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Power Rankings: Where Sabres sit among national media

By David De Cristofaro

Jan 14, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger watches from the bench during the second period against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger watches from the bench during the second period against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 14, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (9) during warmups before a game against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (9) during warmups before a game against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

With an offseason of shake-ups and realigned divisions for a shortened 2021 season, the national power rankings polls take on a great interest in watching where your team might fall. The Buffalo Sabres have started the season 0-2-0, so we should not be expecting much praise for them in any power rankings so far.

NHL clubs are playing for four playoff spots in each of the new divisional groups, so all eyes are on which teams will make the cut. The Sabres are looking to do just that after adding several talents to their roster in the draft, free agency, and trades in recent months.

Here’s a look at where the Sabres sit among national polls as they start the new season:

Highest Rankings

19

Buffalo fans have reasons for optimism thanks to the Sabres offseason and the team that the front office has put on the ice by beginning to build up the roster more. With 31 teams in the league, the closer the team can rank among the top half of that bunch the better. Starting at 19 leaves plenty of room to grow and improve, while also offering a good assessment of where they are starting out.

“The Sabres signed a former Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall, who is likely to play with MVP candidate Jack Eichel all season. Is this the year Buffalo finally ends its nine-year playoff drought?” – Charlie Roumeliotis, NBC Sports

21

A spot higher than their lowest ranking echoed a bit across predictions, the Sabres have shown some spark over the last couple of seasons at times with less talent than they have now. As the new faces on the team learn to play together in this short season and get a rhythm going (hopefully sooner rather than later) we might see them move up in this rankings a bit.

“From Taylor Hall to Jack Eichel’s future to the whole Buffalo-ness of the losing situation, there’s a lot we tend to focus on with the Sabres before acknowledging they have one of the best young defensemen in the game. Maybe a standout season from Rasmus Dahlin in his third campaign cues a stronger-than-expected showing in Western New York.” – Ryan Dixon, Sportsnet

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