behind during the regular season and struggle to catch up. While everything seems to be in place for a successful run, it’s hard to predict if they can finally pull it together.
This season, the Sabres have the potential to make a serious push, but only time will tell if they can turn that potential into a playoff berth.
I really do feel that if jack quinn didn’t get injured we are knocking on the door last year..the bottom 6 x coaching is going to be better this year..if we avoid multiple major injuries x the roc kids are ready we will be watching playoff puck in Buffalo (and Rochester ) next spring.. let’s go
This team is better than the 22/23 version. Better gk. Better defense. Better 3rd and 4th line.
It’s very easy to see caps doing worse. Islanders (on paper) aren’t Better than us. I think we are fighting it out with the sens for the last playoff spot. If hughes gets injured again for a decent clip, I can see us passing devils.
Unpopular opinion, but I don’t think Thompson and Tuch regressed. I think they were told to play better defensively (along with Coz) and the result, not surprisingly, was fewer goals and fewer goals against. Which hockey analyst last season said it’s weird the Sabres are suddenly playing a defensive team game without the proper personnel to do so? Anyway, it was a spot-on point. Will Ruff, who has always been defensive-minded, be able to get more points out of them while keeping them defensively responsible? Will he turn them loose? Absolutely no idea. It’s gonna be interesting to see this play out.
In every other category they should be objectively better, but they forgot one huge category–powerplay. Will the replacement of the most ridiculous, ineffectual PP coach ever (Matt Ellis), yield significantly better results? It fuckin’ better.