A few month away from the start of the 2024-25 season, the Buffalo Sabres are dealing with extra strain than they’ve in years. Whereas the world gained’t finish if the Sabres miss the playoffs once more, issues will get very murky in Buffalo.
Going into the 2024-25 marketing campaign, the group will look totally different than they did a yr in the past. Not one of the vaunted prospects are anticipated to make the lineup, the fourth line has been fully reconstructed, and the group appears to have discovered its current and future between the pipes.
Associated: Buffalo Sabres’ Finest-Case Situations for 2024-25
Whereas the best-case situation is for the Sabres to finish the drought and eventually attain the playoffs, so much might occur that results in the worst-case situation. Going into the season, the Sabres have three weak factors that have to be addressed.
Sabres Energy Play
There might have been no extra noticeable decline than the Sabres’ power-play unit. In 2022-23, the group was profitable on 23.4% of their energy play makes an attempt, good for ninth within the NHL. Only a yr later, nearly the identical group completed an abysmal 29th.
A part of it’s teaching, with assistant coach Matt Ellis taking over a lesser position. Accidents had been additionally a factor- Tage Thompson couldn’t shake his hand harm till the top of the season – however it was obvious that simply moving into the offensive zone was troublesome.
Thompson appeared extra like himself because the season ended. Jack Quinn is wholesome and may present a lift. Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch, and Dylan Cozens all have the expertise to get the Sabres’ energy play again on monitor. If the ability play doesn’t rank within the higher half of the league, the Sabres will battle to enhance their report from a season in the past.
Sabres’ Backside Defensive Pair
The Sabres’ prime 4 blueliners, on paper, must be among the many greatest within the league. Owen Energy and Bowen Byram will look to enhance on usually disappointing seasons, however each are immensely proficient and may slot in on the highest pairing with Dahlin. Mattias Samuelsson is a little bit of a wild card. The group is best defensively when he’s within the lineup, however he hasn’t been in a position to play greater than half of a season to this point. Dropping him once more can be an enormous loss to the blue line.
The underside pair is the most important query mark, nonetheless. Henri Jokiharju appeared excellent alongside Dahlin however spotty elsewhere (and outright unhealthy when paired with Byram). Clifton is a borderline sixth/seventh defenseman. Prospect Ryan Johnson stays intriguing however not absolutely developed.
Dahlin and Energy will eat up minutes once more, however the Sabres want extra. Discovering the perfect companion for Dahlin is a part of that. Getting a full season of play from Samuelsson may even assist. However somebody from the Clifton/Johnson/Jacob Bryson group must turn out to be extra dependable if the Sabres have any hope of reaching the playoffs.
Buffalo Historical past
The ultimate impediment dealing with the Sabres isn’t within the dressing room however tends to hold over sure franchises. They want solely look regionally to see the impression that historical past has on a group; the Buffalo Payments have been snake-bitten within the greatest moments. This season is totally different due to the strain it brings. Not making the playoffs can be devastating, and we might see a knee-jerk response from proprietor Terry Pegula. The prospects and core of the Sabres are stable, however one other down season might deliver on main adjustments.
The Sabres can’t afford to consider the previous or expectations. Enjoying their recreation evening in and evening out will probably be powerful, however letting historical past get into their heads will make it unattainable. The one option to shake baggage just like the Sabres carry is to recover from the hump. It’s so much simpler mentioned than performed.
Make or Break 2024-25 Season
The time for discuss is sort of over. The Sabres can do greater than take the ice and hope they’ve constructed the group that can lastly get them again into the playoffs. If the drought had been 5 years or much less, the Sabres can be thought-about one of many higher younger franchises within the league. Miss the playoffs for 13 seasons (and counting), and the narrative adjustments.
On paper, the Sabres are higher than they had been a yr in the past. They need to be more durable to play in opposition to, and group protection must be improved. The hassle in follow and on recreation days will definitely be there beneath head coach Lindy Ruff. Hopefully, that will probably be sufficient.
