What is the “best-case scenario” for the Sabres in 2021?

Now that we have discussed the worst-case scenario, it’s only fair to discuss what the best-case scenario would be for the Sabres in the 2021 season.

I told you we had a best-case scenario article coming soon. This one will be much happier than the last one. There are many ways this season can be viewed as a success for the Buffalo Sabres, but there is one thing that everyone wants.

The obvious best-case scenario for Buffalo is a Stanley Cup Championship. But I think that is a little far fetched for this year. But I would consider making the playoffs a “best-case” outcome for the Sabres, especially playing in the East Division this season.

For the Sabres to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, a lot of things will need to go right for them. The first and most important being that they need everyone to stay healthy all season. The Sabres already lost Zemgus Girgensons to injury for the entire season, so they cannot afford to have multiple players go down this year.

It’s also going to take a consistent season all the way through. The Sabres cannot afford to get cold mid-season as we have seen over the last few years. We have come to expect Buffalo to start the season hot, just to start to collapse mid-season and never recover. If the Sabres expect to compete for a playoff spot, they need to show that they can be consistent all year.

At the end of the season, if the Sabres find themselves in a playoff spot, that could have a great domino effect on the organization. It’d be the first time in a while that players may start to really buy into the culture in Buffalo, which is something that has been a problem during this nearly ten-year slump. It could also be a sign, although it would still be somewhat early to be making these assumptions, that the Sabres finally hit on a quality head coach and general manager hire.

Another great situation that would most likely arise if the Sabres can make a playoff appearance is that it is unlikely anyone would ask to be traded. We have seen some big names in Buffalo voice their frustrations due to the lack of success they have had since being on the team. And the best way to avoid this again? Become a consistent contender and a place where people want to be.

To go along with that, a successful season could give them a much better shot at signing Taylor Hall again next offseason. It was a surprise that Hall decided to sign with Buffalo this past offseason, as many thought he would want to sign with a team that could immediately contend. Well if there was ever a time for the Sabres to become contenders, now would be a great time. And then re-sign Hall to a longer contract next offseason to keep him with the Sabres.

If the Sabres can put together a playoff season this year, it would show the rest of the league that Buffalo may be ready to compete. The East Division is arguably the best in the NHL this year. Getting one of the four playoff spots in the East Division would prove that you are ready to hang with some of the best teams in the league.